Gen 3 Tires Continental or Michelin

[VOI9]

For the Gen 3 tires: 245/35-18, 345/30-19 for normal street use and no track use go with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or the Continental Extreme Contact Sport? Michelin makes the fronts, but the rears need to go to 355/30-19. Continental has 275/30-18 fronts and the same 355/30-19 rears as Michelin. Anyone have experience with either, or any other tire?

[Aevus]

I run 295-35-18 front and 355-30-19 rear on stock gen 3 wheels and love it.

Heard good comments on the 4S

[jpmst3]

I was contemplating the same. It is nice to know the alternate sizes work well. Hopefully the Continentals are slightly cheaper??

[Aevus]

I was contemplating the same. It is nice to know the alternate sizes work well. Hopefully the Continentals are slightly cheaper??

You're limited if you plan to lower the car though. I lowered roughly 0.75'' (20mm) but it scrubs at the rear passed that with my Kuhmo ACR's, and it scrubs too on the front with full steering turn (parking). But all in all, it's much better: better handling, more grip, more comfort. Wouldnt go wider though...

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

PartsRack has both, and the Contis are a few HUNDRED $$ LE$$ vs MICH. .

Can Ship TODAY. 1-3 day service Thank You.


JonB@Partsrack.com

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

For the Gen 3 tires: 245/35-18, 345/30-19 for normal street use and no track use go with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or the Continental Extreme Contact Sport? Michelin makes the fronts, but the rears need to go to 355/30-19. Continental has 275/30-18 fronts and the same 355/30-19 rears as Michelin. Anyone have experience with either, or any other tire?

CAUTION: Typo on sizes. Call me for correct sizes and correct OPTIONS? Thank 360-837-3937

[Aevus]

Kuhmo ACR tires (rear) are EXCELLENT, bytheway. On par with the Michelin Cup 2, that I had on my Porsche. Problem is on a gen 3 stock wheels you can't have the matching front size. I went with a pair of Yokohama A052 in 295-35-18 and it matches the handling/grip of the rear Kuhmo beautifully. Will buy the same combo again without hesitation. But for a DD I would personnaly go with the Michelin 4S, unless you never drive under heavy rain and with temp below 40f

[sonnyboy]

I have a new set of Continentals. They do not seem to be very grippy. I can easily slide the tail going through a low-speed round-about (silently - they don't squeal when sliding this way - which makes it somewhat difficult to know when you're at the limit). I would probably get something else if I were buying again.

[jpmst3]

I have a new set of Continentals. They do not seem to be very grippy. I can easily slide the tail going through a low-speed round-about (silently - they don't squeal when sliding this way - which makes it somewhat difficult to know when you're at the limit). I would probably get something else if I were buying again.

Hmmm, that is good to know. Thanks for posting your feedback and experiences. That definitely gives me pause. Although I don't drive very aggressively these days, it is still nice to have real impressions.

[Aevus]

Hmmm, that is good to know. Thanks for posting your feedback and experiences. That definitely gives me pause. Although I don't drive very aggressively these days, it is still nice to have real impressions.

Very good tires do not require to be pushed agressively to make you feel the benefits. You feel the difference instantly, even at low speed/cruising. Feels more planted, precise, predictable and nimble. Also better grip when pushed, obviously.

In order of best handling/feeling, from best to worst:

1. Hoosier (track only)
2. Michelin Cup 2 / Kuhmo ACR
3. Michelin 4S
4. Continental Extremecontact sport
5. Nitto Invo

[jpmst3]

Very good tires do not require to be pushed agressively to make you feel the benefits. You feel the difference instantly, even at low speed/cruising. Feels more planted, precise, predictable and nimble. Also better grip when pushed, obviously.

In order of best handling/feeling, from best to worst:

1. Hoosier (track only)
2. Michelin Cup 2 / Kuhmo ACR
3. Michelin 4S
4. Continental Extremecontact sport
5. Nitto Invo

No doubt...Understood, been there and done the limits and beyond. ...just not with the Viper, as of yet.
I have also had my fair share of buyer's remorse when buying non-OEM equipped tires, on SEVERAL vehicles. It is nice to know the Michelins, albeit pricey, are still among tops on your list. If you are going to pay good money for tires, it's better to know what you are getting compared to what you have.
I'll check the test as well, thanks for posting the link.

[Aevus]

No doubt...Understood, been there and done the limits and beyond. ...just not with the Viper, as of yet

honestly the stock Viper's limits are not the tires but the driver and the car itself (suspension, settings, etc..) ... If your goal is to get max straight accel grip, without going drag strip crazy, go with Kuhmo ACR or Cup 2 + Wavetrac diff + lots of toe-in alignment. You'll have plenty of fun with that, even with 3.55 or 3.73 gears and all bolt-ons...

[Aevus]

scratch the cup 2 option, not our sizes. Not even the newer Cup 2 R.

so basically the best available streetable rear tire is the 355 kuhmo ACR.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

I have a new set of Continentals. They do not seem to be very grippy. I can easily slide the tail going through a low-speed round-about (silently - they don't squeal when sliding this way - which makes it somewhat difficult to know when you're at the limit). I would probably get something else if I were buying again.

Low Speed Roundabouts, as well as stop-sign / intersection lane centerlines, are a common source of greasy pavement. All the drips fly off in the corners. Its fun to 'steer the rear.' Unless you are on a bike!

