myslvlt4

Hi... This might sound like a dumb question but I just bought some new michilen pilot super sport, 305/19/25 in the rear and 275/18/35 in the fronts on my 2002 zo6 which with a head and cam package dyno tuned at 424 rwhp and 406 rwtq, at first still spun tires real good first and second gear with traction control on. Than after driving for a few hundred miles, I am lucky if i get a little spin only shifting into second but no more driving in first punching it and roasting first gear on the street. Do new tires really make that much of a difference? Or does my car need another retune which is a dread.

I know with drag radials after breaking them in does make a big difference but these are just good quality street tires. Also zo6 was running super strong when its was nice and real cool and now it is hot here in texas. Thank you for your help.

jpalamar

Every set of tire I've ever bought sucks the first few 100 miles... then they get sticky.

myslvlt4

Do they get sticky enough to reduce the wheel spin in half or more and get good traction? I am just trying to see if mine lost the power like it did before or is it just good traction. Thanks.

EvanZR1

There is a coating on them from the factory, it's to help them come out of the mold easier. It's pretty slick, so once it wears off (~100 miles) the traction will improve dramatically.

Mr.Bill

Thats the strangest tire sizes I have ever seen, I am guessing they are 305/25/19 and 275/35/18

zeevette

I agree; 19" rear tires should be 30 series.

Paul 75 L82

The first thing I did after new PS2's was a 4 wheel alignment. Wow, the alignment made all the difference. Shop said it was a track alignment so the tires were flatter on the ground and it really made the difference.

Vetteman Jack

Changing the tires should not affect the power output of the engine - but it could affect how the car puts that power down to the ground. Once you get a few miles on the tires, they should get stickier and could be you just hook up much better.

MTPZ06

Pretty sure they are...don't think they make SS's in a 305/25/19. Those would give TC issues with a 275/35/18 front.

MStrahan

I too just purchased a set of Michelin PSS in 18 and 19. I love how well they handle and the grip is fantastic. I'm running very similar rwhp numbers as you and also have 3.90 gears. I can certainly spin the tires if I lay into it, but I have to try hard to get them to spin.
Michelin has outdone themselves with this tire. For $1600 mounted they are an extreme value.
I wouldn't worry about your car "detuning". It seems to me that your tires are doing their job and putting the power to the road.

myslvlt4

Yes.. I beleive its 305/19/30's. I apologize for that. I didnt check. Thank you.

hotwheels57

You're in the military...dates and times (and tire sizes) are written differently.

305x30-19" or 275x35-18" is the correct manner of expressing tire specs.

The new MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport tires are sticky right from the beginning. And they're expensive. Don't abuse them, respect them. I just put a set of them on my car prior to BAER rotor seasoning. They really stuck on 40 degree northern AZ roads during high speed stops.

Your warming temperatures could have an effect on your tune.

myslvlt4

THank you for the info... I feel better knowing that you have the same tires with the same power.

MStrahan

I also had drag radials that I could roast until they got toasty warm. After they were warm it was quite difficult to break them loose on the street. I had to get rid of the DRs since I couldn't stand the loose feeling they gave at high speeds. A bit un-nerving to have the a$$ end of the car wiggle when I changed lanes at better than interstate speeds.
The PSS so far seem to be a perfect street tire for someone looking to drive their Vette hard, but not race track hard.

myslvlt4

Oh yes... Thats right! Thats what i meant. 305/30/19... and 275/35/18. Thanks for the correction. And yes. Cant wait to retire. Four more year.

myslvlt4

Yes. I had some drag radials on a cammed LT4 and it was hard to get a 2nd gear chirp out of it after the drag radials. But i love the looks of the PSS... I have to admit though. I cant help to drive it hard hard a few times every time i drive it cause I dont drive it much and when i do, I have to get on it just first and second on the street or all of third and part of fourth on the highway. Just feels great.

doveboat

The MPSS is a great tire in Dry & Wet. I have done HPDE's on them and they are better than any other 200 tw tire i have used. Not as good as an R Compound, but very good.

Ed