Always good to have extra input on which tires to avoid... might save some other users some heartache in the future.

The PSS is getting rave reviews. While they're more expensive than the INVO, the distance/life seems to be greater so maybe it's not so outta-whack after all. As you've witnessed, those people that paid the premium have nothing but praise to say about them. If I can pay a little less for the INVO and get 90% of the performance of the PSS, I'll be happy.

If I find $300 under the couch, then I might put on my big-boy pants and buy the PSS

 

I got my SSB SRT-6 at less than 8K miles and its original Continental still at 12/12 rating 15 months ago. After 2 past Dragon runs, at 16K and prior to the recent 2013 Spring Dragon I decided to put the Nitto Invo.
225/40ZR18XL
285/30ZR19XL

Aware that I have been driving with 8 yrs old tires, I have been saving for a while for this - so when I do research to buy money wasn’t really a concern. The SRT-6 just got NW DCAI and EC tune installed, but I am not a A”” Hauling driver – after reading that all other basic functions were rated well - what then really won me over originally was that Invo crazy patterns, I just got to try! Recommended by my A”” Hauling buddy made the deal for me.

On the way to the Fontana it practically rained most the 400 miles – Invo passed with flying color – solid performance - there was not even a hint of hydroplane what so ever. I was very skeptical about the manufacturer’s claims of this aspect of the design but now I am beginning to think there might be st to it.

On the various Dragon runs I did all kinds of those things that I am not supposed to do to find out about Invo - like tail wagging tire squealing and slip sliding – well the Invo got me planted on the road.

Here is the new thing – usually I got comments on the car – this time I got comments on the tire! I have gone through only about 1k miles with the Invo so who knows what comes later – but for now I am happy with it.

there you go John - not a canyon carver but mean spirited driver on occasions.

 

Double Bacon! Looks nice, I would love breaking those loose on a daily basis.

 

This is exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks!! I think I'm going to buy them simply to satisfy my curiosity. I look at tires like shoes -- literally. Don't like 'em, they'll either wear out or I'll get a blister. Either way, not married to them.

I read about 12-15 reviews on various high-HP forums (Viper, SVT, Porsche, etc) and all of them had very favorable things to say about the straight-line grip. The Viper guy was stoked about their track performance as well. While it's a given that these aren't track tires, he said they performed "as good as a hi-perf summer tire possibly could." He said he matched his lap times that he previously laid with Michelin PS2 with the INVO after experimenting with the PSI. Works for me!!!

Those are some awesome looking meats, excellent pics!

Cheers,

--John

 

Those do look nice, judging by the pattern I am assuming they are non directional? I think that would be a plus as well. I think even a left to right swap would have helped the hankooks wear better.

Also after swapping from the eagle f1 all seasons back to the Hankooks this weekend I need to give them some credit back I didn't realize how quiet they were even now that they are louder! To be more specific on the noise complaint, they have a whirring noise at certain speeds now that they are worn. Most noticeable at 35-45 and 60-70, louder as speed increases. I believe this is because the pattern of the wear on the rears.

Please update with some impressions as the miles go on to these. I'm close to wear bars on the insides of the rears of the hankooks so still got more left in em before buying new.

 

Even when they were new people use to say "wow you need tires!" I had to explain they are new... ZR. Anyways I did a 13.5 with the Nittos in the strip, I miss how they stick. However, the NEOGEN Im running now last longer 280 I believe and they help with negative camber of lowered cars for a better price.

Right its non directional.

 

I know I'm late to the thread party, but I have these on a medium HP SRT4 Neon, and couldn't be happier with them. Straight line traction is great. Sidewall flexes a bit more than it looks but has a very (high) predictable limit of traction as I think it allows more of the tire surface to dig in rather than just burning off the edges.