THose online tire reviews almost NEVER source to a Viper... lottsa BMWs, Accuras, Camaros, etc. and unknown driving skills. Many are AWD. If you own and drive a VIper aggressively, you 'probably' have above-average car control skills, often out of neccessity! My first VIper in 93 scared the crap out of me.

That said, I just put 1777 miles on the Contis, pacing a Trans Am weekend in a mixed bag of 15 dry, and 6 wet races, as well as torrential rains coming come. THey peformed very well all-in-all, as would be expected in an OE-type tire. They hardly tramline (rut-tracking) at all! We even had 2 miles of "Summit Snow" coming home.

Saving 200$ vs Pirellis, or $500 vs MI is bonus!

[jpmst3]

Low Speed Roundabouts, as well as stop-sign / intersection lane centerlines, are a common source of greasy pavement. All the drips fly off in the corners. Its fun to 'steer the rear.' Unless you are on a bike!

THose online tire reviews almost NEVER source to a Viper... lottsa BMWs, Accuras, Camaros, etc. and unknown driving skills. Many are AWD. If you own and drive a VIper aggressively, you 'probably' have above-average car control skills, often out of neccessity! My first VIper in 93 scared the crap out of me.

That said, I just put 1777 miles on the Contis, pacing a Trans Am weekend in a mixed bag of 15 dry, and 6 wet races, as well as torrential rains coming come. THey peformed very well all-in-all, as would be expected in an OE-type tire. They hardly tramline (rut-tracking) at all! We even had 2 miles of "Summit Snow" coming home.

Saving 200$ vs Pirellis, or $500 vs MI is bonus!

Thanks for the data!

[Aevus]

That test:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=269

Makes it very clear: the Michelin 4S are the best in their category for a true sport car: best handling on dry.

Conti are the worst of all 4 tires in that test, but they behave better in the wet. But then again, if you have a Viper to drive it in the wet sell it and buy a powerboat.

[Aevus]

Woah just noticed the price on Michelin 355's... damn.

Well then the best combo for a gen 3 that don't track or not much, and on a budget:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...0ACR&tab=Sizes

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

Michelin 4S in 285-35-18 size will probably match the grip of the Kuhmo 355s and worst case scenario (pushed hard on a track) it will slightly understeer. But your front-end will be much safer on street/wet than, say, Mclaren or Ferrari guys who runs Pirelli Trofeo R... If you have the money, go with 4S all corners. If you don't want to spend 1200 bucks each year on rear only, then maybe Kuhmo rear.

[jpmst3]

Agreed on the Kumhos. Seems reasonable for commensurate levels of performance, or more.

[Aevus]

Agreed on the Kumhos. Seems reasonable for commensurate levels of performance, or more.

if they wouldnt dry I would stock 10 sets of em

[Steve M]

Didn't realize Michelin was finally making the 4S in Viper sizes. Interesting...

[VOI9]

I am looking for tires that will fit on stock wheels and in the envelope of the wheelhouse without hitting anything. Michigan roads are terrible so I need more tread depth than the Kumho ACR tires offer. A flat tire without a spare is no fun and I've not had luck with the inflators. No track time, no plans to lower the car. Drive about 500-750 miles a year. Avoid bad weather but sometimes it does rain.

[Aevus]

I am looking for tires that will fit on stock wheels and in the envelope of the wheelhouse without hitting anything. Michigan roads are terrible so I need more tread depth than the Kumho ACR tires offer. A flat tire without a spare is no fun and I've not had luck with the inflators. No track time, no plans to lower the car. Drive about 500-750 miles a year. Avoid bad weather but sometimes it does rain.

Michelin 4S then. Can't go wrong.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

I am looking for tires that will fit on stock wheels and in the envelope of the wheelhouse without hitting anything. Michigan roads are terrible so I need more tread depth than the Kumho ACR tires offer. A flat tire without a spare is no fun and I've not had luck with the inflators. No track time, no plans to lower the car. Drive about 500-750 miles a year. Avoid bad weather but sometimes it does rain.

The SOFTER a tire is when new, the quicker it oxidizes-hardens when inflated and heat-cycled by driving.

My oxidation analogy is a slice of bread vs. a Bagel. Put a slice and a bagel on a plate and come back in 1 hour. The soft bread will become HARD but the bagel will be unchanged, still a bagel. Oxygen access to the softer product makes it vulnerable. In essentially the same way, your track tire compounds get hard FAST....while OE tires dont harden as quickly.

When VOI9 says '<750-miles a year' ? = CONTINENTALS! [And pocket about $450 vs Michelins.] And 'occasional rain shower', = CONTI. Great in dry/wet.

Ive sold $5,000,000+ of Viper sized tires, and help bring you this forum since Day 1. I hope I can help. [Seriously VOA : Does club sponsorship even matter? ]

Ask anyone, we are priced right, and SHIP FASSSST. "ALWAYS" priced nicely below the large internet guys who dont know Vipers and dont sponsor.

If you buy elsewhere, you almost certainly will over-pay. That matters!

JonB@PartsRack.com. Thank You

[SA Heat]

I have the Contis on my ACR and they've been really good, even when pushed hard on a variety of turns and pavement types in the Texas Hill Country. No surprises and they stick like glue.

[jpmst3]

Nice, I will definitely consider them on the next go 'round.