What are your thoughts on the Michelin Pilot Supersport in OEM size for the Evo 8?

 

Great tire for street only use. Won't really hold up for autocross or track.

 

I think the car suspension was tuned on the A046. Other tires may be better at the track and I've run several of what were considered the best tire at the time but the A046 is still the most fun to drive on. I'll miss mine when they are gone.

 

This is the exact reason I started this thread. I want to replicate the feel and balance of the A046, not just get a new tire that has better grip or is quicker at an autocross.

 

I'd stick to the extreme performance class of tire for anything track based/closest feel to oe.

 

RE71r is an autocross specific tire. Not good for track days and will wear down to the cords between 5 and 7 thousand miles of ONLY street use.

The Dunlop Z2 star specs are a great alternative. Just don't drive them during freezing temperatures.

 

Just to close the loop on this, I went with the Dunlop Z2 Star Specs.

I had limited time driving on them, but here is my thoughts:

Lots of grip

Does not turn in or have the "feel" of the A046.


So essentially, my worst fear was realized; I lost that feel the steering has with the OEM tires. I get why that is (when a car is tuned around a specific tire), but it still bums me out. I even checked to make sure the tire pressure wasn't too low in the front tires, and no it was right around 34psi.

I will update this as I spend more time with them, but for the time being, I still hold the A046 in higher regard. (for street, maybe the Dunlops will shine on track days and autocrosses when they get more heat in them)

Thanks again for all the input.

 

Yokohama ADVAN tires (as well as other brands) try to bias towards a type of handling performance. From over a decade autocrossing and some road racing I found that the Yokes have a handling that really matches my driving style. Basically the way they reach their limit is something I can predict and control. I find Bridgstones just don't work with me. I tried many of them over the years and they never make me feel confident or were squeally when pushed. Contis just feel like soft sidewalls no matter what I bought. And Michelins I can't figure out as they seem to vary in style a lot.

So I would strongly recommend that you go towards the ADVAN NEOVA AD08 R tires. I haven't tried this specific generation though.

I ran their predecessor and found them a close match to the A046s.

 

Wouldn't the natural replacement for the A046 be the A048? A046's routinely wore out by 10K miles, so tire life should not be a concern.

 

I'm not positive, but I don't think the A046 fell into the "Streetable Track & Competition" category; not a bad suggestion though. Does anyone have experience with them?

TireRack has them on closeout in the stock size, I wonder if they too are discontinued.

 

IMO though, the RE71R is the current price/performance leader. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Potenza+RE-71R

 

A048 is a semi slick/r-compound which in other market is already superseded by A050

The most closest replacement for A046 would be Neova AD08R

 

Looks like Yokohomam is replacing the A048 with the A052 http://www.tiresandparts.net/News/13...eet-Sport-Tire