Michelin PS3 review, not sure it suits the S3!

A4CAB

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I have now completed 1000 miles with the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres on the front. I had the existing Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tyres moved to the back during the PS3 fitting, they had 6mm left so a good comparison.


Pros:-

Softer sidewalls make the ride slightly more comfortable over the Goodyear.
Wet weather performance feels better than the Goodyear in standing water.
Road noise less compared to the Goodyear.

Cons:-

They are more expensive.
They look very average.
I am not sure they suit the S3, I have never seen the traction light come on so much in the dry since they have been fitted. Mostly over camber changes or ripples with significant power applied. Not sure if the softer sidewall means the tyre is moving around more than the Goodyear but if it doesn’t improve I will be moving them to the back. My S3 is due the Haldex oil change in 2,000 miles but can believe this would affect it ?
 

S3RYE

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yes they look average... (in terms or tread pattern) i think the sidewalls are smart on them...

with regards to the traction light...
1. turn it off!!
2. i use PS2's and they are no joke twice as grippy as the contis that came on the S3, they are the grippiest tyres ive ever used!!
 

S3Alex

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I had Bridgestone RE010s on mine when it arrived and changed to the F1s,before making another little change.

The reviews of the PS3 all seem to reflect what you've found in that wet grip is excellent and probably the best in the class,but the dry grip has been reduced over the PS2,which I've also used.

I don't think that changing the Haldex oil will make any difference to the grip levels though.

Onto the little change I mentioned....I kept my F1s for winter use,and bought a set of Toyo R1Rs....the dry grip is as you might expect,markedly better than any of the tyres I've used so far,and the wet(not standing water) grip is actually not far behind the F1s,although you do need to be careful with standing water around.

One other point....for what it's worth,youre now running a setup with different grip levels front and rear,which may have some bearing on your findings.
 

JustCharlie

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I was thinking the same thing, the mixed tyres may not be helping and is not recommended on haldex equipped cars
 

A4CAB

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I was thinking the same thing, the mixed tyres may not be helping and is not recommended on haldex equipped cars

I cant believe they would be so sensitive, when you have fronts at say 4mm and the reers at 7mm it never did it and I cant believe the grip on the PS3 in the dry is loads worse ! Who knows very odd.
 

S3Alex

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I cant believe they would be so sensitive, when you have fronts at say 4mm and the reers at 7mm it never did it and I cant believe the grip on the PS3 in the dry is loads worse ! Who knows very odd.

It doesn't relate to the tread depth as much as the tyre compound and pattern,and I'm quite sure that two different tyre grip levels front and rear can result in changes in handling.

The PS3 as I said before,in some reviews is noted to have very good wet grip levels,but is certainly no better than the PS2 and possibly worse,under dry conditions.
 

Matt

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Not an S3 but remapped 170 TDI and I've had 2 sets of PS2's and now a set of PS3's on mine now and think they are fantastic. Loads of grip in the wet and dry and I get about 18k out of the fronts despite 310+lb/ft of torque going through the wheels!
 

S3Alex

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Not an S3 but remapped 170 TDI and I've had 2 sets of PS2's and now a set of PS3's on mine now and think they are fantastic. Loads of grip in the wet and dry and I get about 18k out of the fronts despite 310+lb/ft of torque going through the wheels!

That's very good mileage from those tyres,as compared to F1s for instance,and I'm trying not to think about what the R1Rs will do!
 

antmax7

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i have had ps3 fitted for around 1000 miles also .i had ps2's all round before and the ps3 is better all round than the ps2's i had on before!
for the first 100miles until the new tyres had scrubbed in yeah traction light come on but since then its not been on since and i have been out a chucked it around county roads around me to see just how good they are!
oh my a3 is a 2.0t quattro
 

bo2007

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I have an S3 and I think that the PS3 are leaps and bounds better than any other tyre I have used in anyother car.
 

dc240969

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l had ps2s on for 24k, good tyre. had the traction light on quite a few times. got ps3s on now, never had the light on. good tyre, a bit noisier l think, but l cant fault them other wise.
 

phil76

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Same here had ps3 fitted after swearing by conti sc2's or eagle F1's before and i think there better in any condtions,never really had a tyre grip from day one before as normally they have the greasy surface on the rubber which takes a good few hundred mile to get off but not with these £500 for 4 through work i got them
 

klik

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Changed from 050A to PS3.
A huge difference specially steering feel & dynamics. Overall a much better tyre.
Highly recommended.




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