285/40r19 Michelin pilot Super Sports

[Kyle2115]

Hey guys, I have a couple of tire questions.
05 GT with 9.5x19 rear wheels.
While researching new tires, I found that Michelin Super Sports in a 285/40 19 have nearly 2 inches more actual tread than my worn out General gmax 275/40 19 they'll be replacing.
Found basically a new 9/32 tire with a small blemish on eBay, dot 3018, for $120 shipped.
Doesn't look like it's ever been mounted.
So I figured I'd just buy one new tire, but they've been discontinued (I think Tire rack has a couple).
But good lord, they are $375 new!
I found another slightly used one, manufactured in 2018, with 8/32 for $120 shipped.
Two questions, is 1/32 difference gonna hurt the rear end.
And since I don't know which direction the slightly used one was rolling, will it hurt the tire if i mount it and it ends up rolling the other direction from the original mount?
Thanks guys.....

 

[SlowPony46]

If it’s really just 1/32 difference that shouldn’t hurt anything. Tires never wear perfectly evenly.

If the tire is not directional, it shouldn’t matter if it’s rotating the other way especially if it is close to new. Tires switch direction when you do a tire rotation.

 

[Kyle2115]

Good point and thanks for your input SlowPony.
I've got a 50/50 chance of it rolling the same way any how.
And I'll save about $250.....
Anyone have any experience with those tires?
They get great reviews on Tirerack, great traction in dry and wet, and good for 30k.......
Wonder why Michelin decided to discontinue them?

 

[Norm Peterson]

Michelin's Pilot Super Sport tire is not unidirectional but they do have a clear inside-outside mounting arrangement. So they can be feely rotated left to right without having to dismount and remount on the wheels. I do the left-right swap quite frequently during my road course track season to equalize wear.

I don't think I'd worry about 1/32" difference in tread depth either.

The Pilot Super Sport line has been around for quite a while at this point, and is being phased out in favor of the Pilot Sport 4S.


I do have to ask why such a tall tire?


Norm

 

[Kyle2115]

Thanks Norm.....$120 it is.
I don't track the car, so its just for looks.
Mainly for the width, man those things are wide, an inch or more tread width than the same sized competition,
And this old girl needs her traction!
She's only lowered an inch in front and 1.25 in the rear, and the taller tires, 245/45 fronts, fill the wheel well gap just right for me.
Plus I don't have to worry about speed bumps and driveways.......I'm an old guy

 

[JJ427R]

^^DB Parking taking two parking spots....

 

[Kyle2115]

^^DB Parking taking two parking spots....

No worries......it's at work.....South 40 too......
Only a few of us care about door dings enough to walk THAT far....

 

[Gabe]

Install the 9/32" Michelin and leave old General G-Max on other side of car.

Do burnout for a good 30 seconds or so.

Replace old General G-Max with 8/32" Michelin.

Both Michelins should now be at 8/32"

 

[Kyle2115]

Install the 9/32" Michelin and leave old General G-Max on other side of car.

Do burnout for a good 30 seconds or so.

Replace old General G-Max with 8/32" Michelin.

Both Michelins should now be at 8/32"