Michelin Pilot A/S 3

The Ghost · 09-27-2013, 11:44 PM

I have PSS currently which hook up well in the summer in third gear and above, but are like GLASS in the winter (no traction at WOT in any gear). I'm reading that the A/S 3's have superior winter grip and possibly more summer grip.

Has anyone tried them or have any comparative review vs the PSS? My PSS have like 5k on them, but I might buy a winter set of A/S 3's if they truly are superior.

Quote:

Get the new Michelin Pilot A/S 3's for the fall/winter They are the same tread design/pattern as the super sports (PSS) with a bit more siping and the tread doesnt become a hockey puck @ 50 degrees. They just released them last month theyre better than any All Season in the wet and beat the Continental DW and Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position(Both Max Performance Summer Tires) in the dry even though the A/S 3 is categorized as Ultra High Performance All Season.

Quote:

The low temp performance will be MUCH better than the PSS or any summer tire. The compound is made to not harden up as temps drop and has some fancy sunflower oil fused in the rubber to keep it soft as temps go down. Idk about superior to the PSS but it beat out the PSS competitors like the Conti DW and Bridgstone Potenza Pole Position in the dry and would rape them in the cold or wet. It basically is a All Season Pilot Super Sport look at the tread pattern theyre very similar. Itll give you 90+% of the PSS grip in the summer but MUCH better grip in the cold and/or wet

Gary@TireRack · 09-28-2013, 10:25 AM

The A/S 03 is a noticeable step down in dry grip and steering response from the Pilot Super Sport. It is a fantastic all season tire, but it is still limited in summer grip by being an all season tire.

The Ghost · 09-28-2013, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

The A/S 03 is a noticeable step down in dry grip and steering response from the Pilot Super Sport. It is a fantastic all season tire, but it is still limited in summer grip by being an all season tire.

Good to know. Can you confirm it is superior to the PSS in the winter?

mrbuckets · 09-28-2013, 04:28 PM

looking at getting the A/S 3 as well

Gary@TireRack · 09-30-2013, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ghost

Good to know. Can you confirm it is superior to the PSS in the winter?

The PSS is not designed to be used in any snow or ice, whereas the A/S 03 is an all season tire which is made to be able to get through some light snow.

The Ghost · 09-30-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

The PSS is not designed to be used in any snow or ice, whereas the A/S 03 is an all season tire which is made to be able to get through some light snow.

Understood. It doesn't snow here. I was referring to cold temperatures. Below day 65 degrees, the PSS have horrible traction (4th gear as well). They seem to get rock hard and are unsafe under throttle.

My question is, are the A/S 3's superior in this regard?

Thanks

Gary@TireRack · 10-01-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ghost

Understood. It doesn't snow here. I was referring to cold temperatures. Below day 65 degrees, the PSS have horrible traction (4th gear as well). They seem to get rock hard and are unsafe under throttle.

My question is, are the A/S 3's superior in this regard?

Thanks

Both will lose grip progressively as temps get colder. However, as you approach freezing temps, the A/S3 will have better grip than the PSS.

badass335 · 10-01-2013, 11:53 AM

I can speak from experience on both. I have had a variety of tires. Among the list are the relevant ones for this thread and I live in Canada. Michelin AS Plus, Michelin PSS, Michelin AS3, Conti DWS, Michelin x-ice Winter.
This would be a review for our Canadian West Coast weather on my RWD 335i heavily modified including meth and LSD (limited Slip Diff).

-The AS Plus was a good tire. Traction was good, overall performance was good but I had an issue that the rears cupped. a tad noisy as well but overall decent. In light snow, these were ok.

-Conti DWS. Got this as a replacement to AS Plus. sidewall's a tad soft so performance lacks but not a big, life and death thing. Ride quality is a lot nicer as the sidewall's are softer and quieter than the AS Plus. Ran these in 2-4inches of snow and traction was surprisingly good. (Better than the AS Plus). Ran these as my fall, and spring season wheels.

