Couldn't decide on PSS or AS3, went with S3 as I live where at times when is does get cold but never snow ice on the road, North Georgia Mountains. Gets below 40 of course but I will take my chances. On way to work with AS3 hit the curves as usual and wow was it scary, seemed to flop/roll over when pushed into curves. My original equip were better handling. Good ride but nothing to write home about. Having the PSS put on Monday.
2012 Coupe S automatic

 

Not being snarky here. But are you aware you need to break tires in? Usually around 500 miles is needed before you do much high speed cornering or driving in general. Also, if you came from runflats, there is going to be more give from the sidewalls and you will lose some of that 'on rails' feeling. Also, depending on tread depth, outgoing tires will handle slightly better (depending on the type of tire) due to less tread depth to flex when making turns. As a tire ages, the handling characteristics improve with heat cycles and less tread to flex.

 

I have had many tires but none to ever feel like these. Am I the only one that dislikes the AS3? If so maybe I better figure something else. What is a clone post?

 

Clone post is basically when you have 2 of the same posts. If you use the Desktop site on the left hand side there is a link called "New Posts". This will show ALL new posts, so when I clicked it, I saw that you had 2 identical posts. So I covered both posts but posting on one and linking to the other.

 

Sorry, new here. I placed in tires as well as my cars page. I will try and remove one. And not wanting to bash tires just very disappointed. I put almost 200 miles on them before pushing them. Really very surprised.

 

You are not the first person who has been unhappy switching from runflats and their "go kart" handling. I posted to your other thread. Have you checked your tire pressures?

 

what tire pressure were you running? michelins always seem to want higher pressures

on my all4 with pilot super sports i am running 42 psi front and 37 psi rear, set with a tire pyrometer i borrowed from a race team

have over 10k agressive miles and they are wearing evenly across the tread

i rotate every 4k miles to coincide with oil/filter change

i would guess the as3s would be similar

 

I'm surprised to hear this, and was one of those who had touted the AS3 in your earlier thread.

Question: what suspension do you have? A standard (soft) suspension paired with a non-runflat tire may not be a good combination for hard cornering. My cars all have coilover or JCW suspensions (very firm) which work well with both the PSS and AS3. Don't expect to find a huge difference between those two tires when it comes to steering response and cornering.

 

You could be right if the OP is mistaking increased body roll for tire rollover. If that's the case the even stickier PSS will make it worse.

 

Not to be "that guy" but what psi are you running them on? I typically run 36/36 F/R. MINI's recommendation of 32 psi seems too "soft".

I've had Pilot AS3's for about a year or so. I think they're FANTASTIC! (not sarcasm) My current setup is Koni Yellows with H&R Cup springs, 19mm rsb and 17x7 O.Z. Ultraleggera's on 205/45/17s. I have supreme confidence in these tires. I drive VERY aggressively (not like an a-hole, just like how a MINI should be driven). These tires have never once "squealed" or "squirmed" under hard cornering and are extremely predictable and progressive. Just pure confidence. Treadwear is NIL. After 15K miles there's almost no wear.
Warm weather cornering is excellent, they feel better than the Conti DW summers(Y-speed) I had last year.
Cold weather cornering is very good. I've taken off ramps at 70mph with temps in the teens and they had plenty of grip. Light-snow traction is "meh". But they're "no seasons".

All this being said, I'm gonna switch to a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports in the summer and run dedicated snows next winter.

I'm surprised you don't like them (not being condescending). I say that because the A/S 3's are based on the technology found on the PSS's (Vario-patch, high silica compound ect). The A/S 3's are basically 90% of the PSS's that just so happen to work in temps below 40F. Maybe you were accustomed to the stiff side-walls of the RFs? Those can give the impression of crazy good turn-in but ultimate grip is much less in the end...

 

I have the sport suspension, stock everything other than tires and soon to be installed cold intake and JB+ tuner. I did go to the 215/45-17 from the 205/45-17. Have 35 lbs of air all around. And yes I feel its tire roll over, not body roll.

 

The 215/45's sidewalls are 5mm taller vs the 205/45's (92mm vs 97mm or 1.6%). The difference in aspect ratio should be almost imperceptible but it's there nonetheless. Combine that with a "non Run Flat" sidewall and I could see how the A/S 3's feel "soft". I'm not a tire aspect ratio expert, I crunched the numbers on the website below:

http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

Which runflats came with the car? Conti 3 SSR? Potenza RE050A? P-Zero RF? I can't find the article, but Car and Driver recently did a comparison test pitting the Pilot Sport A/S's vs the Pilot Super Sports on a BMW F90 328i. The difference in track times, steering response and skid pad grip were almost neck and neck. Anotherwords unless you plan on auto-crossing, the difference you'd see in getting the PSS isn't a whole lot. You have REALLY good tires on your car right now lol. They just don't have concrete for sidewalls

 

From the first post in your other thread on this subject:

"The PSS isn't going to be as stiff as a runflat either. The Roadster S requires 38 psi and my installer set the A/S 3's at 34. Correcting the pressure made a significant difference."

