[metallicpea]

I don't know what the weather looks like in the rest of the Northern USA, but my weather forecast is telling me the spring rains are here and the temp are looking up in the greater Chicago area.

I swapped my 17" Blizzaks for my staggered 18" Pilot Sports today.

I ran the factory run flats last fall, so this is the first significant time on non run flats on this chassis. I can't wait to see how they are.

Hello Spring!

[Bbb34]

Nice, but would be very brave (well stupid) where I live.

We just had 5 inches of snow come down overnight, and all of the ski hills are still opened this weekend, so, not quite yet. In a week or two perhaps.

Enjoy, I think you will be blown away switching away from runflats to what's universally agreed to be one of the best tires out there.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Nice, but would be very brave (well stupid) where I live.

We just had 5 inches of snow come down overnight, and all of the ski hills are still opened this weekend, so, not quite yet. In a week or two perhaps.

Enjoy, I think you will be blown away switching away from runflats to what's universally agreed to be one of the best tires out there.

My fault, I wasn't clear. I am running Pilot Sport A/S 3+ not Pilot Super Sports.

I found a slightly used set from another forum member and thought I'd give them a try. I don't drive this car hard enough to go as aggressive as the Super Sports, but I do have them on my M3 and am happy with those too.

For my 320i, I was planning to buy Conti DWS 06, but the reviews with somewhat numb steering feel concerned me. We will see how I like these before I buy my next set.

The difference from the 17" Blizzak WS 70s is unreal. Those blizzaks are great in snow, ice and the slushy stuff, they are just so soft and wayward on dry pavement. Still my favorite - as the winter driving is the most important aspect.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

My fault, I wasn't clear. I am running Pilot Sport A/S 3+ not Pilot Super Sports.

I found a slightly used set from another forum member and thought I'd give them a try. I don't drive this car hard enough to go as aggressive as the Super Sports, but I do have them on my M3 and am happy with those too.

For my 320i, I was planning to buy Conti DWS 06, but the reviews with somewhat numb steering feel concerned me. We will see how I like these before I buy my next set.

The difference from the 17" Blizzak WS 70s is unreal. Those blizzaks are great in snow, ice and the slushy stuff, they are just so soft and wayward on dry pavement. Still my favorite - as the winter driving is the most important aspect.

Yeah, winter driving, safety first, that's why I have Nokians, which are stunning on snow and ice, but not as good "performance tire" as winter Dunlops I had before.

I still think it'll be big improvement even from A/S 3+(no personal experience with those, but was told they are great). I'm on 3rd set of Bridgestone S-04 for my summer tire (had them on my previous car too) and was debating switching to all seasons, but just couldn't make myself do it considering how much I like comfort/grip and quietness of summer high performance tire.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Yeah, winter driving, safety first, that's why I have Nokians, which are stunning on snow and ice, but not as good "performance tire" as winter Dunlops I had before.

I still think it'll be big improvement even from A/S 3+(no personal experience with those, but was told they are great). I'm on 3rd set of Bridgestone S-04 for my summer tire (had them on my previous car too) and was debating switching to all seasons, but just couldn't make myself do it considering how much I like comfort/grip and quietness of summer high performance tire.

I have always had great luck with Bridgestones. I had a set of Pole Positions going back to the S02 and I loved those.

For comfort and quietness the A/S actually do better - usually. A bit counter intuitive because you would think the soft rubber of summer tires would make them both quieter and more comfortable, but usually the summer tires have large, solid tread designs that increase road noise. They also have stiffer sidewalls for lateral support and steering feedback which makes them ride stiffer. The soft rubber is there to help with max grip in all directions, so that's why they don't last as long. It's a constant compromise with tires. But since this isn't my pedal to the metal sport driver, I am going the value route, as the A/S do most things well enough and last longer at a lower price point.

I also looked at the Firestone Indy 500 as they are a low cost summer tire that got surprisingly good results and looks pretty good.

And the Pirelli P Zero all season plus - possibly the best steering feel of the well respected A/S group.

Who knows what I will try next time.

[chicagoshark]

you dont think its a bit too early? i guess since you are putting A/S on, its technically NEVER too early...

never mind. i answered my own question. I am going put my summer wheels on in a few weeks

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I have always had great luck with Bridgestones. I had a set of Pole Positions going back to the S02 and I loved those.

For comfort and quietness the A/S actually do better - usually. A bit counter intuitive because you would think the soft rubber of summer tires would make them both quieter and more comfortable, but usually the summer tires have large, solid tread designs that increase road noise. They also have stiffer sidewalls for lateral support and steering feedback which makes them ride stiffer. The soft rubber is there to help with max grip in all directions, so that's why they don't last as long. It's a constant compromise with tires. But since this isn't my pedal to the metal sport driver, I am going the value route, as the A/S do most things well enough and last longer at a lower price point.

