MPSS vs. MP4S?

[TheLion]

Due to new summer tires soon. I am looking to track the car a few times a year, nothing crazy, just for fun.

I'll be using 275/40R19's on some RTR Tech 7 19x9.5 wheels in a 4 square setup for street / casual track.

I've read a few reviews of the Pilot Sport 4S's not doing so well and having issues on the track. Has anyone used either tire on the track and can they comment on any issues? The price is nearly identical from everything I can gather the performance on the track is very close. Both dry and wet.

But the PS 4S's seem to have a more refined ride and more linear break way from what I've gleaned. But if they won't hold up as well I may go with the older Super Sports. Just looking for feed back on both or either for casual track.

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[Brian V]

Suspicious ?

 

[NightmareMoon]

I've run both at the track, but not extensively. I prefer other tires better suited for track time than the MP4S/MPSS, although they are amazing street tires.

On heavy cars (like ours) the old MPSS could chunk the shoulders pretty badly under certain circumstances at the track. They really needed proper track camber, and probably also needed some heat cycles or miles on them before track use. Seen it on different makes/models of heavy street car.

On the right car with proper track alignment, wheel support, the MPSS did fine.

The MP4S is new and I haven't heard reports yet if they do they same thing, but I'm hopeful that Michellin has addressed some of the chunking problems.

So far the MP4S seems better in all aspects over the MPSS. I wouldn't go back, go ahead and get the new design. I haven't driven the MP4S hard enough in dry conditions to get a really good read on them as a track tire, and I run a lot more than stock camber. I did do a number of sessions in the wet with the MP4S (see sig pic below) and they were amazing for that, but the wet conditions keep the tires relatively cool.

For hard canyon carving the MP4S is a great tire. They never quite get overworked on hard street use and really get up to temp and stick well. On the track in dry conditions I expect they'll get pushed well beyond their ideal temp range.

One good tire to look at for a dual use stree/track is the Hankook RS4. That tire does well when melty-hot. Its impressive for a 'street' tire to handle the track abuse they will tolerate.

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