One thing to note with them, though is as they wear, look very closely at the tread blocks, they are actually trapezoidal. The only complaint I have is that at 50% tread or less they push a lot more water as they would if the tread blocks were straight, so these WILL HYDROPLANE without warning. I have spent many a normal rainfall driving 45-50 watching cars pass by because puddles would push the car all over the place (on a FWD application with only 225mm section width), so with our very light rear ends with wider tires I can only imagine it would be more pronounced (and scary!). Overall this is a great tire with huge potential for the summer.

 

John,
Did you ever decide to go with these tires? I am starting the research phase of getting rear tires for my roadster (stupid fronts just keep on going) and am torn between these and the PS2's that you also mention. Cost difference is almost double for the PS2's over the Invo's ($228.39ea vs $440.00ea). I don't want to overpay, but I don't want to buy tires I wont be happy with. Coming from BFG gForce T/A KDW 2's I have a better idea what areas I want performance improvements in. Not that I dislike the BFG's, but they have certain drawbacks that limit my driving style/areas.

Thanks in advance
Ben

 

I am in the same place as Ben. Personally, I would like to get something that does not act like a hankook ventus V12. These are too slippery for me cold or hot.

 

I agree but as long as they last it's OK with me.

 

I came very close, but honestly this review scared me:

One thing I distinctively remember about the Continental DWS is that nervous feeling I got when driving in a downpour... "wet" roads were fine, they offered very reasonable traction. But steady rain was tedious at best. I don't want to repeat that with the power I plan to be putting down...

I've never run the V12, but I have heard the common complaint of poor grip. The Limited guys love 'em, but when it comes to SRT owners, I've heard four complaints to every "one" good review.

I've also heard plenty of complaints of sidewall flex, premature wear, and a general "loose" feeling to them.

Right now, I'm leaning heavily towards the Michelin PSS.

It's not as sticky as the PS2, but about $100 cheaper (puts them directly between the INVO and PS2, price-wise). I'd rather spend $1,000 and be happy, than spend $700 and complain for the next 15,000 miles.

The reviews on the PSS are simply stellar. Also, they offer a 295 rear tire. I'm running wider wheels than stock, so I can accommodate the rear rubber. Interestingly enough, the 295 is only $10 more than the 275/35... So, it's basically free traction.

 

I too have heard bad wet weather reviews for the DWS Contis, however have read good things about the DW Contis. They seem to have a bit softer sidewall and flex a bit but reviews seem to indicate they feel really well and are pretty communicative near their limit.
My biggest concern with the Michelin Pilot lineup is the often complained about noise they produce, whether it be the PS2's, or the original Pilot Sports. I will admit I hadn't looked into the PSS's yet, maybe they dont have that problem as badly? I really don't care too much about noise, but if I can get a slightly quieter tire with similar performance to another noisy tire, that would be my deciding factor over price.

 

I wouldn't call the ps2s noisy from my experience (2 sets about half used). My problem was just the price, on a DD NA they just are not worth it IMO. I need more miles out of a set. My v12s are way louder in the back because of irregular wear. New they were a quieter than the PS2s though but not by a whole lot.

You guys might want to look out for the new Yokohama Advan AD08R but they have not been released stateside yet. Suppose to be better and cheaper than the current AD08, more carbon and more silica. Not sure price wise how they will stack up to the PSS and the same tread pattern being used they could be a little noisy as people say about the current AD08. They do run wide as well.

I have actually been looking at the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 pole position as another low cost alternative. Right now actually cheaper than the v12 but reviews and specs look much better than the price would suggest. Don't look to be anything amazing but at the same time does a lot of things very well. Have not seen anything really bad about them.

 

My only concern is the inherent increased noise with my cloth roofed roadster, vs the insulated steel roof on your coupe. Wind noise is acceptable, road noise is acceptable, but both at the same time can be a bit bothersome.

Its often hard to get reviews for a tire that are meaningful to me, a BMW with its fully insulated cloth roof will not have the same noise intrusion that I experience. A Focus is not even worthwhile to skim review information, how can you justify reviewing a performance tire in any econobox?
Seems like not many roadster owners want to come forward with good tire review info. Probably too busy driving around collecting skin cancer on their heads and faces ;-)

 

Thank you for all of your feedbacks please keep posting - esp the negative in the long term - so I know what to watch for. I will do the same.

