Well... My lovely 2017 MonteCarlo QV needs a new set of sneakers, and I am not too unhappy I got to 9500 miles on the OEM .Corsas ..... They sure are perfect for the car (except for 60 wear, and being pricey)...
So there are a number of posts around here that have given tire advice over the last couple years, for summer and winter - and it seems to evolve with time, so I am going to post here, a summary of what seems to be the consensus on "good Better Best [Bestest]" tires (like the ole Sears approach!), and see if folks agree, or there are newer tires now out there, and also address some outliers I am not sure where to place on such a list... "one stop shopping considerations, if you will...
I also live at 7500 feet in the Arizona mountains where we get 10-12 feet of snow a winter, so I'll see if I can capture correctly, the current thinking also on snow/Winter tires possible for a QV. I was thinking of replacing my OEM tires, now due, with extreme performance ones (similar or better tires, and weigh in price, wear), til late November, then go to winter mode til the following Late March or so...
I'd love to get a second pair of rims, but for now, just tires. I own the dark Tecnicos and LOVE them (not a big 5-hole fan anyway). I used to like Bright wheels - but the dark is perfectly sinister and "all businessy", with the darkish blue of a Montecarlo....
So much to wade through, I'm hoping to filter what seems to be the Summer 2018 choices? Thanks for thoughts! And thanks to the many who've posted, that I'm collecting recommendations from.
I think my 4 categories might go like this, and anyone, please correct me, update me, offer opinions, and any newer or different options, thanks! And the all have to look good LOL -
Bestest - no holds barred, performance first, summer. Size upgrade OK ( (ignore wear and price, just the "best" in any footprint)
Best - best extreme performance at the same Front 245/35 Rear 285/30, ZR19 (93Y) (ignore wear and price, just the "best" in same footprint)
Better - very high performance and nearly "the best", but notably price and wear improvements OEM sizes, too.
Good - Satisfactorily high performance to not ruin the benifits of the QV ride, but really clearly decent tires for the best price and wear. At or close to OEM sizes, and drivable.
Winter - the best winter & "real" snow options?
In any case, I have no fun straights, but I do have switchbacks all over - I don't want to kill the joy of those in any selection!
****
***Bestest***
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Wear 300, upgrade size, consider (maybe) 5mm rear spacers), to F:255/35ZR19, R:295/30ZR19.
There's a Super Sport for nearly the same price?
Upsizing is also possible for the QV in the Potenza S-04 Pole Position (also can do it in Continental, General, Hankook, Kuhmo, Other Pirellis)
BTW - in ~1% upsizing do you feel the torque difference much? Probably offset by the patch and the weight.
Any Hoosiers (seem to max out at 18" rims in wet)? RComp, Rivals, Toyo 888R's, which nearly match sizinf with OEM or the upsized Super sports above (888's only do 265/35ZR19;345/ZR19 -maybe too much? (the Proxes T1 Sports go to 19" rims but only come in narrower stuff)?
Or, should these generally be lesser choices, go down below? There are also other very track-oriented, wide/low-profile brands out there...
***Best***
Same OEM's, Pirella PZero Corsas, same size (ie, put up with the wear & cost, as it's a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" handling scenario)
Michelon Pilot Sport $S, but at OEM sizes - should it be at "Best" category? Is there a Super Sport version? (understand the wear offset is helped in handling by their lightness?)
? Continental Extreme contact Sport (I think DWS 06?) UHP All Season? (340) (replaced Extreme DW Summers) - does this go here, or below?
***Better***
Firestone HP Summer Firehawk Indy UHP Summer 500 (340) (maybe move up higher?) (great price & reviews)
?Bridgestone Re7IR's at same size - here or up or down a category?
UHP Michelin All Season Pilot Sprints A/S 3+ and similar - better cooler/morning, and the few damp days here (not meaning winter stuff)
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (280)'s same size
***Good***
Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 (560) or similar
Continental Sport Contact 5P Max Performance summer
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO2 Max Perf summer (superb price - but are they OK? I drove Hankooks fine on an SUV, but...)
