Pilot Sport Cup Issues
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 924
Likes: 11
From: Rack City
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
Pilot Sport Cup Issues
I picked up a new set of wheels this month and I wanted to buy a set of badass tires for the back. I ended up buying a pair of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires since they're apparently one of the best possible street tires on the market.
They're 305/30/19.
To put it nicely, I'm not impressed. They consistently spin 3rd gear, even rolling into it! They do not stick until 4th gear. This isn't a comforting feeling going sideways at 80mph. My car doesn't make that much power - about 480rwhp with 3.90 gears.
I came from a 305/35/18 Toyo R888. These tires would typically hook up 2nd gear rolling into the gas.
Anyone have any ideas? Did I get a bad pair? Are they just always this terrible? Is this the price that I have to pay for running a 19" wheel with a 30 series sidewall?
For almost $700 per tire, I'm not happy.
They're 305/30/19.
To put it nicely, I'm not impressed. They consistently spin 3rd gear, even rolling into it! They do not stick until 4th gear. This isn't a comforting feeling going sideways at 80mph. My car doesn't make that much power - about 480rwhp with 3.90 gears.
I came from a 305/35/18 Toyo R888. These tires would typically hook up 2nd gear rolling into the gas.
Anyone have any ideas? Did I get a bad pair? Are they just always this terrible? Is this the price that I have to pay for running a 19" wheel with a 30 series sidewall?
For almost $700 per tire, I'm not happy.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 491
Likes: 38
These tires need substantial heat in them to work properly, more than you can likely generate and sustain on the street.
As you also mentioned, the 30 series aspect ratio doesn't help and combined by your strong rwhp and short gears, its going to have trouble finding traction, especially on the street.
Also, using a tire like this on the street is going to heat cycle it to death, costing you traction and longevity. Besides, it hasn't really been all that warm up here yet consistency to put much heat in the pavement
What suspension are you running?
As you also mentioned, the 30 series aspect ratio doesn't help and combined by your strong rwhp and short gears, its going to have trouble finding traction, especially on the street.
Also, using a tire like this on the street is going to heat cycle it to death, costing you traction and longevity. Besides, it hasn't really been all that warm up here yet consistency to put much heat in the pavement
What suspension are you running?
Last edited by 98DC231; May 14, 2012 at 08:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 355
From: Rochester New York
Like he said ^^ they require a certain heat range to be sticky. Driving around town wont get you there. A few laps around a road course and you are good to go! You could always do a few hole shots, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you wanted a tire that is sticky off the line shoulda went with a DR.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 924
Likes: 11
From: Rack City
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
These tires need substantial heat in them to work properly, more than you can likely generate and sustain on the street.
As you also mentioned, the 30 series aspect ratio doesn't help and combined by your strong rwhp and short gears, its going to have trouble finding traction, especially on the street.
Also, using a tire like this on the street is going to heat cycle it to death, costing you traction and longevity. Besides, it hasn't really been all that warm up here yet consistency to put much heat in the pavement
What suspension are you running?
As you also mentioned, the 30 series aspect ratio doesn't help and combined by your strong rwhp and short gears, its going to have trouble finding traction, especially on the street.
Also, using a tire like this on the street is going to heat cycle it to death, costing you traction and longevity. Besides, it hasn't really been all that warm up here yet consistency to put much heat in the pavement
What suspension are you running?
I do agree that the pavement hasn't gotten too hot. Maybe I'm putting my old R888s on a bit of a pedestal, but I know that they hooked in these conditions.
Originally Posted by n8dogg
Like he said ^^ they require a certain heat range to be sticky. Driving around town wont get you there. A few laps around a road course and you are good to go! You could always do a few hole shots, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you wanted a tire that is sticky off the line shoulda went with a DR.
Also if you wanna get rid of them let me know, I'd love to use those when my nittos run out for the track
Also if you wanna get rid of them let me know, I'd love to use those when my nittos run out for the track
I do have a CCW drag pack, but I don't run that all the time...
You're first in line if I decide to sell.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 491
Likes: 38
Stock suspension, lowered on stock bolts. I didn't think that I would need to get so much heat in a street tire.
I do agree that the pavement hasn't gotten too hot. Maybe I'm putting my old R888s on a bit of a pedestal, but I know that they hooked in these conditions.
I didn't complain about not being able to cut good 60' times...I'm just really let down about even highway rolls from 60mph. They don't even try to hook up. What DRs are available for a 19x10.5 wheel?
I do have a CCW drag pack, but I don't run that all the time...
You're first in line if I decide to sell.
I do agree that the pavement hasn't gotten too hot. Maybe I'm putting my old R888s on a bit of a pedestal, but I know that they hooked in these conditions.
I didn't complain about not being able to cut good 60' times...I'm just really let down about even highway rolls from 60mph. They don't even try to hook up. What DRs are available for a 19x10.5 wheel?
I do have a CCW drag pack, but I don't run that all the time...
You're first in line if I decide to sell.
Do you really think if the sport cup was garbage compared to the r888 that it would be the tire of choice for production cars that dominate the ring? When you say that you didn't think you would need to get that much heat in a "street" tire, please understand that it's only "street" because its a dot tire, not because it was actually designed to excel in street conditions. Its a track tire you can legally drive on to the track, nothing more.
If you want the car to hook, put a proper suspension on it and lose the 19" wheels for a set of 18's.
Last edited by 98DC231; May 15, 2012 at 07:41 AM.
