I Installed the Michelin 315/30/18 & 275/40/17's...

prospero63 · 09-11-2005, 12:43 AM

In reference to this thread (among others) I had the Micheline Pilot Sport PS2 315/30/18 and 275/40/17 tires installed on my stock wheels about a week ago. I recieved a lot of advice from folks that I will broadly catagorize in two categories:

1) People who run the tires that said it would work fine
2) People who have never run the tires but had a lot of "science" and "theory" that said they wouldn't work.

Well, let me say with certainty they work and they work just fine. Now for those who may have fallen into category 2, please don't take offense, but in my experience there's usually a bit of difference between theory and reality, and these tires clearly fall into that gap. I've had them up to 150, I've done some pretty agressive cornering and I've had no problems with:

1) Traction - in fact, these are better all the way around, both in cornering and acceleration
2) ABS - ABS hasn't skipped a beat
3) Wheel/Tire height - the "larger" front tires have had no negative performance.
4) Tires too wide for the wheel - nope, not even close. They fit great.

My only complaint, and it's not much of one, is that the rear wheel wells are pretty big to be putting low profiles on 18's. It doesn't look bad so much as a little odd IMO. Similarly, the increased sidewall on the fronts compared to the rears takes some getting used to. Till someone starts making a decent low profile 275 on a 17" wheel or I move to 18" wheels, I can live with it.

So let me say with certainty for anyone planning on running these tires, don't let people scare you off them with their claims of funky math, ratios, too wide for the wheel, etc. You won't be disappointed if you get them.

MYCoupe · 09-11-2005, 09:04 AM

Glad to hear everything worked out for you. I doubt anyone will ever make a low profile 275 tire for a 17" wheel. Your best option is to upgrade to 18s up front and then run 275/35/18s.

pt822 · 09-23-2005, 09:18 PM

i bought a while back from a friend some nitto drag radials and i wanted to get some new ones but i dont remember the size if it was 315 55 18 or 305 55 18 do any one know if they still sell the size tire. also i just got some bf g- force drag tires driven a few mile only the size is 315- 30-18 they are just to low for me. i got them for 400 a pair will sell for that 375. only had one for one day. mistatepimp@aol.com

edensknight · 09-29-2005, 09:25 PM

Congratulations. Please post us some pics to drool over.

larry b · 10-07-2005, 12:35 PM

Prospero,
I am elated that i came across your thread. I have a 1990 vette with stock suspension. I am now running a set of Boyd's Wheels, they are about 11 years old and damaged. I am hard pressed to find a medium priced wheel in the 17 x 11 at +55mm offset for the rears. My present tires are new, and i don't want to buy another set for the 18" rims i was considering.

Do you know of any mfgs that make a 17 x 11?

Thanks,

larry sherman
lsher253@hotmail.com

Dr.Ron · 10-08-2005, 01:22 PM

I had heard that taller fronts were a no no. I was going with the same sizes until I heard that. I didn't want to risk it.
Instead, I bought stock front sizes & 315's for the rear-Pilot Sport, not the 2's. I liked the tread pattern better than the MPS2's.
My impressions are the F1's definitely handeled better. Straight ahead, the F1's were better as well. The MPS's have a softer ride to them & are quieter, but I'd prefer the F1's....
When the F1's lost traction, the quietly spun. The Pilot sports let you know when they lose traction alright.....
I only have a few hundred miles on them, so I don't know if they'll improve w/ mileage or not.
Ron

Glennm27 · 10-08-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prospero63

In reference to this thread (among others) I had the Micheline Pilot Sport PS2 315/30/18 and 275/40/17 tires installed on my stock wheels about a week ago. I recieved a lot of advice from folks that I will broadly catagorize in two categories:

1) People who run the tires that said it would work fine
2) People who have never run the tires but had a lot of "science" and "theory" that said they wouldn't work.

I am not suprised that a 315 tire would fit on a rim that had 295's on it.

What IS fiunny, is when I clicked on the thread you referenced up there in this thread I was expecting to hear all these guys telling you not to do it, all the guys you say were in your category 2.

When I clicked the other thread, there was your post, YOUR reply and one other guy's reply and he said it was fine and that was it.......