The 2012 MINI Coupe owner's manual calls for a pressure of 41psi when the tire is cold for a 205/45-17. 35 psi is too soft for spirited driving no matter what tire you choose, especially in the winter when the tire doesn't gain as many psi after being driven on.

 

even the owners manual can be wrong

as i said in previous post ... using a tire pyrometer to set tire pressure on my all4 with michelin pss, i ended up at 42 psi front and 37 psi rear (cold)

the turnin is as good as if not better than the oem pirelli p7 summer rfs, the ultimate grip is far greater and the ride is much better

per alex @ tirerack, the as3 is about 95% of the pss in the dry but wears much better

up the tire pressure in your as3s

 

Interesting setup (42F/37R). Does that reduce understeer? I usually run 36/36 since the "door jamb" recommends 32/32. As long as it doesn't create "snap oversteer" I'd like to try a similar setup. As it stands now my car is extremely neutral and predictable, neither under or oversteer.

Also unrelated question... How the hell does everyone have a picture of their car along with a list of mods at the bottom of their replies? I've been trying to figure out how to set that up for a year and a half lol. Damn technology...

 

Look for the term "sig" or "signature" in all of the stuff on the left-side of the window here on the site. Or go to the "User CP" (command post?) and look for anything that says sig or signature.

 

i used a tire pyrometer ... those are the pressures that gave even temps across the tread of the tire and since i am seeing very even tire wear i am convinced the pressures are correct FOR MY CAR (i also rotate every 4k miles ... rear cross to front, front straight back to rear, as recommended by michelin for awd)

and it makes sense given the front weight bias

as for snap oversteer, i don't have it ... the rear breaks away in a very predictable way and i can even throttle steer my all4 ... my all4 has factory sport suspension with sport package (18x7.5 et 52 alloys with 225/45R18s ... my michelins are up sized to 225/50R18) and the only suspension mod is a front upper strut bar, i have a TSW front lower brace queued for install

in the 1970s, i tracked my 1976 rabbit ... it was heavily modded ... 160 wheel hp @ 9,000 rpm (from 76 crank hp @ 6,500 stock and 7,000 redline), shocks, springs, brakes, wheels, tires, front and rear sway bars, front and rear upper strut bars and front lower brace

i found 3 causes of snap oversteer on that car

1 ... too much rear sway bar ... mine was adjustable ... backed it off from stiffest to softest setting ... the 76 rabbit had no sway bar stock

2 ... too high rear tire pressure ... i doubt that even pressure is optimal on any model mini given the front weight bias (i wonder about the 2 seat models weight distribution)

3 ... lifting the throttle while cornering, even a little ... compared to rwd cars, best cornering technique calls for lower corner entry speed and full throttle all the way through the corner ... never lift, ever

 

And remember...
A worn out tire with 2/32 tread will always feel Sharper and more responsive than a new 8/32 tire...all that rubber is like adding gloves....
My guess is...
Give it a few days...
This tire you hate seems to be well loved by most...

 

Control Panel

 

I m on my second set of AS3's 215/45/17... found them to be excellent and they have yet to break loose under any conditions - 35lbs all around - far better than the run flats

 

Once more into the breach...


All season tires do nothing well. They aren't great at anything.


The best choice is having two dedicated sets of wheels and tires. (summer and snows). Then you just have to realize that the snow tires are just that. Snow tires... designed to go like heck in the snow and cold. They do not offer the same grip as a summer tire, so you just don't ask them too... (or at least shouldn't...lol) If you don't live where the temp is constantly below 40F you really have no need of snow tires.


My summer tires are Michelin PSS, and the snows are Blizzaks. (snows in a 195-55-16, and summer in 215-45-17) The snows go on mid November, and come off in late March...


If you have chosen to have all season tires, you shouldn't ***** about them...

 

I am waiting on PSS from Discount tire. Plan on replacing but afraid these cold morning will play havoc on the PSS, no snow or ice just 30 degree mornings Jan and Feb .

 

Just don't be a tool. They will be fine, just don't push them, and be aware of your limitations.

 

This is true to a point. Age & heat cycles can make a tire that is worn down feel like a hockey puck. As people get older they get softer as tires age they get harder.

To the OP tires need break in time.

 

Man I literally just bought these tires lol waiting till summer to install them . I hope I like them ..