I have the original Dunlops SP Sport Max on Savini BM3 wheels staggered; for winter I have 255 35 8.5 inch all around on the original Selena wheels with Nokian Hakkapeliitta R's. This is first summer with Savini wheels. Dunlops have maybe 11k miles. nokians maybe 7k.

I just switched to the winter tires and the ride is so much better than the summers. Both are 20 inch tires. I don't recall the Dunlops feeling so harsh and noisy as this past summer. I am wondering if it's just the softer rubber of the Nokians making for smoother and quieter ride or are the Dunlops degrading? I am wondering if a set of MichelinPilot super sports would outperform the Dunlops and provide a smoother quiet ride? Thoughts and experience welcome.

 

Funny, I can't stand the ride on most winter tires. Can't say I have any experience with Nokians from the last 10 years but I used to run them all them time prior to that. Sure, winter tires feel cushier on minor imperfections and undulations in the road surface, but I find they are pretty harsh on larger imperfections and impacts (ridges, holes etc.), generally less able to deal with them than summers. And the squidgy, imprecise feel really ruins the ride for me. Guess it's a subjective thing...

As for PSS vs. Sport Maxx, no comparison. PSS is probably the best overall, street performance tire. I ran PSS on my old XFR when the OEM Dunlops were finished and it rode better and handled better, no question. Wouldn't call PSS or any other performance tire particularly quiet, though.

 

How many miles did you get on the Dunlops. After 11k miles could they be getting noiser?

 

About 24K km, so that's about 15K miles I believe. They were pretty much past the wear bars on the rears, and had been noisier for some time. So yes, I would say at 11K miles it's possible you might already notice more noise - how worn are yours?

 

They are not visibly looking worn. Tread depth still looks good, however I want to get a tire gauge to measure. Something's changed in noise or I'm just remembering it differently. Could the change in wheels and offsets be creating the difference? The Savini's are set to be flush with wheel wells. The rears are 10" , so the 285's are on a 1/2 wider rear wheel. I was going to pick up a gauge at the local Advanced Auto or pep Boys but they all seem like cheap Chinese gauges. I was am willing to pay a few more dollars for a non Chinese tool of any kind.

 

Wouldn't expect offset / wheel change to make a meaningful difference in noise.

As for non Chinese tire depth gauges, just checked mine - made in China LOL so sorry can't help on that one!

 

I'll pick up a gauge this weekend and post what I find on out. Thanks for the feedback.