[Z06] Michelin PS2 ZP w/ deficient tread depth
05-10-2012, 07:29 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Michelin PS2 ZP w/ deficient tread depth
Has anyone else bought new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires lately and found out the front tires (275-35-18) do not have the correct amount of tread. Yesterday I put on a new set of PS2's and when I got home I checked the tread depth. The rear tires (325-30-19) were the correct 9.5/32 inch tread depth. The posted tread depth was verified on both the Michelin site and on the Tire Rack site. But the front tires were 8 to 8.25/32 tread depth. With the wear bars at about 3/32", this means that on a correct, new tire you have about 6.5/32" usable tread. So my brand new PS2's (on the front) are missing almost 20-25% of the usable tread. When the tire shop checked with the warehouse where they got the Michelins, they were told that the warehouse had 9 more 275-35-18 tires in stock and that all 9 measured 8/32" tread depth. It sounds like Michelin has a problem on their hands with at least some if not all of their Z06 front run flat tires.
05-10-2012, 10:02 PM
#2
Race Director
Has anyone else bought new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires lately and found out the front tires (275-35-18) do not have the correct amount of tread. Yesterday I put on a new set of PS2's and when I got home I checked the tread depth. The rear tires (325-30-19) were the correct 9.5/32 inch tread depth. The posted tread depth was verified on both the Michelin site and on the Tire Rack site. But the front tires were 8 to 8.25/32 tread depth. With the wear bars at about 3/32", this means that on a correct, new tire you have about 6.5/32" usable tread. So my brand new PS2's (on the front) are missing almost 20-25% of the usable tread. When the tire shop checked with the warehouse where they got the Michelins, they were told that the warehouse had 9 more 275-35-18 tires in stock and that all 9 measured 8/32" tread depth. It sounds like Michelin has a problem on their hands with at least some if not all of their Z06 front run flat tires.
Are you sure you have the ZP's. If so, I'd suggest contacting Tire Rack and/or Michelin to find out if there is a spec problem.
05-10-2012, 10:58 PM
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
I definitely have the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires and even checked my tread depth gauge with a micrometer. Plus both Firestone and Discount Tire checked the tread depth. I made the original contact with Michelin. They requested I take the Z06 to an authorized Michelin store and said Discount Tire near my house would be fine. Discount Tire checked the tires and called Michelin to verify the 8/32" tread depth. After discussing it, Michelin informed Discount Tire that they would not replace the tires with ZP's, but with another model or a different make! They questioned why I now have 24 miles on the tires. That's easy - 2 trips to Firestone, 1 trip to Discount Tire and 4 mile drive on I-35W to check drivability.
05-11-2012, 01:17 AM
#6
Race Director
I definitely have the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires and even checked my tread depth gauge with a micrometer. Plus both Firestone and Discount Tire checked the tread depth. I made the original contact with Michelin. They requested I take the Z06 to an authorized Michelin store and said Discount Tire near my house would be fine. Discount Tire checked the tires and called Michelin to verify the 8/32" tread depth. After discussing it, Michelin informed Discount Tire that they would not replace the tires with ZP's, but with another model or a different make! They questioned why I now have 24 miles on the tires. That's easy - 2 trips to Firestone, 1 trip to Discount Tire and 4 mile drive on I-35W to check drivability.
05-11-2012, 10:16 AM
#7
Racer
Thread Starter
M has a 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee that allows you to exchange them. Are you in that 30 days? Check your guarantee. (if you don't have one, you should be able to download the guarantee from the Michelin web site.) Did M indicate they have changed the specs? If they have not, then they should replace the tires with "in spec" new tires.
I contacted Michelin again this a.m. and discussed the entire situation again. I am currently waiting on their response after they talk to the Firestone store from whom I bought the tires and Michelin was also going to talk to Firestone's supplier of the tires which I think was Discount Tire Direct. (BTW, I went to Firestone due to the fact they do a great job on my lifetime 4 wheel alignment and while there they said they could get Michelin tires if I preferred them over their Bridgestone Potenza run flat tire.)
