My baby needs new shoes.

After about 7 years, the rears are not only near bald, the rubber has hardened to the point of providing no significant grip anymore. A 'well known' (here) Swedish race car driver confirmed multiple times that if you stomp on the gas pedal in 1st gear, it makes a lot of noise, but doesn't go anywhere.

I have 17" wheels, and don't plan to change that.

What tires have you purchased recently for your 928, and what do you like about them or not?

I'd like to find some that have good grip and are not too noisy.

Thanks!

 

www.tirerack.com for comparison reviews, re: road noise, price, etc. Went with Conti Extreme Contact DW's on both the 80 (17's) & 94 (18's) T

 

IMO one of the best all around tires for the 928 has always been the Bridgestone RE7xx series.

The current model is the RE760.

I still have a st of RE730's mounted on some wheels in the basement.

 

Hankook Ventus V12 evo's, are on my 89. Great handling, zero noise, and really great ride. Lot of the Ferrari guys out here in Vegas, pulled their Pirelli tires and switched to these. They wear much better.

 

I still have the originally-fitted BFG Comp TA's sitting on the original wheels in the garage. I do not recommend them. They were rock-like as far as ride and grip. But they lasted a very long time on the car, almost 30k. miles. The softer smoother stickier better Pilots, not quite so durable.

 

Second the Hankook Ventus v12 Evo, have them on 17" cup I and the are quiet and grippy.

 

Whatever you do, don't buy Sumitomos. I got a current set on my '86 and they are horrible. Poor grip in wet conditions, only semi-decent in the dry. If there's a single grain of sand on the road and you run over it, you will lose traction.

I plan on migrating to Michelin A/S 3s.

 

Yeah, but they are softer, smoother, stickier and better, right?

We've got Michelin Pilot Super Sport (18") on the GT, nice tires (all of the above) and seem to be wearing OK. We've put a lot of miles on Mich PS2's (17's and 18's) and like them very much also. Great summer tires, and would be just fine for Calif. We need to be a bit careful up here. We've got a set of Mich A/S 3 on the S4 for winter duty, they are good also.

We had some scary times with Sumi's in the rain, they very happily hydroplane if there is any standing water at all on the road.

Cheers, Jim

 

I initially was going to put Hankook Ventus V12 evo. Then someone brought up the noise of low profile summer tires, generally. The V12s were rated on tire rack as much quieter than BFG g-force, but when I compared the V12 to it's sibling the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2. Surprisingly, it has higher cornering grip, quietness, tread life, and are lighter -- and they are all season (silica in the rubber compound). The ratings may be misleading because the V12s are a summer tire and Noble 2 are all-season. Those ratings may only be comparable to same "type" of tire from different manufacturers. The Noble 2s look like what Hankook intends them to be - a Pilot sport A/S challenger. I'm impressed. Cost about half what the Michelins do. I have 225/40 up front on 18x8 wheels and 265/35 on 18x9 wheels in the rear.

 

That's what I'm using, very happy with them. I do get slight road noise on well aged asphalt and concrete @ highway speeds...not much of a downside at all.

 

I'll second Jim's recommendation of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. They are, simply, the BEST tires I've ever had on any car. They stick better than dedicated autocross tires I've had in the past (Avon Tech R and Hoosier A3S05) and have a 300 tread wear rating.

I've autocrossed on the PSS and PS2's back to back and the Super Sports smoke the PS2's!

 

If you're going to let your Swedish friend drive often, get Toyo R888 tires. He will thank you.

 

Nicole,
OMG.....How many years?????
I buy them cheap and sticky....and get max two - six-seven month seasons. i.e. Falken 452 tires.
And, I don't drive like I used to in my teens and twenties.....
I'm seriously considering the Continentals for the next change, and hope for better tread life.

 

This report supports my own impressions of the Ventus S1 Noble 2
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...&affiliate=BN4

 

Likewise - 7 years! you need to get out and drive girl! I have never had tires last more than 2 years.

For performance I don't think you can go wrong with Michelin PS2's - still available in 17" sizes to fit (just $$$...)

I use 275/40R17 and 235/45R17 - I think these could fit your S4 also. In 17" this may be the best warm weather tire you can get - grip is phenomenal and almost as good wet as dry, much quieter than the other max performance summer tires I have tried (Bridgestone S-02/S-03 etc).

Leaves lots of rubber behind to achieve grip - so tread life is not a high point...

Alan