Alpin PA4S Are Off, and Pilot Sport 4S Back On - P3D+ is *Quieter*

[Superspectral]

I just recently had my winter Michelin PA4S tires on my P3D+ 20 in rims swapped back for the OEM Pilot Sport 4S summer tires. I also had one slightly bent rim fixed. Oh boy - the road noise from the Pilot 4S tires is just *so much more pleasant*. Perhaps on average the dB meter might not be so different. But the Alpins had an unpleasant drone at speed on smooth surface (that may have warbled a bit due my bent rim).

When the tires are wear out, I'm going to struggle. I love the handling and the zoom. But the 20 inch wheels are kind of egg shells vs. Michigan pot holes and are loud and inefficient. I'm kind of inclined to buy TSportline 18 in. wheels with the stock MXM4 and get efficiency or maybe Conti DWS6. I had those on my Audi and they worked fine for my winter.

 

[Zcd1]

And here I thought I was the only one who had put Pilot Alpins on the OEM 20s...

My PS4S are back on the car now on new wheels and the sound is definitely different - slightly quieter.

 

[Skione65]

Nope....ran the Alpins all winter. Amazing performance winter. Back on the PS4s now as well for Summer!

Ski

 

[steilkurve]

Nope....ran the Alpins all winter. Amazing performance winter. Back on the PS4s now as well for Summer!

Ski

How do you all find the PS4s from the standpoint of road feel? I don’t mean how they handle but rather how their low profile combined with the absence of air suspension results in feeling everything from road surface imperfections to bumps and the like? I love the PS4 handling on the 3 as I did on my sold Model S, but I do find on the 3 it results in a harsher ride.

 

[Zippy_EV]

When I switched from Pirelli Sottozero 3 (on 18" T-Sportline) to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (on 18" Titan 7) I also thought the ride felt smoother and was quieter on the summer tires. It was immediately noticeable on the first several rides but one quickly adapts and forgets.

 

[SammichLover]

I'm kind of inclined to buy TSportline 18 in. wheels with the stock MXM4

Having moved from MXM4 to PS4S on 18", I'm not sure you'd be happy with this. The difference lateral grip, especially on wet surface, is very noticeable if you push it at all. You can even get the OEM version of the PS4S in 18" now, with the acoustic foam and the slightly higher tread wear rating (340 vs 300 of the regular PS4S). I didn't bother, and concur the PS4S doesn't produce annoying road noise in the way you can get with other tires.

Of course range is range, if you are regularly out on the edge there. With the P you won't have the option to use the Aero rims, so can't make up some of the range there like I can. You can however push the PSI up to 45 cold ahead of long distance runs. That's something that I do, while normally at 40-41PSI when not, and it helps.

 

[Superspectral]

I don't have any complaints about the summer Michelin Sport 4S tire ride on the 20 inch wheel. It is amazingly good and not jarring for that short a sidewall. When I had my Alpins removed one my rims was slightly bent and I had that straightened. While the Alpins were on, I had to have one patched (drove over a screw). The bend was on the "screwed" wheel. The Alpins allowed for spirited driving on cold dry road. They were OK in straight on snow. Not good turning. The Alpins were definitely *loud* particular on one stretch of I94 here that must have some grooves that just match the siping wrong. Alpins may actually have been a smidge more efficient that PS4s. Some of my 20 in rims are pretty badly curbed. I might have them fixed.

Recently something hit my windshield and cracked it. Nothing do with tires. No other problems with the car after 10,000 miles. No apparent battery degradation. Just dealing with a lot of "road hazards".

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Having moved from MXM4 to PS4S on 18", I'm not sure you'd be happy with this. The difference lateral grip, especially on wet surface, is very noticeable if you push it at all. You can even get the OEM version of the PS4S in 18" now, with the acoustic foam and the slightly higher tread wear rating (340 vs 300 of the regular PS4S). I didn't bother, and concur the PS4S doesn't produce annoying road noise in the way you can get with other tires.

Are you sure you're not mixing up the Pilot Sport 4 and Pilot Sport 4S?

 

[SammichLover]

Are you sure you're not mixing up the Pilot Sport 4 and Pilot Sport 4S?

