Just replaced the OE Dunlaps with Michelin PS 4s last week. Quieter, better feel and probably stickier here in Southern California.

 

I don't really have a lot of trust in car and driver lists these days.

I tend to read up tirerack.com official testing, and also reviews.

 

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I wound up going with these! I am also going to use the Mobile Tire Installer. They come to your house and swap out your tires while I am wearing my bathrobe. Ya gotta love it.

 

Thats a killer deal because its one of the few tires that has warranty. I dont look for warranty on anything- except on tires, because its the best indicator that the manufacturer is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

 

So true!

 

I had two sets of these on an XK8 coupe and another on an XJR. I thought they were great highway tires. Nice ride, quiet, and long tread wear. It sounds like the high performance drivers don't care for this tire. But that's not me.

 

I never knew they had mobile installers. Just looked it up in my area. More $ per tire of course but it looks great!

 

I can't stand sitting in the waiting room of a filthy tire shop...Mobile installers is the way to go as far as I am concerned.

 

I don't sit in the waiting room at my local, even though it's clean. I'm out with the car watching the process.

 

But you get to drink free crappy coffee and watch daytime TV!

 

I have better things to do than watch somebody else work.

 

I have Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires on my XK (19" wheels.) I've only had my car about six months and these were on the car already, so these are the only tires I've experienced. Without a basis for comparison I don't have as much to contribute here, but the Firestone Firehawks seem smooth, quiet, with good grip. They're also very affordable: $650 per set before shipping/intallation/taxes from Tire Rack.


My shop has a man-cave style waiting area with coffee, snacks, leather couches and Top Gear always playing on the TV. I don't mind waiting there!

 

Having recently installed Pirelli P Zero J's, these are my thoughts on how these tires fit our cars.

Cosmetic: If car show polished good looks are important then do not buy these. They roll a very soft long radius shoulder, so getting a nice tire shine filled wheel well without resorting to putting tire shine on contact patch is not possible. They also need a *lot* of cleanup when new, lots of rubber hanging off the side wall.

Dry: Grip when dry feels a little off compared to other soft compound summer tires I've had. The feel is nice, neither too razor sharp, nor too mushy.

Wet: I really like the feel in the wet, very confidence giving.

Sound: Not bad, nothing to complain of over my previous Continentals.

Overall, if looks are important and you are using summer tires, stick with Continentals over Pirelli for these cars.

For the wheels I've recently moved to, I actually like the softer rounded shoulder, but long term its going to give me detail trouble.