I've read many opinions of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, Bridgestone Pole Position S-04, and Conti ExtremeContact DW. What I haven't read are comparisons of any two of these from people who've had both on the RX-8.

Has anyone here had at least two of these on their RX-8? If so, any meaningful differences between them?

I'm especially interested in steering feel, ride quality, noise level, and treadwear. Steering feel is very important to me, but absolute grip isn't as high of a priority. The car might experience a small number of track days, but primarily street use.

Keep in mind that it's always challenging to compare a tire at the end of its life to one at the beginning.

 

Good question. I've only run the PSS, but my priorities aren't too different from yours, in that I'd happily sacrifice some dry grip for better feel.

In for feedback!

 

I'm starting to get the feeling that, while many people have opinions about the tires, hardly anyone has actually driven the RX-8 with more than one of them.

 

What we should try to do is find three different RX-8s, one with each of these tires, all in the same size, in roughly the same geographic location. Meet, swap wheels, drive, swap again, drive, swap again, drive, and swap back.

I'd be down, by the way! PSS in 225/40/19 here.

 

I have S-04s in 19" format. My RX-8 is no longer a DD. Instead has been relegated/retired into a life of weekend road-warrior. On spirited drives especially on countryside back roads I find the tires to have excellent grip. Just this afternoon, I took on a set of ribbon roads and I thought to myself how compose these tires were. It felt like they were taunting me to be more ballsy for the next set of curves. Needless to say, I have yet to find its limits on dry roads. The sidewalls are stiff which results in good positive response. Unfortunately I cannot comment on steering feel as they are 245/35/19 vs. my previous stock Dunlops.

My wife's mazda6 are shod with Conti DW. I guess I could throw them on the 8 and test out the feel. That never crossed my mind for some reason after all these years. Now they are worn. So it is not a good comparison even if I did. Will be replacing them with Michelin AS3.

So you might ask how come I didn't get a set of Conti DW for the RX-8 since I have a set on the 6 GT. Sidewall is a bit soft. I have to pump it up. For some odd reason not unique to me, the parts of the rubber tread scars over time. Can't explain it. I rotate them too. Secondly I used to have Bridgestone S02s and loved them. So I wanted to return to Bridgestones for the RX8.... and current gen S04s don't disappoint.