Oh wow, you're exactly right. Yeah I missed it didn't have a "S" at the end of the one listed as "OEM" for Tesla. I guess different enough compound that Michelin is giving it a different designation, although I do wonder in practice how much that really amounts to.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Sport+4&partnum=345YR8PS4XLAC&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Tesla&autoYear=2018&autoModel=Model 3&autoModClar=Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Now listed as 320TW as well? Did I just misremember that detail? I was pretty sure it was 340, it stuck in my head as "well by the TW it should give a little more than 10% more miles, for the extra 10% cost, so in that way maybe it'd be okay".

But decided not to. Being really new I don't see many reviews in yet, wonder how much difference it actually is in practice.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Oh wow, you're exactly right. Yeah I missed it didn't have a "S" at the end of the one listed as "OEM" for Tesla. I guess different enough compound that Michelin is giving it a different designation, although I do wonder in practice how much that really amounts to.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Sport+4&partnum=345YR8PS4XLAC&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Tesla&autoYear=2018&autoModel=Model 3&autoModClar=Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Now listed as 320TW as well? Did I just misremember that detail? I was pretty sure it was 340, it stuck in my head as "well by the TW it should give a little more than 10% more miles, for the extra 10% cost, so in that way maybe it'd be okay".

But decided not to. Being really new I don't see many reviews in yet, wonder how much difference it actually is in practice.

Haha, yeah a few people have made that mistake on here. No worries.

The 4S is apparently that much better of a tire compared to the 4 that the sacrifice of the foam lining is definitely worth it. I spent several hours going over written/video comparisons of the two and the conclusion is always the 4S being a generational leap over the 4. It excels in both dry and wet conditions.

 

[SammichLover]

It excels in both dry and wet conditions.

Convinced Michelin is employing Oompa Loompa wizards in their manufacture. Yesterday in modest rain, enough that the windshield wipers are on constant low speed rather than intermittent, they feel at least as solid in turns as the MXM4 on dry. Maybe better. In rain heavy enough that wipers on high weren't really keeping up, it felt like "normal" driving (besides the whole working hard to see, so of course needed to be going slower).

Under heavy braking on standing water you can get the ABS to trigger a bit earlier, but nothing like I'm used to on water. Cornering hard as on dry in 2" water, at about 30mph, (on a closed track) there was no floaty hydroplane feeling. They tracked really well and while the rear did get a little loose it was a smooth transition rather than just snapping free. Of course the Model 3 AWD helped here, still all the weight and extra driving axel and T/C S/C magic doesn't matter that much if you can't grab the pavement.

 

[brianman]

$300$While looking into some of the above, I found this confusing.... What is the difference between these 3 offerings?

$299.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

$323.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

$345.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

The second URL contains "N0" which might mean the Porsche N0 designation:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=26&

The third URL contains "AC" which might mean "acoustic". Also, I just noticed that only the 3rd one lists "Original Equipment" (banner art over the prominent image) when I have "2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance Brakes" as my designated vehicle.


So I guess it's "generic 4S", then "Porsche spec", and then "Tesla Spec". I really wish Michelin would formally brand these rather than rely on people to get lucky (or be hardcore) about verifying they get what they actually want.

---

More data...

Discount Tire's versions:

$300 - Pilot Sport 4S - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s/p/32746

$324 - Pilot Sport 4S - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW N0"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s/p/39558

$346 - Pilot Sport 4S AC - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW TE"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s-ac/p/37541

 

[Tony_YYZ]

$300$While looking into some of the above, I found this confusing.... What is the difference between these 3 offerings?

$299.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

$323.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

$345.99
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+3+Performance&autoModClar=Performance+Brakes

The second URL contains "N0" which might mean the Porsche N0 designation:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=26&

The third URL contains "AC" which might mean "acoustic". Also, I just noticed that only the 3rd one lists "Original Equipment" (banner art over the prominent image) when I have "2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance Brakes" as my designated vehicle.


So I guess it's "generic 4S", then "Porsche spec", and then "Tesla Spec". I really wish Michelin would formally brand these rather than rely on people to get lucky (or be hardcore) about verifying they get what they actually want.

---

More data...

Discount Tire's versions:

$300 - Pilot Sport 4S - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s/p/32746

$324 - Pilot Sport 4S - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW N0"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s/p/39558

$346 - Pilot Sport 4S AC - "235 /35 R20 92Y XL BSW TE"
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-4s-ac/p/37541

It's exactly as you said. There is the standard offer tire and then the OEM specific versions of it which have differing features/characteristics.