i3eezenotch

Hey guys, I have a '16 z51. I put Michelin A/S 3 on the car when I first got it because it was February in Philly and I could barely get around on the tires it came with in the cold. Now I live in California and it's time for new tires. I plan to move back to Philly in the summer, but I will also likely be getting an old SUV for winter driving when I get back there anyway. Debating if I should get another set of all seasons or if I should get summer tires or something in between. The guy I spoke with on Discount Tire Direct (they are always awesome, by the way) mentioned that summer performance tires are unsafe in the rain -- if that's the case, it may lead me away from them only because I do want to be able to drive it in the rain when I am back in Philly...after all, it rains a fair amount.

I appreciate your thoughts!

Rohey

I am surprised they said that as most summer tires are actually better in the rain than A/S. Its the cold snow and ice where the A/S excel . My C7 is my daily driver in Washington for 8 months of the year and it rains "a little" in Seattle. However once it gets cold and nasty I switch over to the 4X4 truck for the daily driver . So I think your SUV idea of the philly winters is a good one.

Skid Row Joe

What I would keep buying.

i3eezenotch

i3eezenotch

Deepdiver

kenownr

Stay with the AS/ Michelins. JMO, but I think back in Philly, I'm pretty sure the AS tires will overall be a better choice for year round driving.

Kenafin

You will notice a traction difference with the all seasons. They don't grip like the summer only's...even in warm weather and have their nuisances to them. Here's my take on both having run both tires now in a climate similar to Philly (just south in Baltimore)

Summer Only: won't use if temps are below 40, traction gets better once temps get into 50's and warmer. As far as rain, put the car in weather mode and it isn't an issue unless it is really really a monsoon or the tires are on their last leg.

All season: Definitely give up traction to the summer only, don't have to worry about outside temp. If the roads are good and clear in the winter the car can come out. Sweet spot for traction seems to be between 40 degrees and 70 degrees. Once it gets warmer than 70 they feel like they want to slip (odd but that is what I'm feeling). Do fine in rain but don't like weather mode - they got squirrelly in the rain in weather mode. I normally run in sport mode and they're fine in the rain in sport mode. You do give up cornering with them compared to the summer only but that is because of the grip.

I have some time before I'll need another set of tires...I'm debating what I'm going to do. I like that I don't have to worry about what the temperature is and if I want to drive my car on a good day in December I can but I miss some of the grip and traction that I gave up with the summer only tires.

Foosh

The Discount Tire guy was either uninformed or over-generalizing. I have 2 sets of wheels and tires, the OEM PSS, which I run May-October, and the AS3+ during the colder 6 months. Obviously, I get a good back-to-back comparison, and there are a lot of transition days where it's cold w/ the PSS and hot with the AS3+ There's plenty of rain in both.

My Conclusions:

1) Except for track work, the AS3+ is as capable on the street as the PSS in rain and every other driving condition, but the AS3+ is somewhat better in the rain. Rain is often associated w/ cooler temps where the AS3+ is superior.
2) The AS3+ is vastly superior in temps below 60º.
3) The PSS has a slight grip edge in very hot temps, but the AS3+ is nearly equal in normal street use, with most not noticing the difference.
4) If I was only going to buy one set of tires for street use, I'd go with the AS3+ exclusively, and I will not replace my PSS when they wear out.

Woodson

Foosh, I respect your opinion (and Joe's not in the least). Would you say that in all warm weather dry conditions you would not be able to tell the difference between the AS3+ and the OEM PSS? Ultimate grip, turn-in response, etc. for an aggressive (when traffic and conditions warrant it, very aggressive) driver. I am now interested in the AS3+ tires but only if there is ZERO compromise. I don't care about cooler conditions as I have winter tires.

Mike Campbell

I live in SW Florida where when it rains, it rains and I have Summer Tires and there's no problem. In fact 2 years ago I drove from my house to 30 miles north of Philly by the western route out to Carlisle and east on 76 all thru torrential rain from Hurricane Matthew with no problems. And I did put in in the "weather mode" and my Stingray performed w/o any problems.

Foosh

Woodson,

For VERY aggressive street driving, you'd likely find the PSS better in all the areas you list above, but ONLY when pavement temps are 80º+. However, the difference is much closer than I would have expected. I have been surprised at how good the AS3+ is in hot temps as well.

I'm not going to be tracking my convertible, so I don't feel like I'd be giving up much, if anything. I also enjoy aggressive street driving in suitable situations, particularly on twisty country 2-lane highways with little or no traffic. I've been surprised how good the AS3+ is, even on 90-100º summer days.

The bottom line is I can't guarantee you zero compromise on hot pavement, but I think you'd be giving up less than 5%. What you're gaining other times of year is also significant.

Silver C7

orca1946

My son has a new Camero SS and reports that the summer tires are hydro planning at 70 mph in the rain.

Foosh

My latest back-to-back comparison was on my new C7 delivered in Feb. I drove it home from the dealership on a frigid day, and immediately put on the AS3+ set. So I'm comparing a brand new set of PSS w/ a set of AS3+ w/ 6K miles on them that I've run for 2 seasons.

Any relatively wide tire is going to hydroplane at 70 mph. Suggest to your son that he needs to slow down in heavy rain and when water pools on the pavement.

Bill Dearborn

I won't comment on the All Season but I will say the comments about the Michelin PSS ZP summer tire are somewhat off base. The tires work in cold weather. They may not have as much initial grip on a cold dry day but they will have enough grip. The driver makes the difference not the tire. I took delivery of my Z07 with Cup2 tires on a night when the temps were in the low 40s and drove it 167 miles home in a downpour. No slips, slides or traction issues. I drove at speeds from 65 to 75 mph with the Drive Mode set in Weather and the wipers set on the fastest setting. I currently have PSS ZP tires on the car and they are my track rain tires if I decide to drive in the rain while at a Track Event.

Bill

Foosh

Perhaps Bill, but the essence of this discussion is that the AS3+ has substantially more grip on cold pavement. I have plenty of experience to support that statement based upon many miles in many seasons on both sets. Thus, I am able to enjoy the car year- round to a much greater extent and drive it normally in cold weather with a greater margin of safety.

Skid Row Joe

OP, Absolutely. ....

Mcrider

I honestly don't understand people not putting all season tires on their cars. I am willing to bet that 99.5% of the people out there can't out drive all season tires under any street circumstances.

Racing is a different story, but on the street, nope, they can't do it. So why take the chance of having a "summer" tire on and find even one situation where they aren't the best tire for the circumstances?

I think much of this tire issue is pure ego. The "parnelli granatelli" mentality that one must be prepared to run 185MPH at a minutes notice.

Woodson

It's not about out -driving the all season tires. It's about feel. I don't like tire squirm, lazy turn-in, etc.