Ed Scherer

It's becoming increasingly difficult to find the top tire performance summer tire choices in the sizes I need (275/40/17 and 255/40/17 for 10×17 and 9×17 wheels, respectively). And now due to availability problems, I'm having trouble getting my preferred tires (Michelin Pilot Sport PS2) and am becoming increasingly annoyed by how long it's going to take to get the 255/40/17s. Seems like nobody has them; my order at Tire Rack from a month ago has an expected date of May 2.

I just don't think I can wait that long, as my front tires are absolutely shot to the point of being unsafe (and you can see that I need to add an alignment to the list of things to do, too. )

So... I'm starting to look at alternatives. A couple of other choices (given that I'm looking for "max"/"extreme" performance category and need the above sizes) I've come across:

• Continental ExtremeContact DW (Tire Rack carries these)
• Nitto NT05 (Tire Rack does not carry Nitto, but Discount Tire Direct does)

I don't think I'd like either of these as much as the PS2s, but I'd certainly welcome any feedback from anyone who has experience with either of these. Other suggestions would be welcome, too.

The one notable advantage that either of the above alternatives has relative to the PS2s is that they're substantially cheaper.

Edit: I guess I should have added some selection criteria: so... #1 is dry handling, #2 is wet handling. #3/#4 ride and noise comfort (tie). Price doesn't matter all that much. Based on some quick research, I think what I'd be giving up the most with the alternatives I mentioned above is wet performance, which I suppose I can live with, as I actually tend to avoid the wet anyway.



Here's just how far gone my fronts are:




These photos will help convince the alignment guys just how important it is to follow the 928 instructions carefully—especially the "do not lift" warning.

Mako 928

I have run the PS2 for street and autocross and really liked them. Then the price went up and I have switched to Nitto NT05.
I have autocrossed and tracked the NT05's and really like them. Great street tire in summer and decent in wet. Not a good cold tire.

I may never go back to the PS2's as the price on them is way to high.

Spun

I have gone with Nexen 3000....

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ires-test.html

Benton

I think you would like the NT05. Yeah, looks like the toe-in/out is your main issue. When set at a raised height dead-on, you end up with toe-out at settled height.

dr bob

Hmmm. I've been scrubbing the outside edges, attributed to that failure-to-brake-before-the-other-end-of-the-ramp syndrome.

New DIY alignment how-to coming soon. Find a couple small laser-levels, and at least one digital angle gauge. The Harbor Freight pieces are fine. I should have instructions with pics by the end of the weekend. We are having a mini alignment clinic here on Saturday after a local fun drive, and hope that one of the other cars is in need of some alignment attention for the instruction pics.

A set of four PS-2's will be $1200 installed on my car by summer when it needs them. I've purchased more than a few cars in my life for less than that. I do like the ride/quiet/performance, but the cost is getting seriously out of hand. I just raised my billing rate by 10%, hopefully enough to cover at least my tire habit.

Alan

So Ed you are really running 255/40's on the front?

I'm running 235/45's and think they drive well - never really thought I needed wider sections than that. With the stock GTS C2 Turbo Cup1's at 7.5" front - I think thats the max I can go to anyway. Ditto the 275's at the rear on 9's. I'd like wider on the rear - that would help sometimes...

The front diameter is just a little further off than yours (the other way - close enough though)

The 235/45's are available.. seems the 275/40's we both run in back are too.

I don't think those fronts of yours can last till May...

My rears are currently almost bald too - evenly worn though - But need to get some wheel refinishing done to sync up with that change out. Will also install the Orange TPMS valve sensors - they have been in the box a while... the Smartire is on the way out - too many sensor bands failed - you?

Alan

brad@tirerack.com

Oh boy Ed, you need to call me ASAP to get your order switched!

It's appearing that Michelin has delayed production us. In this industry it happens frequently that production schedules get moved out, leaving vendors (and their customers!) waiting. I'm afraid at this time there is nothing I can do to get the product here any faster. Those 255's have been on order since Thanksgiving. Unless they decide to change the production schedule, the delay you see is likely actual.

I would recommend looking at as a substitute...

Bridgesone RE760 Sport

Sumitomo HTR Z III

Yokohama S. Drive

Continental Extreme Contact DW

hacker-pschorr

It's a no brainer to me, two of the best tires on the market for the 928 are the Bridgestone RE760 and BFGoodrich KDW2 - both in your preferred sizes.

Conti's would be my 3rd pick.

Randy V

You are waaay overdue for a proper alignment, sir.

Inners wearing to the cord are classic result of not properly settling the suspension before doing the alignment.

Get new tires then immediately have a proper 4-wheel alignment done.

milkman383

For more of a race-y tire, I'd look at the Nitto's and for a all-arond street tire that will stick well, I like the Bridgestones and the Conti's. The Sumi's and the Yoko's are LOUD, like deafeningly loud.

928mac

I Really liked the yoko s drive but they are sofffft.
you will only get one season out of them and that is our short season. In 5000 kilometers my rears are gone, frts are 80% left

Ed Scherer

Thanks for the comments so far.

Regarding the comments about alignment... yeah, I know... I mentioned it a couple of times in my original post.

Sounds like the Nitto NT05s are a good choice. I'd kind of like to stick to Tire Rack if possible, so I'm going to think about their remaining offerings a bit more.

Regarding the BFG KDW2s... Hacker (or anyone else who might have run these), how annoying is the noise? The reviews tended to beat them up pretty badly about that, and based on the tread design, I can see that they might be pretty loud. Not my #1 concern (my car isn't exactly quiet as is), but it could be an issue.

Of the other tires mentioned, I'll look some more at the Bridgestone RE760s.

I was a fan of the Bridgestone max performance tires (S02s, S03s, etc.; those worn fronts are actually S03s), but few if any of their newer max performance summer tires are availble in the sizes I need.



A few posts I wanted to comment more on:

Yup. Have been since I got these wheels from DR 10 years ago or so (they were on his GT, I think, for awhile before that).

I've got the Orange TPMS stuff in an unopened box ready to go to replace the SmarTire TPMS (which, believe it or not, is still working on all four wheels). Never had a single band failure. It might be significant that I installed the sensors on the wheels myself and was careful not to over-torque them.

It'll be interesting to see how reliable and functional the Orange TPMS is; it seems too cheap to be good, but we'll see.

Thanks, Damon. I'm going to try to decide no later than tomorrow and do something. A combination of factors has raised the priority on this for me: (1) we're having unusually nice weather so I'd like to drive the car more, and (2) I'm currently working on the other vehicle I drive and it won't be ready for another few days. Thanks for checking in; your presence here is one of the reasons I like trying to stick to Tire Rack.

White Lightnin'

Go with 18" wheels and have 5 times the tire selection... just my .02

Ed Scherer

The thought has crossed my mind... more than once.

Randy V

Yeah, but you needed some additional brow beating.