Car & Driver tire test ... 9 low buck offrerings take on the Big Dog PS2

[Luke@tirerack]

Could any of these nine low cost offerings knock off the Pilot Sport PS2? The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 in the test size of 225/45-17 costs $192.00.

Here's where the challengers come in price wise:
BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW2 ($126)
Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport ($132)
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec ($137)
Falken Azenis RT-615 ($121)
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO ($106)
Kumho Ecsta XS ($120)
Ling Long L688 ($57)
Nitto Invo ($117)
Yokohama S-Drive ($115)

The test covered several different areas of performance. AutoX , skid pad , braking , price and ride quality. I am not going to reproduce the entire article but, here are some of the numbers

AutoX times wet/dry

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 60.7 / 60.1

BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW2 61.3 / 59.6
Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport 62.5 / 60.1
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec 60.8 / 59.3
Falken Azenis RT-615 64.2 / 59.8
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO 61.0 / 59.8
Kumho Ecsta XS 65.4 / 59.0
Ling Long L688 61.1 / 65.8
Nitto Invo 61.9 / 60.5
Yokohama S-Drive 61.5 / 60.3

SKIDPAD, g's wet / dry

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 0.88 / 0.92

BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW2 0.85 / 0.91
Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport 0.80 / 0.90
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec 0.86 / 0.92
Falken Azenis RT-615 0.80 / 0.91
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO 0.87 / 0.93
Kumho Ecsta XS 0.77 / 0.94
Ling Long L688 0.73 / 0.88
Nitto Invo 0.82 / 0.91
Yokohama S-Drive 0.84 / 0.88

after the testing the Car and Driver test drivers and staffers still consider the Pilot Sport PS2 the top summer performance tire.

Final Results for the challengers

#1 Dunlop Star Spec
#2 Hankook V12 EVO
#3 Kumho Ecsta XS
#4 Bridgestone RE760
#5 BF Goodrich KDW2
#6 Yokohama S-Drive
#7 Falken Azenis
#8 Nitto Invo
#9 Lin Long L688

to see some of our in-house test results use this LINK

[JustinStrife]

I ran 325/25/20 PS2s out back on my supercharged C5 with no problems for over 2 years. Running 305/30/19's now(got a good package deal on tires/wheels). Looking to go wider the next time I need tires, it's just a shame they're so freaking expensive.

Other then price, love the tires though.

[GS023]

Luke
I need new tires for my 02 convertible. Car is not used for competition at all. Looking for good wet traction and quiet. I am looking at the Hankook tire used in the test. I know the came with run flats but I have not heard of any quiet run flats. Suggestions?

Thanks

[Luke@tirerack]

the Michelin Pilot Sport AS runflats are quiet as are the Firestone Runflats

[WildWolf]

how come no Continental DW in the test? I am hearing good things

[Luke@tirerack]

you would have to ask Car & Driver that question ...