dr bob

I like the very predictable handling, exceptional comfort and no-noise features of the PS-2's. They aren't cheap and they don't last a long time. But I don't drive that much in the big picture, so the miles I do get to drive should be 'better'. The PS2's dramatically improve the drive an amazing amount. I don't race the car, thrash it, abuse it, or even come close to testing its limits.

Rob Edwards drove the car home a few years ago when I boogered a rear wheel bearing install on his GT. He described it here as the calmest S4 ride he'd experienced. I like things to at least seem to be effortless, and the PS2's have been a giant step in that direction.

My tire history on the car:

-- Car arrived at 22k with a set of brand new BFG Comp T/A's on the factory 16" wheels. They were the same as what had been fitted from the factory for the US market, by the way.

-- Found a set of 17" C4S takeoff wheels at a good price with new factory-fit Michelin Pilots on them. Fronts were 205's, but I left them on. They were significantly stickier and quieter than the BFG's. The price of the rims and tires was less than the cost of the tires alone.

-- When the first set of Pilots was done, I made the swap to the PS2's, based on market reviews. The combination of the correct (225) fronts and the better rubber pushed the driving experience up another notch. I haven't looked back.


Caveats: We don't get rain here often enough to worry about it and I don't drive in the rain on purpose anyway. The PS2's are reputed to have good wet handling. The drive to DFW a couple summers ago for OCIC was a good test, and I had no trouble at all with tire performance in those rains. Car ran perfectly, handled perfectly, drove perfectly. The temps here are just about never below 40º so no problem running extreme-performance summer tires all year. No snow at all for the 928, although it has been to Mammoth Lakes a few times in the early spring when I first got it. With skis inside coming home. On the BFG's.

Bottom line is that I may someday feel the need for "bargain" tires. I'll probably find them on a "bargain" car, rather than install them on the 928. It would compromise the whole package.

Rob Edwards

Bob's car is relaxing to drive because it's an automatic, not 'cause of the tires...

Actually, it's an auto, and at the proper ride height, stock suspension, perfectly aligned, new wheel bearings, etc., etc. Just a great cruiser of a 928.


That said, I have a set of PS2's on 17" Cup wheels, and they are a significantly more comfortable ride than my Avon M500's on 16" CS rims.

Jim Nowak

I highly recommend Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta. Awesome tire, grips like heck, and are very quiet. They had a higher rating than the PS2's in this test:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-tyre-test.htm

Bridgestone European Proving Ground - Rome

Tyre Size:
225/45 R17 Y

Tyres tested:
1. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A
2. Continental Contisport Contact 3
3. Dunlop Sport Maxx
4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric
5. Kumho Ecsta STP KU31
6. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2
7. Pirelli PZERO Nero
8. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA
9. Yokohama S.DRIVE

Wet Handling:

Lap Times:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 99.05%
3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 98.38%

Lateral G:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 97.85%
3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 97.34%

Subjective:
1. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 100%
2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 96.15%
3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 94.23%

Aqua-Planing:

Straight Line:
1. Dunlop Sport Maxx - 100%
2. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 98.85%
3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 97.01%

Cornering:
1. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 100%
2. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 83.37%
3. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 80.09%

Braking:

Wet Braking
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 98.19%
3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 97.44%

Dry Braking - very little to choose between top and bottom [7% difference]
1. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 100%
2. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 99.08%
3. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 98.94%

Best at the Pumps:

Resistance (rolling):
1. Yokohama S.DRIVE - 100%
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 97.88%
3. Kumho Ecsta STP KU31 - 92.72%

Dry Handling:

Lap Times:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 99.79%
3. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 99.18%

Lateral G:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 97.19%
3. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A - 96.18%

Subjective:
1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 100%
2. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 95.55%
3. Pirelli PZERO Nero - 93.33%

Road Route:

Subjective:
1. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 100%
2. Dunlop Sport Maxx - 92.50%
3. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 PS2 - 90.50%

OVERALL RESULTS:

1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymmetric - 96.4

A decisive win for the new Goodyear, with more table-topping performances than any other tyre. Better still, those wins came in both the wet and the dry objective test, and subjectively it was voted best tyre on the dry handling course.

2. Vredestein ULTRAC SESSANTA - 95.3

3. Continental Contisport Contact 3 - 93.

EMan 928

Thanks, Dr Bob. So, 225's up front. What are the rears?

dr bob

255's. Wheels are 7" in front, 9" in rear. I probably have room for a bit more tire in front and in the rear, but no more than one size on these rim widths I suspect.

dr bob

Subjective opinions from 928 owners has steered me away from the Goodyears. I know the Corvette guys love them, but I don't want to be stuck with a noisy/thumpy etc tire for the three or four years I get out of a set of tires if I make a bad choice.

On the Vredesteins, I'm not sure I've seen them in the US in my casual searching. The brand was a somewhat-popular option on '70's 911 cars, and I also remember good reports from performance Saab owners in the '80's. Of course, tire technology has moved a lot in those 30-40 years; hopefully what is available now is a whole lot better than the 185-65/15's I fitted to my 911 way back when.

pcar928fan

I have the Conti Sport Contact D/W's on '92, Sumitomo's on '94 and I'll probably get another set of the Sumi's for the new CLW rims for my S4.

White Lightnin'

I was lucky to find a take-off set of PS2's at the dealership. Tread looked as though less than 500 miles were put on them... all through a metal scrapyard. Lots of metal slivers (like fingernail clippings) throughout the tread on all 4 tires -no punctures though. All for $125 (225/40/18 & 295/30/18). It would have cost close to $1200 new. Best set of tires I have ever had on any car -bar none. Just too damn expensive for the short-er life due to stickier compound.

Next best was a set of Bridgestone RE050A's Pole Position compound. Those did cost me over $1000 for the set new and of course, stickier compound meant short life.

I am currently running the Hankook Ventus V12 evo's on the back (both tires for less than 1 PS2) and have been pleasantly surprised by the level of traction and tread wear. I will do the whole set of 4 when it is that time again. Excellent tires for a DD!

Alan

My PS2's are Fronts: 235/45 on 7.5"x17" Cup 1s (stock 225/45)
and Rears are 275/40 on 9"x17" Cup 1s (stock 255/40).

Could easily fit wider rubber on the rears - but not on these rims or with PS2s @ 17"

Alan