Kumho Ecsta PS91's
Some sport Michelens (cup 2) like Pilt Sport A/S 3+ (w- or y- speed)
Other Pirelli's? PZero Max performance summer (220)?
Yokohama Advan Sport V105 Max perf summer?
Other brands? General G-Max RS?, Sumitomo HTR Z III's? Potenza S007A's? Toyo Proxes Max Per Summer? Falken Azenis FK510's?
What about Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP Run Flats?
***Winter time / real Snow +++
All at F: 225/40R19 (93V), R: 265/35R19 (98V), unless someone differs on this?
Blizzaks (a name I've long used and Trust) - LM-32's - Blizzak has newer model I think though? And Tire Rack does not list them for the QV lol
Michelin Alpin PA4's (using OEM sizes?) - Some people think they have trouble in deep snow - but Tire rack says they are hands down best in all snow, have a video there.
Pirelli
Nokia Winter tires (what model?) have always had a good reputation.
Someone mentioned VRedestein Wintrac (not carried at Tire rack, but the Xtreme S is listed in Consumer reports, through Amazon)
***
BTW, looks like Amazon is getting competitive with Tire rack LOL...
In sum, appreciate latest thoughts on QV tires...
OBTW - what a GREAT car! I used to Solo 1 and SCCA Lotuses of many kinds. Had a Spider long ago, had other exotics - and man - this QV is the best driver's car I have ever driven... And man does it gets the shout outs, it evokes a very Italian response from anyone in town LOL... My only problem now, is someone just got a Vesuvio Grey one in town, not enough room in this tiny burg LOL - "there can be only one" <wink>...
Going into year two, after tire's, I hate to say the tinker in me already with the 600+hp toys, like Eurocompression etc... yeah, I know 505+ hp is plenty, but... lol It's my daily [short switch-backish] drive to a high-stress job; I am trying to justify the need, the need, for... uh... HP... LOL
Cheers,
Paul
Montecarlo Blue 2017 QV
Flagstaff, AZ
So there are a number of posts around here that have given tire advice over the last couple years, for summer and winter - and it seems to evolve with time, so I am going to post here, a summary of what seems to be the consensus on "good Better Best [Bestest]" tires (like the ole Sears approach!), and see if folks agree, or there are newer tires now out there, and also address some outliers I am not sure where to place on such a list... "one stop shopping considerations, if you will...
I also live at 7500 feet in the Arizona mountains where we get 10-12 feet of snow a winter, so I'll see if I can capture correctly, the current thinking also on snow/Winter tires possible for a QV. I was thinking of replacing my OEM tires, now due, with extreme performance ones (similar or better tires, and weigh in price, wear), til late November, then go to winter mode til the following Late March or so...
I'd love to get a second pair of rims, but for now, just tires. I own the dark Tecnicos and LOVE them (not a big 5-hole fan anyway). I used to like Bright wheels - but the dark is perfectly sinister and "all businessy", with the darkish blue of a Montecarlo....
So much to wade through, I'm hoping to filter what seems to be the Summer 2018 choices? Thanks for thoughts! And thanks to the many who've posted, that I'm collecting recommendations from.
I think my 4 categories might go like this, and anyone, please correct me, update me, offer opinions, and any newer or different options, thanks! And the all have to look good LOL -
Bestest - no holds barred, performance first, summer. Size upgrade OK ( (ignore wear and price, just the "best" in any footprint)
Best - best extreme performance at the same Front 245/35 Rear 285/30, ZR19 (93Y) (ignore wear and price, just the "best" in same footprint)
Better - very high performance and nearly "the best", but notably price and wear improvements OEM sizes, too.
Good - Satisfactorily high performance to not ruin the benifits of the QV ride, but really clearly decent tires for the best price and wear. At or close to OEM sizes, and drivable.
Winter - the best winter & "real" snow options?
