Michelin Pilot 4s Tire Options

[Lorne34]

Hi Guys,,
I know there are probably a ton of threads out there on this subject, but want to get some advice for owners who have switch to the Micheline Pilot Super Sport 4s tires.
I currently have a set of the OEM Michelin Pilot Super Sports, which are due to be replaced soon. I had originally thought Michelin was going to phase these out in the 350 OEM Sizes (295/305/35/19) however they are still available. I do not want to go with Cup 2's due to their high price and short shelf life, especially when tracking the car. The MPSS have been good, but I want a better all around tire for street driving, rain etc. I am also weary of the tramlining when driving on irregular surfaces (country roads etc).
I know that I cannot get the 4s model in the 350 OEM sizing (35). But am willing to go with the 30 height.
My understanding from talking with guys on the forum is that you can get the 4s models to fit the 350 in the following sizes:
295, 305, 315, and 325 (30/19).
The combinations I hear are all over the board (Fromt/Rear)
295/305
295/315
305 squared
315 squared
305/325, etc....
Is there a best practice sizing for the 350's in the 4s tire.
I will be driving it 80% of the time on the street and country roads in many different conditions (except snow/winter). I also track the car 4-5 times a year, but am not a 10/10 guy... just attending the HPDE events at local tracks.

I'm also concerned about the 325's in the rear poking out of the fender well. I have original OEM wheels with no spacers. Will they still fit flush/tuck to the fender well?

What are your opinions on sizing combinations?

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[cynicalwill]

I'm running the 295F 315R. You will probably want to lower the car after switching to 30's. The wheel gap is much more noticeable.

 

[Champale]

If I were spending your money, I would bite the bullet and buy 20" wheels. The 295/30/20 and 305/30/20 are the exact same height as your OE 19" 35 profile tires but there are a ton of readily available really good tires available in those 20" sizes.

 

[P85596]

I went with 20" wheels and 305/30 squared. The fender to tire clearance is literally the same as stock and I"m happy with the results. Also tramlining has all but disappeared.

 

[passwords]

IAlso tramlining has all but disappeared.

Is it bad to like the tramlining? Asking for a friend.

 

[Johnny maverick]

Is it bad to like the tramlining? Asking for a friend.
I too like the tramlining. and i like the cup 2s. Call me crazy. I feel more in tune with the car. Keeps me on my toes.

 

[Johnny maverick]

But to answer your question. I switch cars with a freind who has a 2020 gt 350 heritage he swapped to the Michelin 4s 305 30 19 squared. It's awesome. They give you a little more warning before cutting loose. I'll probably go that way when the cups are gone.

 

[Goz To 11]

Hey Lorne.

I switched from the Cup 2's to the 4S for street use a while back, and he 4S tires are fantastic. They inspire confidence in the rain, and are very good when it's dry. I would say they are 85 percent of the Cup 2's. You would likely not be able to to tell the difference unless you were on track, and even then, the 4S are really good.

As for sizing, the main reason to go with a 305 squared set up would be for the ability to rotate tires around to prolong their life. Especially if you're tracking. It will also firm up the feel of the car on track by reducing the understeer that a smaller front tire size naturally has. The fronts take a beating and it's nice to be able to swap them to the back and extend their life a bit.

Last, the tramlining can be reduced greatly by running the camber that Ford Performance recommends for track use. The actual numbers are in your manual for your shop to dial in You can gain turn in stability and sharpness by going more aggressive, but at the expense of tire wear. I run Ford Performance track recommendations and have great wear characteristics out of my 4S's... Probably 4500 miles on mine, and they look great. Given, I don't track them unless it's raining....

Good luck
Scott

 

[Lorne34]

I'm running the 295F 315R. You will probably want to lower the car after switching to 30's. The wheel gap is much more noticeable.

THanks, but that is exactly what I didn't want to hear. I'm already dropping the car a bit by going to a 30 size tire. I don't want to mess with the dampers at this point.

 

[Lorne34]

If I were spending your money, I would bite the bullet and buy 20" wheels. The 295/30/20 and 305/30/20 are the exact same height as your OE 19" 35 profile tires but there are a ton of readily available really good tires available in those 20" sizes.

thanks, but can I get the 4s models in a 20 size?

 

[Lorne34]

Hey Lorne.

I switched from the Cup 2's to the 4S for street use a while back, and he 4S tires are fantastic. They inspire confidence in the rain, and are very good when it's dry. I would say they are 85 percent of the Cup 2's. You would likely not be able to to tell the difference unless you were on track, and even then, the 4S are really good.

As for sizing, the main reason to go with a 305 squared set up would be for the ability to rotate tires around to prolong their life. Especially if you're tracking. It will also firm up the feel of the car on track by reducing the understeer that a smaller front tire size naturally has. The fronts take a beating and it's nice to be able to swap them to the back and extend their life a bit.

Last, the tramlining can be reduced greatly by running the camber that Ford Performance recommends for track use. The actual numbers are in your manual for your shop to dial in You can gain turn in stability and sharpness by going more aggressive, but at the expense of tire wear. I run Ford Performance track recommendations and have great wear characteristics out of my 4S's... Probably 4500 miles on mine, and they look great. Given, I don't track them unless it's raining....

Good luck
Scott

THanks Scott,
I was at a driving event in Kentucky last week, so got a chance to see all of the 4s combinations from 295 to 325. The 325's definitely looked too wide for my taste. I actually had a 305 and 315 squared setup parked side by side to visually compare.
After viewing all of the options first hand I was pretty sure I was going with a squared setup in either the 305 or 315. The 315 definitely looks beefier and filled in better, but based upon what you are telling me it sounds like the 305 might be the way to go?
The guy who had the 315 setup tracks his car frequently and he said he really liked them.
Thoughts on the 305 vs 315?
also, what part of WI are you from? I am down in Appleton.

 

[Champale]

thanks, but can I get the 4s models in a 20 size?

Yes, definitely. I have the 2020 GT500-spec 305/30/20 front and 315/30/20 rears. Slight rub of the plastic inner fender at full lock. A 295/30/20 would probably fix it.

 

[ChipG]

THanks Scott,
I was at a driving event in Kentucky last week, so got a chance to see all of the 4s combinations from 295 to 325. The 325's definitely looked too wide for my taste. I actually had a 305 and 315 squared setup parked side by side to visually compare.
After viewing all of the options first hand I was pretty sure I was going with a squared setup in either the 305 or 315. The 315 definitely looks beefier and filled in better, but based upon what you are telling me it sounds like the 305 might be the way to go?
The guy who had the 315 setup tracks his car frequently and he said he really liked them.
Thoughts on the 305 vs 315?
also, what part of WI are you from? I am down in Appleton.

Good seeing you in KY! While I am running the 315s square as you saw (vs. Nick's 305s), I'm doing so on 11.5" wheels front and back. The stock wheels would technically work with 315s, but the fronts on 10.5" wheel width might be a little bulged and may make your turn-in a little squishy. I think if you aren't going wider wheels you'll probably be better off with 305s.

 

[GoBlueGT350]

Also considering the exact same setup of 305 square with the 4s sizes, appreciate the input of others as I'd really like to get into the 4s on stock wheels if at all possible.

For those that have done this it looks like we're looking at about a 2-3 mph discrepancy in what the speedo will read vs actual speed if I'm punching things into this calculator correctly?

Will They Fit.com tire guide

 

[cynicalwill]

Absolutely you can. I thought about that. But, not interested in buying new wheels.

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