Advice needed: Long Distance Trip with Handling Pack tires

[B5Brando]

Finally locked down and finalized a purchase on a Dark Horse with Handling Pack built exactly the way I wanted. The car is in Michigan and I am planning on driving it back to Phoenix...1900 miles. Really looking forward to spending some quality time with the car, even though it's all boring interstate driving.
Is this a bad idea with the Trofeo RS tires? Anyone driven long distance with these? (Contemplating hitting a Discount Tire and switching them out and shipping the Trofeos home. )

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[Skye]

Congrats on sealing the deal. Given my experience, I'd swap the tires out as part of the trip. The four Trofeos might, might fit, with two in the trunk, two in the back seats. Off the rim, they'll be easier to maneuver.

My '22 came equipped with a similar tire, the Michelin Cup 2.

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/michelin-pilot-sport-cup-2

The Cup 2s are an excellent tire. At the track. For the 18 miles I drove home, I could hear road debris of all kinds, little rocks mostly, occasionally "pinging" onto the body. No damage, but it highlighted how sticky that type of tire could be in June temperatures.

Knowing the tire ahead of time, and wanting to preserve the original wheels while saving weight, I had a set of aftermarket rims with a more street-friendly tire waiting at home. The Cup 2s were later sold to someone who tracked on a regular basis.

Setting any debris issues aside, odds are good you'll be caught in at least one rain shower on the way back. The Trofeo, like the Cup2, is not a tire I'd like to use on a wet surface, especially at higher speeds.

Good Luck with trip. Post pictures when possible.

 

[Zig]

That’s what i’d be tempted to do. In fact i’d probably be tempted to see if i could swap them out before even leaving the dealer. Pooh pooh on the do do but it is what it is. First required purchase post purchase but going in knowing they are ‘giving’ you a set of track tires you just need to purchase street tires for the daily.

oh yeah congrats and enjoy.

 

[DevilDog]

Personally, I'd drive it home with the Trofeo tires and get new ones when you get back to Phoenix.

 

[roadpilot]

Personally, I'd drive it home with the Trofeo tires and get new ones when you get back to Phoenix.

Tire rack lists the front for $563.73 and the rear for $612.11.

If his trip is 1,900 miles, that would cost him $1.23 PER MILE just in tires.

 

[Bluember24]

Hey, another handling pack in Phoenix! I haven't seen one other than mine yet. I have about 1250 miles on mine so far and the Trofeos already look like they are close to on their way out. If you want to get to enjoy them after the break-in period, I would definitely drive back on some other tires. I am getting some wheels with some pilot sport 4s on them for daily and keeping the OE wheels with a set of Trofeos for those days you feel like having fun!

Hope this helps a little and hope you enjoy the drive as much as I have!

 

[MCS]

I've been debating this as well. Moving the Trofeo RS to a second set of rims for track days and then getting something a little bit more street focused for "daily" driving or highway trips to the cottage kind of thing.

I ran the Nitto 555 G2 on my S550 before supercharging it. Those seemed to hold up pretty well and have moderate grip + wet weather functionality. After the supercharger I switched to the RII in the rear and those wear a heck of a lot faster + are dicey in the rain.

What are folks recommending here?

 

[Bluember24]

I've been debating this as well. Moving the Trofeo RS to a second set of rims for track days and then getting something a little bit more street focused for "daily" driving or highway trips to the cottage kind of thing.

I ran the Nitto 555 G2 on my S550 before supercharging it. Those seemed to hold up pretty well and have moderate grip + wet weather functionality. After the supercharger I switched to the RII in the rear and those wear a heck of a lot faster + are dicey in the rain.

What are folks recommending here?

I would definitely get a different daily tire. The trofeos are so much fun and the grip is insane, but they wear so fast. They also are horrible the second any water touches the road or if the road is cold/tires are cold. I expected all of this out of them though and knew I would be putting a different set of wheels and tires on it.

 

[MCS]

I would definitely get a different daily tire. The trofeos are so much fun and the grip is insane, but they wear so fast. They also are horrible the second any water touches the road or if the road is cold/tires are cold. I expected all of this out of them though and knew I would be putting a different set of wheels and tires on it.

Agreed; I just need to find a decent tire with the same profile / width etc as the Handling Pack tires that have a decent tire wear rating as well as decent dry/wet grip (summer only).

Once I have that Holy Grail I will mount them on the Handling Pack rims and then store my Trofeo until I get a set of rims for an HPDE session or three.

 

[Bluember24]

Agreed; I just need to find a decent tire with the same profile / width etc as the Handling Pack tires that have a decent tire wear rating as well as decent dry/wet grip (summer only).

Once I have that Holy Grail I will mount them on the Handling Pack rims and then store my Trofeo until I get a set of rims for an HPDE session or three.

I would definitely suggest the Pilot sport 4s. They have them in the same size as the handling pack and they are not too expensive for what you really get. I had them on my c63s and they came on my '24 ct5 blackwing. They became my favorite "Daily" tire.

I have tried a lot, but those have a great balance between wear, grip and adverse conditions. Especially here in AZ during monsoon season when the roads start to flood and hold a lot of standing water, they did really well.

 

[MCS]

I would definitely suggest the Pilot sport 4s. They have them in the same size as the handling pack and they are not too expensive for what you really get. I had them on my c63s and they came on my '24 ct5 blackwing. They became my favorite "Daily" tire.

I have tried a lot, but those have a great balance between wear, grip and adverse conditions. Especially here in AZ during monsoon season when the roads start to flood and hold a lot of standing water, they did really well.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check out the reviews on the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

 

[MCS]

I would definitely suggest the Pilot sport 4s. They have them in the same size as the handling pack and they are not too expensive for what you really get. I had them on my c63s and they came on my '24 ct5 blackwing. They became my favorite "Daily" tire.

I have tried a lot, but those have a great balance between wear, grip and adverse conditions. Especially here in AZ during monsoon season when the roads start to flood and hold a lot of standing water, they did really well.

Damn, they are pricey in Canada.

This is for 2 front and 2 rear

PART: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

COST (2x FRONTS): $1590.34 CAD
COST (2x REARS): $1322.74 CAD

 

[Bluember24]

Damn, they are pricey in Canada.

This is for 2 front and 2 rear

PART: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

COST (2x FRONTS): $1590.34 CAD
COST (2x REARS): $1322.74 CAD

Wow! That is crazy! They are not nearly that much over here! Well, there has to be something just as good that isn't commanding such a premium.

 

[Bluember24]

They are about $860 for the front and $880 for the rear here.. so still not cheap, but not that expensive they will last around 30k mils maybe more though. So that's the upside

 

[GhastlyTT]

Drive them home to shave them down for your next HPDE! I have 2500 hard miles on mine with 3 autocross events and a drag strip visit. I'm almost ready to replace all corners and aside from poor toe alignments, I don't see how others are going through theirs in less time by just driving on the street.

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