Just put 2nd set of the staggered Michelin Pilot Super Sports on my 07 XK cabriolet. Can't say enough about how these tires enhance the overall feel and performance of the car. Far superior to the OEM Dunlops.

 

What about tire life? 300 UTQG. 8,000 miles?

 

I put on my second set of Dunlops a few months ago and can't find any fault in them in any dry or wet conditions and the car is pushed on sometimes in all weathers, no reason to change.

 

I just put some Sumitomo's on the other day, half the price of the Dunlops and Michelines. Felt good driving home.

 

Pilot Super Sports -> Undoubtedly the WORST tires I've ever owned, on ANY of my cars. Horrible traction on any other than a nice warm sunny day. Won't hold a corner if they were glued to it. Last barely longer than a Tootsie-Pop (three licks), and they disintegrate within a couple thousand miles. Michelin payed ME to dump them and buy Hankooks. MUCH better tire.
Oh, and when I submitted the bad review on the Michelin website, they refused to post it stating "doesn't fit our needs at this time". $hit-a$$ company, products and customer service.
Condolences on your loss, Captain. (captusnr)

 

Cee Jay you had the bad luck of getting their not so good compounds. Some of the stuff they do is legendary in grip on ice and 100,000 mile durability. I believe they even guarantee it for 90,000 miles.

 

Then I got eight of their not so good compounds, because I started with the A/S3 version, and those were almost as bad. Discount did a 100% swap-over to the Super Sports because they felt my pain. Eight tires and not a one worth the cost of a wheel weight.

 

My '07 XKR came with a new set of Dunlop’s on the rear and a half worn set on the front. I found them noisy to the point that I thought I had a bearing issue.

I got a puncture in the side wall of one of rears about a year ago so that gave me the opportunity to switch to Michelin SuperSports as everyone seemed to rave about them. As they were in short supply the tyre dealer put a part worn cheaper tyre on while I got some MPSS's shipped from the US. That cheap tyre was lethal! I had to be careful in the dry and in the wet it was almost impossible to pull away without spinning the wheel so I was very pleased to get it taken off again.

I have been very happy with the MPSS's so far and they are much quieter than the Dunlop’s. I will be taking my car on the track next month so will see how they perform there. As a side note can anyone recommend a sensible pressure for track driving? Put them up, down or leave them the same?

 

My first set lasted 15,000 . Actually 2 seasons since I use dedicated snow tires from late October to March. I found that the OEM dunlops were prone to sidewall damage.

 

I would imagine that getting to treat the tire shop as your F1 pit crew and discussing the bite into the hairpins at 80mph, would have been priceless. Who else is going to listen to us these days or care.

 

Dunlops were nice, but very pricey to replace. I am happy with P Zero Nero's. Good over all ride, attractive side wall, affordable price, and not noisy.

 

After 2,000 miles I replaced my dealer recommended Hankooks. They were noisy and had poor dry traction. I replaced them with Pilot Super Sports and they transformed the car. Quiet and super sticky at launch and around corners. I love them. Don't drive many miles so wear is no issue for me. I have had Michelins for years and few have been disappointments.

 

Hankooks were the noisiest tires I have every experienced in 50 years of driving. Had to replace. Have Nexens as on my 2002 XKR and they are much calmer

 

Do you remember the Hankook commercial tagline "Be one with the road"
Yep they are not kidding.
With a 500+ hp car you really need top shelf. Not worth an accident to put doggy compounds.
I have had great luck with Michelin AS Plus. They look good too.

 

Isn't Mercedes going with Hankook as OEM tires soon? Or have they already?

 

Ouch.

 

The Dunlops that came new with my other XK only lasted about 6,000 and the continentals that came with my S-Type R lasted about 10,000 miles IIRC.

 

Yep, MY first set of Pilot Stupid Shorts lasted LESS than 3,000 miles. So many chunks had separated from the belts I'm lucky I didn't die having a blowout. Seriously. A good 15% of the tread area was totally missing down to the cords. I should have noticed, but it was on the passenger side which is right against the garage wall. I also didn't think I HAD to check them so soon. A downright dangerous and deadly tire. Never again in this lifetime.

 

Wow. I have a bit of a conspiracy theory. Could it be that Discount tire is selling Chinese fakes. Can you imagine what would happen to Michelin reputation if this happened across the board. Discount is big enough chain to justify asian knock offs. Food for thought. And the fact that you had the same experience 8 times from the same tire place? And no one else here has.

Counterfeit is big business, There is nothing proprietary about tire manufacture

 

Apparently I was not that far off.
WSJ
Michelin to Fight Sellers Of Counterfeit Tires - WSJ

Europe is not spared either
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c8bedaba-6...0779e2340.html