• Latest threads

    • Custom feed

      • Updates



        Old 1st April 2002, 01:17   #1 (permalink)
        raymondw
        Moderator
         
        raymondw's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Mar 2000
        Location: NL
        Age: 36
        Posts: 1,978
        Thanks: 65
        Thanked 72 Times in 48 Posts
        Bridgestone Potenza S03 vs Michelin Pilot Sport

        I am sorry if this post is off topic and does not really concern the E39 ///M5, but since this is a high traffic forum with more people who may have first hand experience, I'll post my question here.

        Three months ago, I ordered four new Michelin Pilot Sport's for my E28 ///M5 (front 205/55ZR16, rear 225/50ZR16). Apparently Michelin has troubles with supplying these and even a phonecall to Michelin Netherlands kept me in the dark.

        During the weekend, I read the April issue of Sport Auto magazine and in a comparison of high performance tires, they where raving the Bridgestone potenza S03.

        Since Michelin stays in the dark about the supply of my tires, I am concidering to cancel my order for the four Michelins and order the Bridgestone Potenza S03 instead. I know that with the Michelin Pilot Sport, i cannot go wrong on a rear wheel driven car, but with the Bridgestones, I am not sure.

        Does anyone of you have first hand experiences with comparing both types. For me, rain performance is not high priority as the E28 ///M5 is my garage queen and will be driven in the dry only.

        Thanks in advance,

        Raymond Woertman

        1990 E34 ///M5 3.6
        1985 E28 ///M5 M88/3
        raymondw is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 05:45   #2 (permalink)
        brutus
        Addicted Member (>300 posts)
         
        brutus's Avatar
         
        Join Date: May 2000
        Location: San Ramon, CA, USA
        Posts: 320
        Thanks: 0
        Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
        I have S03's now for 2,000mi+ and had Pilots for 30,000mi+ on my '00 M5.

        The S03 has more overall traction but the Pilot stick better off the line, haven't had a chance to get any accelerometer numbers for 0-60 but the S03 may be as fast but do require more modulation off the line.

        I've taken the S03's faster through several of my regular hiway ramps, part of this is due to better traction at the limit and also due to the S03's giving a bit of audio feedback before you enter into over steer while the sports are quite right up to the point of over steer.

        In the rain I thought the Pilot was good to great but the S03 is awesome !!!

        Since most of my spirited driving is 0-60 the verdict is still out for me until I get a chance to do the 0-60 times.

        More later, Brutus.
        brutus is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 08:46   #3 (permalink)
        atomic80
        M5 Extraordinare!
         
        atomic80's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Apr 2001
        Location: Bellevue,WA
        Age: 34
        Posts: 8,069
        Thanks: 8
        Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts
        Send a message via AIM to atomic80 Send a message via MSN to atomic80
        Thanks for the comprehensive writeup, Brutus. I had been considering going with those S03's as my next tires once my Pilots wore off. You just clinched my decisionmaking process.
        __________________
        Jason
        Lighting Guru & Picture Poster Extraordinare!
        '05 Range Rover w/mods
        '05 K1200S w/mods
        '07 997TT w/mods
        atomic80 is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 18:35   #4 (permalink)
        dwasifar
        Senior Member (>500)
         
        dwasifar's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Aug 2001
        Location: Lake Villa IL USA
        Posts: 997
        Thanks: 0
        Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
        Friend of mine just took a perfectly good set of S-03s off her S2000 and replaced them with Pilot Sports. The car is noticeably better-handling now.
        dwasifar is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 19:03   #5 (permalink)
        Diamond Dave
        Senior Member (>500)
         
        Diamond Dave's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Sep 2001
        Location: Dallas, Texas
        Age: 45
        Posts: 731
        Thanks: 0
        Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
        Raymond,

        I give a lot of business to The Tire Rack and think highly of them and their web site. Punch it up at:

        http://www.tirerack.com/

        From there enter in your year and type of vehicle and then click on "View Best Sellers". You can then click the little box on both tire brands and then select "Compare". You can also read the reviews about both tires from not only the staff at The Tire Rack but actual testimonials from guys like us with the same cars.

        Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

        Hope this helps somewhat,

        DWP
        Diamond Dave is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 23:31   #6 (permalink)
        raymondw
        Moderator
         
        raymondw's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Mar 2000
        Location: NL
        Age: 36
        Posts: 1,978
        Thanks: 65
        Thanked 72 Times in 48 Posts
        That is indeed what I am afraid of. I also know someone who did that with an E30 320is, but then with Pilot Exalto's for the exactly the same reason.

        I think I will give Michelin another call next week. Three months waiting time is too long.

        Thanks,

        Raymond


        Quote:
        Originally posted by dwasifar
        Friend of mine just took a perfectly good set of S-03s off her S2000 and replaced them with Pilot Sports. The car is noticeably better-handling now.
        raymondw is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 23:32   #7 (permalink)
        LSM
        Senior Member (>500)
         
        LSM's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Feb 2002
        Location: Chicago
        Posts: 500
        Thanks: 1
        Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
        Quote:
        Originally posted by Diamond Dave
        Raymond,

        I give a lot of business to The Tire Rack and think highly of them and their web site. Punch it up at:

        http://www.tirerack.com/

        From there enter in your year and type of vehicle and then click on "View Best Sellers". You can then click the little box on both tire brands and then select "Compare". You can also read the reviews about both tires from not only the staff at The Tire Rack but actual testimonials from guys like us with the same cars.

        Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

        Hope this helps somewhat,

        DWP
        I just called tire rack and spoke to two different people who boith said the S03's were the best max performance tire they sell. I also looked at the test results which also should the S03's performing better in the dry, wet, cornering, etc than the pilot sports. Hope that helps, good luck.
        LSM is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 23:42   #8 (permalink)
        steveB
        Senior Member (>500)
         
        steveB's Avatar
         
        Join Date: May 2000
        Location: Raleigh, North Carolina USA
        Posts: 781
        Thanks: 0
        Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
        I have had both Pilot Sports and S03s on my beast. I got a couple thousand miles out of the Sports than the S03s, but I also tracked with the SO3s so that makes sense. I ordered/have new SO3s for new 19s. The reason I chose the S03s was because they are less expensive (about 200 less for 19s). Throw in the fact that I think it's a toss-up between the Sports and the S03s and I think its a relatively easy decision to go with the SO3s. Also, the S03s are definitely grippier in the rain than the Pilot Sports.
        __________________
        Steve B
        steveB is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 1st April 2002, 23:50   #9 (permalink)
        Danish
        Carguy
         
        Danish's Avatar
         
        Join Date: Aug 2000
        Location: Switzerland
        Posts: 2,410
        Thanks: 36
        Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts
        The S02 and S03 are noticeably better in the wet than Pilot SPort, but IMHO the Pilot SPort are better in the dry.
        __________________
        Michael aka B8 Guru
        2003 BMW M5
        1995 BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 Coupe
        1998 BMW ALPINA B8 4.6 Cabrio
        1997 BMW ALPINA B8 4.6 Touring
        Danish is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Old 2nd April 2002, 00:17   #10 (permalink)
        alpywhite
        m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts)
         
        alpywhite's Avatar
         
        Join Date: May 2000
        Location: Vancouver, Canada
        Posts: 1,664
        Thanks: 10
        Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
        I concur that Tire Rack rates S03 #1.
        alpywhite is offline  
        Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post! Add this post to your Facebook Profile Add this post to MySpaceStumble this Post!Google Bookmark this Post!Live Bookmark this Post!
        Reply With Quote
        Reply

        Bookmarks


        Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
         
        Thread Tools Search this Thread
        Search this Thread:

        Advanced Search
        Display Modes