-PSS for my summer set. The temps have to be warm to run these! The past summer, we had warm weather. (Not Cali but warm for Canadians. minimum temps 20C). With the temps being higher, these are great! a tad noisier than the DWS but overall great and great performance. The Issue we have with these in Canada..... The temps USUALLY are 8C - 13C for 9 - 10 months of the year. These tires are CRAP for those temps. Feels like I have ice skates on the rears.
**Made a left turn from a stop, touched throttle, temps 13C and car did a full 360 with traction control fully engaged!**

-AS3. Just got these in August and overall very nice. Good traction in rain, dry seems to be good as well. Is noisier than the PSS. No winter driving yet but so far, they are better than AS Plus in all aspects and so far, even performance compared to PSS in cooler temps is way better.

For 2 months of the year of decent weather, i'd stay get the AS3 or if ride comfort is important, the DWS.

ALSO, these are not a replacement for winter tires. They do good but nothing beats a dedicated winter tire when the white stuff starts falling. If you get caught away from home, the all seasons get you home but for winter driving, get the proper tires and the car feels like a natural on snow, even with the extra horsepower!

VMRWheels · 10-02-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

Both will lose grip progressively as temps get colder. However, as you approach freezing temps, the A/S3 will have better grip than the PSS.

Agreed.

pits200 · 10-16-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

The A/S 03 is a noticeable step down in dry grip and steering response from the Pilot Super Sport. It is a fantastic all season tire, but it is still limited in summer grip by being an all season tire.

Every expert review claims the A/S 3s are better than a large majority of summer tires.

I have the PSS on my car now and would like a little more wear and losing a little grip isn't a big deal for me. I have a winter set of tires and like hte idea of very high performing all seasons to fit the fall/winter gap where neither tire is truly ideal.

09-28-2013, 10:25 AM	#2
Gary@TireRack Moderator 372 Rep 4,742 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	The A/S 03 is a noticeable step down in dry grip and steering response from the Pilot Super Sport. It is a fantastic all season tire, but it is still limited in summer grip by being an all season tire. __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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09-28-2013, 04:28 PM	#4
mrbuckets Private 1 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Orange Park, FL iTrader: (0)	looking at getting the A/S 3 as well
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10-01-2013, 11:53 AM	#8
badass335 Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,948 Posts Drives: 2017 540i Xdrive Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Surrey, BC iTrader: (10)	I can speak from experience on both. I have had a variety of tires. Among the list are the relevant ones for this thread and I live in Canada. Michelin AS Plus, Michelin PSS, Michelin AS3, Conti DWS, Michelin x-ice Winter. This would be a review for our Canadian West Coast weather on my RWD 335i heavily modified including meth and LSD (limited Slip Diff). -The AS Plus was a good tire. Traction was good, overall performance was good but I had an issue that the rears cupped. a tad noisy as well but overall decent. In light snow, these were ok. -Conti DWS. Got this as a replacement to AS Plus. sidewall's a tad soft so performance lacks but not a big, life and death thing. Ride quality is a lot nicer as the sidewall's are softer and quieter than the AS Plus. Ran these in 2-4inches of snow and traction was surprisingly good. (Better than the AS Plus). Ran these as my fall, and spring season wheels. -PSS for my summer set. The temps have to be warm to run these! The past summer, we had warm weather. (Not Cali but warm for Canadians. minimum temps 20C). With the temps being higher, these are great! a tad noisier than the DWS but overall great and great performance. The Issue we have with these in Canada..... The temps USUALLY are 8C - 13C for 9 - 10 months of the year. These tires are CRAP for those temps. Feels like I have ice skates on the rears. Made a left turn from a stop, touched throttle, temps 13C and car did a full 360 with traction control fully engaged! -AS3. Just got these in August and overall very nice. Good traction in rain, dry seems to be good as well. Is noisier than the PSS. No winter driving yet but so far, they are better than AS Plus in all aspects and so far, even performance compared to PSS in cooler temps is way better. For 2 months of the year of decent weather, i'd stay get the AS3 or if ride comfort is important, the DWS. ALSO, these are not a replacement for winter tires. They do good but nothing beats a dedicated winter tire when the white stuff starts falling. If you get caught away from home, the all seasons get you home but for winter driving, get the proper tires and the car feels like a natural on snow, even with the extra horsepower!
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