In the meantime, I would caution all Corvette owners to check your Michelin tires for tread depth when you buy them. Especially the 275-35-18 size.
Also, it's important to know that the tires were installed 5/9/12, I returned to the Firestone store the same afternoon to inform them of the front tire tread depth problem, I drove 2 miles to I-35W and 4 miles on I35W to check for drivability, then 2 miles back to my house. I drove to Discount Tire on 5/10/12 as requested by Michelin's warranty dept. and they acted surprised that the tires now had 24 miles on them!
Last edited by 08zee; 05-11-2012 at 10:20 AM. Reason: add clarification
05-11-2012, 11:47 AM
#8
Race Director
I have been running the same size PS2Zps for the past 2 years. I'm not sure of the tread depth when new, but they have 18000 miles on them and still have plenty of tread left.
05-11-2012, 02:13 PM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
BTW, I'm considering going to the Bridgestone run flats since a friend now has 30,000 miles on his third set of Potenza RE050A Pole Position RFT's and he's still going on them.
05-11-2012, 02:19 PM
#10
Team Owner
I'm sure Michelin made them right in the past. It just appears now that they may have a problem with the 275-35-18 size ZP's.
BTW, I'm considering going to the Bridgestone run flats since a friend now has 30,000 miles on his third set of Potenza RE050A Pole Position RFT's and he's still going on them.
BTW, I'm considering going to the Bridgestone run flats since a friend now has 30,000 miles on his third set of Potenza RE050A Pole Position RFT's and he's still going on them.
05-11-2012, 03:55 PM
#11
Team Owner
Apparently Michelin's 30 day guarantee is that they will replace the tires, but not with the same model of tire. As I stated previously, they will replace my PS2 ZP's with a different model or even a different make. This might make sense if I was unhappy with ZP's that were made to specifications, but apparently these were not. I just wanted correctly manufactured Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires, and I wanted them all the way around my Z06. Not just on the rear.
I contacted Michelin again this a.m. and discussed the entire situation again. I am currently waiting on their response after they talk to the Firestone store from whom I bought the tires and Michelin was also going to talk to Firestone's supplier of the tires which I think was Discount Tire Direct. (BTW, I went to Firestone due to the fact they do a great job on my lifetime 4 wheel alignment and while there they said they could get Michelin tires if I preferred them over their Bridgestone Potenza run flat tire.)
In the meantime, I would caution all Corvette owners to check your Michelin tires for tread depth when you buy them. Especially the 275-35-18 size.
Also, it's important to know that the tires were installed 5/9/12, I returned to the Firestone store the same afternoon to inform them of the front tire tread depth problem, I drove 2 miles to I-35W and 4 miles on I35W to check for drivability, then 2 miles back to my house. I drove to Discount Tire on 5/10/12 as requested by Michelin's warranty dept. and they acted surprised that the tires now had 24 miles on them!
I contacted Michelin again this a.m. and discussed the entire situation again. I am currently waiting on their response after they talk to the Firestone store from whom I bought the tires and Michelin was also going to talk to Firestone's supplier of the tires which I think was Discount Tire Direct. (BTW, I went to Firestone due to the fact they do a great job on my lifetime 4 wheel alignment and while there they said they could get Michelin tires if I preferred them over their Bridgestone Potenza run flat tire.)
In the meantime, I would caution all Corvette owners to check your Michelin tires for tread depth when you buy them. Especially the 275-35-18 size.
Also, it's important to know that the tires were installed 5/9/12, I returned to the Firestone store the same afternoon to inform them of the front tire tread depth problem, I drove 2 miles to I-35W and 4 miles on I35W to check for drivability, then 2 miles back to my house. I drove to Discount Tire on 5/10/12 as requested by Michelin's warranty dept. and they acted surprised that the tires now had 24 miles on them!
Good thing they didn't say that to me 
DH
05-11-2012, 06:35 PM
#12
Racer
Thread Starter
Michelin is still doing nothing about the problem. Now they say they will talk to someone Monday. Meanwhile the Z06 is sitting in the garage. But not for long.
05-11-2012, 09:03 PM
#14
Drifting