I have put about 1500 miles so far on the INVO and am very happy with it.
It’s so quiet and I can hear the wind noise that was not noticeable before with my old Continental.
Love to hear the screaming NW DCAI coming through the cabin better now!

will be heading to my first track event
Zoom & Vroom Track Event NCCAR Sat June 8, 2013, Roanoke Rapids NC
I don’t expect anything to complain at this 1500 miles stage – but will post if anything negative show up - cheers!

 

Definitely keep us posted. I'll be buying tires in another month-ish (haven't driven my SRT much lately) so if you convince me to save $300 with your lap times, that would rock LOL

 

There are many here that would without trying - but I would be the wrong person to impress you with track record - I am mostly a proud safe and solid boulevard cruiser – anything else otherwise would be the unintended ‘good’ influence of this speed addict forum here ha ha ha !

and yes I am so thrilled for my SRT-6 first driving on a track …

I was with the same predicament with what to choose last time like you are and I also got the same principle - would spend more rather than sorry later. At least in my case the sorry would be lots later since I mostly at work instead of driving.

Have FUN whatever you end up getting and let us know! like lots of pretty pictures!

 

Did you get a chance to run with them at the track this weekend? Thoughts?

Cheers,

 

Yes we did run the track all day at NCCAR Garysburg/Roanoke Rapids NC. I had my first timer tons of fun!!!!!!!!!!! and as far as Nitto Invo concerned - it performs FLAWLESS! My instructor and I did not pay any attention to the tires at all – we are busy getting my unlearning all my street driving habits and to learn the track driving ha ha ha!!!!

I did not have any scare moments because of the tires! We drove through the downpour of Andrea on the way up and again I can confirm that at 2000 miles Nitto Invo stick solid through puddles and what not – it’s a different class from Continental that I have used with before.

Also people mentioned on reviews about sidewall flex – I put 37.5 or 38 psi on daily driving and so far I do not have any problem with that and still drive quiet and not choppy.

For track my instructor recommended to put 40 psi but I got busy and never did that – still only twice did I notice a flex but barely and less important given all the other variables I needed to attend to. So I did not use the optimum tire pressure but the grip was still stellar on the track. I had hard time doing the hair pin turn correctly to launch properly into the half mile straight away (map below: we run clockwise) – I did mostly 95, 110, 117, and only once hit 125 mph. BUT - I can confirm and am impressed of what I heard before about INVO and its stickiness on straights!

Got to report that my buddy DirtySouthSRT6 did the SRT-6 brand proud that track day among badass rausch-mustangs porsche etc – people were impressed with his driving skill and was shocked to see how the SRT- 6 runs! He consistently hit 120 and more at straight away from the get go – and we caught on tape people were howling imitating the NeedsWings supercharged whine as he ran! It was st spectacular to see! And I am sure he would run faster if he had Nitto Invo – well, he’s the one that told me to get mine to begin with!

 

Thanks!!! That's a proper looking racetrack, sounds like you had a blast.

Based on your review (and a size issue I will cover in more detail) I think the INVO is the clear choice for me at this point.

The Michelins would surely be fantastic, no doubt. BUT -- They're only available in 275/35 or 295/30... no 285/30.

The 275's are a bit taller than factory... meaning, your gearing is effectively taller.

Since I will be lowering the car, I want to avoid rubbing the tire and damaging it. I fear the 295's are going to be a bit wide... not at stock height, but once lowered. For the record, I had slight rubbing with the Continental 285's but only over extreme bumps.

The 285/30 I had in the Continental was perfect for me. It was the right mixture of grip, overall diameter, and width.

Finally, I'll be saving $300 by going with the INVO. That will go towards making sure I can run my 61.9mm pulley with no issues

Thanks again, schwarzer, for the review!