I also looked at the Firestone Indy 500 as they are a low cost summer tire that got surprisingly good results and looks pretty good.

And the Pirelli P Zero all season plus - possibly the best steering feel of the well respected A/S group.

Who knows what I will try next time.

[CalCarNut]

What is this 'summer wheels' you speak of?
Think it'll be about 74 today and sunny. lol

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

What is this 'summer wheels' you speak of?
Think it'll be about 74 today and sunny. lol

What is this 74 you speak of ?

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

What is this 'summer wheels' you speak of?
Think it'll be about 74 today and sunny. lol

It's 77 and sunny right now.

Although it was 34 and sunny 2 afternoons ago.

I just don't see anything under 40 for the next week and then it will be April. Maybe a little premature, but I'll take my chances. The spring rains are usually the turning point for me, and based on the forecast, those rains are here. My baby comes out of hibernation in 9 days, so I'm hoping for the best.

[CalCarNut]

what do you drive during the winter?

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

What is this 74 you speak of ?

LOL

Right? Give it a few months and that 74 will be 85+ and I'll want 'winter' back........

[thatg20guy]

Highly tempted myself given this heat but I might hold out for a few more weeks before I put my summer shoes on as well!

[chicagoshark]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

It's 77 and sunny right now.

Although it was 34 and sunny 2 afternoons ago.

I just don't see anything under 40 for the next week and then it will be April. Maybe a little premature, but I'll take my chances. The spring rains are usually the turning point for me, and based on the forecast, those rains are here. My baby comes out of hibernation in 9 days, so I'm hoping for the best.

with A/S its not too premature... you will be happy!

with regular summer tires, maybe a little...

[Beek]

Up here in The Twin Cities I was thinking next week the MPSS's would go back on, but I've got an Outback for backup just in case. Truth be told this winter I could have left the MPSS on, we have had pretty much the same winter you Windy City dudes have had, just a bit more snow and not much colder.

[hollandog]

Raining every weekend...
Will do it on a sunny weekend on April.

[Big Nodge]

Jealous. Here in NH I usually wait until late April/early May to switch back to the summers. Still, that's close enough for me to start getting excited as this year putting summers on means getting new wheels

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

what do you drive during the winter?

I drive my RWD 320i all winter. If we get over 1 foot of unplowed snow I drive my wife's beach car, a Jeep Wrangler , but that is very rare.

My baby is my E46 M3. I put it away all winter, and only drive it on nice summer days with less than 5% chance of rain. Although I'm planning to drive it to NOLA for O'fest this summer. The A/C better work nice or my family will be pissed

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Big Nodge

Jealous. Here in NH I usually wait until late April/early May to switch back to the summers. Still, that's close enough for me to start getting excited as this year putting summers on means getting new wheels

Which wheels did/are you going with?

[spuntyb]

Nice! Are these the new PS4 or the PSS?

"And the Pirelli P Zero all season plus - possibly the best steering feel of the well respected A/S group."

Agreed. I put these on last October and still have them on. Best A/S tire, performance wise, that I've driven.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Beek

Up here in The Twin Cities I was thinking next week the MPSS's would go back on, but I've got an Outback for backup just in case. Truth be told this winter I could have left the MPSS on, we have had pretty much the same winter you Windy City dudes have had, just a bit more snow and not much colder.

It was a very mild winter, but there were a couple stretches I was happy to have the Blizzaks on.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Nice! Are these the new PS4 or the PSS?

"And the Pirelli P Zero all season plus - possibly the best steering feel of the well respected A/S group."

Agreed. I put these on last October and still have them on. Best A/S tire, performance wise, that I've driven.

If you are asking me which Pilots, they are the A/S 3+ for my F30.

Glad to hear that about the Pirellis. The Tire Rack review was surprising. I had Pirellis a couple times before and they always wore poorly. How have these been for you so far?

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

If you are asking me which Pilots, they are the A/S 3+ for my F30.

Glad to hear that about the Pirellis. The Tire Rack review was surprising. I had Pirellis a couple times before and they always wore poorly. How have these been for you so far?

Crazy good. Snow performance is what you would expect, but honestly better than I anticipated. The reviews in snow were scant when I got them, so I felt a little like a beta tester, but the performance has been superb for an A/S in wet and dry, and better than average for snow. Turn in is much sharper than previous A/S (Conti and Michelin), and grip is excellent. Tread seems to be holding up well, but I can't imagine going over 20k with these. Some people are even saying they've had to replace around 12-15k, although I think some of those were staggered.

Highly recommended if you're considering A/S type tires.