Pilot Sport (Viper OEM) 275/35-18 price hike on June 1 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

DZeckhausen · 20th May 2004, 17:16

A little bird has informed me that the crazy low price of $239 for the Michelin Pilot Sport (OEM Viper front tire) will be going up by $25 each on June 1. So, if you've been thinking of buying a set of these to take advantage of the unusual price, you might want to do it soon and save $50.

As always, my favorite customer service rep there is Luke at 888-541-1777 x362. He's the guy who helps me figure out which StopTech or Brembo kits fit under which wheels, since he has access to templates and, of course, wheels! He's also got a set of StopTech front brakes on his 300ZX. And he's the guy who told us about the 3mm hubcentric spacers (TR 358) for the M5.

capup · 21st May 2004, 00:16

I bought these tires because of the low price. I took my '02 M5 to the track for high perf. driving schools often. I was disappointed in the performance of the P/S recommended for the Viper. Very low adhesion warm or cold. They never felt warmed up. I could not wait to get rid of these tires. When I ordered them from Tirerack the sales person told me these tires were not recommended for the M5. I don't know why, maybe because of the weight difference between the 2 cars. I had used the OEM Dunlops and Bridgestone SO3's prior to the Mich. P/S. The Mich. were the worst by far.
If you just want to use them for the street, I think you would get high mileage out of them. The acted like a very hard tire. In my street use I saw the DSC activate more often than with the other tires. I'm not against saving money. Just from my personal experience this is not where I would try to save a few bucks.
If you're interesed in my opinion the best all around tire for street and limited track use, in my experiece was the Bridgestone SO3. Definately not a high mileage tire but a great performance tire for the price. It served both purposes well. I put 33,000 miles on my '02 M5 in less than 2 years. I had the OEM Dunlops, then the SO3s, the Mich. Pilot Sports, and lastly Kumho Exsta someting or other when I sold it.

Now if I was going to drift my car, the Pilot Sports might be perfect.

mottati · 21st May 2004, 00:25

I've used the viper OE pilot 275/35-18, at all 4 corners on my M5. Never any grip problems on the track. After about 8k miles and 6 track days, they're still in pretty decent shape too. Maybe you got a bad set or something. My person at tire rack said the the viper oe tire would be fine on the M5. I do remember somthing about 1mm difference in tread depth, i think the viper tires having 1mm deeper tread. If your tires were brand new, maybe this was the cause of the poor track performance.
Mike

DZeckhausen · 21st May 2004, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by capup

If you're interesed in my opinion the best all around tire for street and limited track use, in my experiece was the Bridgestone SO3. Definately not a high mileage tire but a great performance tire for the price. It served both purposes well. I put 33,000 miles on my '02 M5 in less than 2 years. I had the OEM Dunlops, then the SO3s, the Mich. Pilot Sports, and lastly Kumho Exsta someting or other when I sold it.

Have you tried the new Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 yet? I really like them, but am eager to compare them to the new Pilot Sport 2.

Yours is the first post I've seen that says the Viper version of the original Pilot Sport is a different compound than the "normal" one. I'll have to ask around about this and see if your experience was unique or common. Anyone else here have the same experience?

stever · 21st May 2004, 01:23

i have not found a problem either with the "viper" Pilot Sports on track (as compared to any other street tire

capup · 21st May 2004, 03:45

I don't know why the set I had were so poor in comparison. As far as being brand new, I did 3 track days with them over a 6 month season and they were also my everyday tires. They never felt like they warmed up. I could stomp on the throttle in second gear at 40mph and get them spinning. I know the M5 has torque but I couldn't do that with the other tires I drove on. I tried various tire pressures with little or no improvement. I am definately no authority. I did not like the way the car handled with them on. I can only speak from my own experience. I have liked Michelin in the past, this set just didn't compare.

I have an '04 M3 now. I did a track day with the OEM Pilot Sports. They had approx 2,000 street miles on them and I felt like they lost traction easier than the SO3s I've used since. Have you tried anything but the Pilot Sports?
Just my opinion, I find the P/S's to be a higher mileage tire. Not the best performance tire for the money.

Friends, keep in mind this is only my opinion.

Need4Spd · 21st May 2004, 06:11

Quote:

And he's the guy who told us about the 3mm hubcentric spacers (TR 358) for the M5

Dave, I wouldn't call the spacers hubcentric because to me, that means they have an indexing flange to them. The 3mm spacers are just flat pieces of aluminum drilled with the right holes. They work terrifically, and I suppose you could call them pseudo hubcentric because they leave enough of the stock flange poking thru to index the wheels.

Anyway, as for tires, I heard that the Goodyear D3s have very flexible sidewalls, which improves ride but offers slightly decreased turn in response. Otherwise, their grip is as good or better than the PS or PS2.

1badm5 · 21st May 2004, 06:37

Where can I buy them for the quoted price of $239? Tirerack has them listed for $285 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/OEFtRr...m=1&pagemark=1

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZeckhausen

A little bird has informed me that the crazy low price of $239 for the Michelin Pilot Sport (OEM Viper front tire) will be going up by $25 each on June 1. So, if you've been thinking of buying a set of these to take advantage of the unusual price, you might want to do it soon and save $50.

As always, my favorite customer service rep there is Luke at 888-541-1777 x362. He's the guy who helps me figure out which StopTech or Brembo kits fit under which wheels, since he has access to templates and, of course, wheels! He's also got a set of StopTech front brakes on his 300ZX. And he's the guy who told us about the 3mm hubcentric spacers (TR 358) for the M5.

DZeckhausen · 21st May 2004, 06:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Need4Spd

Dave, I wouldn't call the spacers hubcentric because to me, that means they have an indexing flange to them. The 3mm spacers are just flat pieces of aluminum drilled with the right holes. They work terrifically, and I suppose you could call them pseudo hubcentric because they leave enough of the stock flange poking thru to index the wheels.

Since the 3mm spacers are exactly 74.1mm centerbore and mount securely on the E39 hub and allow the wheel to be centered by the protruding lip from the hub flange, I am comfortable calling them hubcentric.

There are three kinds of hubcentric spacers. Those that are hubcentric to the factory wheel bearing/hub assembly but do not replicate the lip, and don't allow enough lip to protrude to make the wheels hubcentric. Those that are hubcentric and do have enough lip protruding to make the wheels hubcentric. And those that are hubcentric AND replicate the lip. There is a no man's land between 5mm and 10mm in front and between 5mm and 12mm in back that does not allow the wheels to be mounted hubcentrically.