Potenza VS Pilot on ZHP:Which is better?

[patnak1]

I noticed that my 330 came equipped with the Potenza. Recently I noticed that another 330 zhp came equipped with the Michelin pilot. I know that they are both great performance tires, however which is the better matched, for performance, ride quality and tread wear? any opinions or knowledge on this?

[MicahO]

I noticed that my 330 came equipped with the Potenza. Recently I noticed that another 330 zhp came equipped with the Michelin pilot. I know that they are both great performance tires, however which is the better matched, for performance, ride quality and tread wear? any opinions or knowledge on this?

I've got the Potenzas as well, it's a great tire, feels incredible. I don't know that anyone has ever done a side by side, back to back type test.

But I do think it says something that ALL of the press pool ZHP's I've ever seen written up were equipped with the Pilots. If that was the tire that BMW wanted to give to the people writing about the car, it stands to reason......

I've considered moving to the Pilots when the 'Stones are worn out, but there is a much more substantial rim protector on the Potenza. I'll be doing a track day or two per year, more if time permits, but the potential rim protection probably outweighs any potential performance improvement, certainly for a non-competitive driving school hacker.

[shizat63]

I noticed that my 330 came equipped with the Potenza. Recently I noticed that another 330 zhp came equipped with the Michelin pilot. I know that they are both great performance tires, however which is the better matched, for performance, ride quality and tread wear? any opinions or knowledge on this?

Great info

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/mi_ps2_nextGen.jsp

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

The Pilots are better.

And the new Pilot is even better than the old Pilot. My experience with the PS2 is that it at least matches the performance of the old Pilot SX MXX3, which was a far better tire than the PS1 in the dry.

[Arthur]

Pilots are more money, but longer tread life too. Potenza'a with a 140 treadware is good for 15k only.

[mstar]

potenza's ALL the way :)

[philippek]

I'm a big believer in my Pilots. 17,7xx miles and still a few thousand (at least) left in them. I was considering getting a set of S-03 Pole Positions when the time came, but I read somewhere (on this board, IIRC) that the Bridgestones were harder, noisier, and had much less forgiving limit-to-beyond-the-limit transitional behavior. I'd be eager to hear from anyone who's had both (esp. on a 330), otherwise, I'm a Michelin man.

[Mysticblue325i]

I had 20K on mine when I sold my 330, and still about R:55% F:65% tread remaining (I measured)
Most people who drive fairly aggressively have reported getting less than 20k.
If you have that much tread remaining at 20k, then its likely you may not be pushing them as hard as others who have been seeing more wear.


I think when your comparing tires as good as both of these, it becomes mostly subjective, since the differences appear small, and road conditions vary so wildly from one place to another.

Just my .02

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

I've driven on both and liked the Pilots better.

Of course, I like my Rs a lot better than either. So much better that I've got a set of Toyo RA-1s for the street now.

[SleepRM3]

What tires are we comparing? Potenza RE050 vs Pilot Sport 2s?

For those that like the PS2s, how does the dual tread compound affect braking performance (dry or wet)?

[Cowboy Bebop]

The PSll's are nearly the equal of the original PSC's!
they have outstanding grip, and turn-in is lightning quick, they are also quite a bit lighter than the PSl's
the braking is excellent FWIW, dry anyway, I have not dirven in a serious rain yet... we don't get them here!

FYI, compairing tread wear #'s is meaningless between brands. Each brand provides these #'s for relational compairison to all other tires imanufactured by that brand... these can not be used to compair different brands!

[Gary@Tirerack]

FYI, compairing tread wear #'s is meaningless between brands. Each brand provides these #'s for relational compairison to all other tires imanufactured by that brand... these can not be used to compair different brands!


Yes, very true, and not many folks know this... makes comparing tires from different brands that much more difficult.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Couldn't you make the same comment about Nick's assessment? :dunno: He made a statement that the PS's are better, without any info/opinion/experience details to back it up.
I've driven on both. Admittedly not on the same car, but I like the handling characteristics of the Pilots better.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

:yikes: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=886612&postcount=3
If they last me 6,000 miles, I'll be thrilled.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Do you use these only on dry days and when you're feeling "spirited", or are they your sole set of summer tires?
Full time tires.