Pilot Super Sports - playing with tomorrow

[nuttynat]

Off to play at silverstone tomorrow on Michelin Pilot Super Sport test day, so play in some cars and compare super sports to competitor tyres.

Know tyres are always a big topic so even though it will be in porches, E92 etc and not CSL will let you know thoughts through wet, dry tests.

Long shot but anyone else get a place on the day? Know it was advertised via pistonhead

[chrisburns]

Have a had a set myself on now for a few weeks, although I have yet to push 100% first impressions are very good.
Softer compound than P.S and imo a bit more grip as well.

[glendog74]

I will be interested in your findings :thumbs:

[Reshen]

Me too! I'm really keen to know you opinion on how much normal road mileage you can get on the PSS.

I'm going to use the PSS on my road wheels (19") and I've got a pair of 18" wheels that will be shod with Bridgestone Potenza RE55's.

Any opinions on the Bridgestones?

[shimmy]

Have a had a set myself on now for a few weeks, although I have yet to push 100% first impressions are very good.
Softer compound than P.S and imo a bit more grip as well.

They are gonna be very similar to Cup+ but longer lasting:thumbs:

[DuncanR]

I've got a pair of 18" wheels that will be shod with Bridgestone Potenza RE55's.

Any opinions on the Bridgestones?

Aye lad, will thee not be needing another pair of the fookers ! :smt102

[Reshen]

Aye lad, will thee not be needing another pair of the fookers ! :smt102

Haaaa! Too true. Meant to say a "set".

[Bounce]

Aye lad, will thee not be needing another pair of the fookers ! :smt102

well spotted dunc,that could have ruined his track day.:hahaha::hahaha:

[nuttynat]

So report back. Was great day good fun at the porsche centre at Silverstone.

Started off with dry test track or should I say damp. Drove two porsche 997 C4S's one with Super Sport and other had Dunlop Maxx GT. The difference was massive, the Dunlops were moving all over the place, I quite liked it as it made the car a bit more mobile to move around but when it came to corner speed and lap time the Super sports were heads and shoulders better. One chap drove with dunlops to start with and didn't want to go out again as he thought the car was unsafe!! thats how big the differnce was.

Next up was wet testing (breaking), this was not exactly exciting but did show the Super Sports did bring you to a stop from the same speed quicker than the Pirreli P Zero's and Conti's and this was also confirmed by the results from everyone.

The afternoon was spent playing in the low frication area but only using the Super Sports. On the "Snow" area which is a small track with polished corners the tyres were progressive between traction and side ways fun :-) when the instructer was happy enough to turn all the nanny electronics off. The "ice" area was just well like ice, so the odd spin!! Didn't learn to much about the tyres as there was no comparison tyre but was great fun. What I did learn is a thinking man's porsche is Cayman R rather than 997 C4S, Gayman was so much better from the instant I jump in it the control etc (or lack of big ass!!).

The tech stuff on the Super Sports is they will last 10% longer on road, 50% longer on track (due to better shoulder strength), stop quick and corner quicker than PS2's which is what they are seen to replace. Did speak with the guy who is in charge of technical (has been testing tyres for 20+ years) about comparisons to CUPS (Full fat) and his comment was that they have closed the gap a lot compared to PS2 and would be good comprimise of wet vs dry performance.

Overall the day was great fun. It isn't often you get to see how different the brands of tyres are since normally you just change when the present one are trashed so the new ones always seem better.

It showed that the Super Sports do look like a leap forward both on the PS2 and the present competition. I would make this conclusion even taking into account that they may have chosen the competitor tyre based on where it performed worse for comparison, not that I am a synic!!

I am at the point where I do need to change all 4 tyres so am look at testing a set and letting you know how I got on if there is interest.

[Sailorbaz]

Interesting reading mate, did you not get to play in the E92 at all?

Also interesting that they tried them on the 'Snow' surface but then again, if they've to replace PS2 they need to work well on that too. Shame they didn't have a comparison on the very slippery stuff, good info all the same.

50% longer on track though? Hmmm... :thinking:

[glendog74]

Thanks for sharing :thumbs:

[nuttynat]

Only play in E92 was straight line wet breaking, which I can confirm that the break lights flash like your at a night club when breaking hard :hahaha:

Think the track difference is meant to come from stiffer tyre shoulders and also how the centre is made up to stop it blooning at high speed, will have to ask if they want an independant person to to test it the results ragging round track :thumbs:

Not sure if the PS2 had this setup as well but the Super Sports have different rubber across the tyre, so on the more slick area (outer edge) it is a higher carbon (softer rubber). Bit like a motor bike tyre but the other way around.