Like the Pilot Sport 2 (PS2) before it and the Pilot Sport 4 S (PS4S) that supersedes it, the PSS features an asymmetric tread design with a Bi-Compound tread, where the inner part of the tire has a wet-focused compound while the meaty outer shoulder of the tire has a more track-focused compound to withstand the load and heat from hard cornering.
This PS2 / PSS / PS4S class of tire have been a benchmark for the “Max Performance Summer Tire” category for their well-rounded performance, handling, traction, durability, and good tread life.
The PSS tire has uneven spacing of the outer shoulder lateral grooves. This breaks up the harmonics and reduces drone and tire noise.
The PSS is actually very light, roughly 10% lighter compared to its competitors. Less unsprung and rotational weight greatly improve the handling and response of a car. This is possible through Michelin’s use of a lightweight Twaron cord wrapped around to reinforce the two steel belts in the tire’s carcass. This also improves high-speed handling, wear and durability.
The 3-piece Forgeline GA3R-6 motorsport wheel are great wheels, but we are excited to reduce weight, increase stiffness and performance with the new forged monoblock wheels.
We entrusted mounting the Michelin tires on our beautiful new Forgeline wheels to the experts at Palm Beach Pit Crew, located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida.
A 19×13” wheel is not an easy setup to mount.
9 comments
gorgeous wheels and tires. not sure if i missed it being mentioned in the article, but why didn’t you go with the PS4? I love the michelin feel when they are new, but they age and crack SO fast, even in a garaged car in Los Angeles. They dry rot and plasticize within 5 years easily. I know its recommended to get new tires every 6 years or whatever, but its a bit dramatic with Michelin from the sets I’ve interacted with.
The PS4S was not available in the Viper size at the time of the install. The previous “C1” Viper compound was well over 5 years old and did not have dry rot issues, neither have a lot of the PS2 or PSS tires that i’ve personally used.
Damn, so much tread left on that old tire. Do you even drive this car?
It’s not always the wear but the age of the tire that matters. The tires were old and needed replacing; plus the tread was down to the wear marks and the outer shoulders were worn completely; close to cords, and would not last much longer on track.
Yeah, because we know what happens when a Viper get a blowout at high speed…
Hey, great DIY writeup. Thanks. Are you going to continue on that project any further?
So much left 😉 brake distribution, steering cooler, track testing … what about a carbon drive shaft and other cool stuff to bring that thing back into competition to today’s cars?!
Hey! I’ve just finished reading all the 16 parts of your Viper story and I must say I’m really impressed with the quality of material (all the measurements before-after and etc). Keep it up! Can’t wait to read the next parts.
Thank you for the kind words!
I just bought a 2002 RT/10, and I have greatly enjoyed these articles, especially with how you reference all years of the 2nd gen cars, so the information is very relevant to me. I also have a set of VX1’s on my car. The previous owner set it up for track use, which I won’t be doing regularly myself. I look forward to seeing how you upgrade the brakes! Will you invest in headers or any additional work to the motor? I would love to upgrade my cam to get that lumpy 708 idle.