In any case, I have no fun straights, but I do have switchbacks all over - I don't want to kill the joy of those in any selection!
****
***Bestest***
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Wear 300, upgrade size, consider (maybe) 5mm rear spacers), to F:255/35ZR19, R:295/30ZR19.
There's a Super Sport for nearly the same price?
Upsizing is also possible for the QV in the Potenza S-04 Pole Position (also can do it in Continental, General, Hankook, Kuhmo, Other Pirellis)
BTW - in ~1% upsizing do you feel the torque difference much? Probably offset by the patch and the weight.
Any Hoosiers (seem to max out at 18" rims in wet)? RComp, Rivals, Toyo 888R's, which nearly match sizinf with OEM or the upsized Super sports above (888's only do 265/35ZR19;345/ZR19 -maybe too much? (the Proxes T1 Sports go to 19" rims but only come in narrower stuff)?
Or, should these generally be lesser choices, go down below? There are also other very track-oriented, wide/low-profile brands out there...
***Best***
Same OEM's, Pirella PZero Corsas, same size (ie, put up with the wear & cost, as it's a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" handling scenario)
Michelon Pilot Sport $S, but at OEM sizes - should it be at "Best" category? Is there a Super Sport version? (understand the wear offset is helped in handling by their lightness?)
? Continental Extreme contact Sport (I think DWS 06?) UHP All Season? (340) (replaced Extreme DW Summers) - does this go here, or below?
***Better***
Firestone HP Summer Firehawk Indy UHP Summer 500 (340) (maybe move up higher?) (great price & reviews)
?Bridgestone Re7IR's at same size - here or up or down a category?
UHP Michelin All Season Pilot Sprints A/S 3+ and similar - better cooler/morning, and the few damp days here (not meaning winter stuff)
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (280)'s same size
***Good***
Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 (560) or similar
Continental Sport Contact 5P Max Performance summer
Hankook Ventus V12 EVO2 Max Perf summer (superb price - but are they OK? I drove Hankooks fine on an SUV, but...)
Kumho Ecsta PS91's
Some sport Michelens (cup 2) like Pilt Sport A/S 3+ (w- or y- speed)
Other Pirelli's? PZero Max performance summer (220)?
Yokohama Advan Sport V105 Max perf summer?
Other brands? General G-Max RS?, Sumitomo HTR Z III's? Potenza S007A's? Toyo Proxes Max Per Summer? Falken Azenis FK510's?
What about Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP Run Flats?
***Winter time / real Snow +++
All at F: 225/40R19 (93V), R: 265/35R19 (98V), unless someone differs on this?
Blizzaks (a name I've long used and Trust) - LM-32's - Blizzak has newer model I think though? And Tire Rack does not list them for the QV lol
Michelin Alpin PA4's (using OEM sizes?) - Some people think they have trouble in deep snow - but Tire rack says they are hands down best in all snow, have a video there.
Pirelli
Nokia Winter tires (what model?) have always had a good reputation.
Someone mentioned VRedestein Wintrac (not carried at Tire rack, but the Xtreme S is listed in Consumer reports, through Amazon)
***
BTW, looks like Amazon is getting competitive with Tire rack LOL...
In sum, appreciate latest thoughts on QV tires...
OBTW - what a GREAT car! I used to Solo 1 and SCCA Lotuses of many kinds. Had a Spider long ago, had other exotics - and man - this QV is the best driver's car I have ever driven... And man does it gets the shout outs, it evokes a very Italian response from anyone in town LOL... My only problem now, is someone just got a Vesuvio Grey one in town, not enough room in this tiny burg LOL - "there can be only one" <wink>...
Going into year two, after tire's, I hate to say the tinker in me already with the 600+hp toys, like Eurocompression etc... yeah, I know 505+ hp is plenty, but... lol It's my daily [short switch-backish] drive to a high-stress job; I am trying to justify the need, the need, for... uh... HP... LOL
Cheers,
Paul
Montecarlo Blue 2017 QV
Flagstaff, AZ