Do I need to replace both front tyres due to a puncture?

[Orangecurry]

Klippie said:

Before ordering from Tyreleader or any online tyre retailer confirm the date of manufacture of the tyres you will receive as they can be several years old...cheap for a reason.

Good advice - FYI I just received some new tyres from Oponeo - manufactured in week 6 of 2015.

I believe that if the tyres being sold are older than a certain range, the trader has to specify this - if you look on tyreleader they certainly seem to, with their (say) 'DOT 2012' in the 'specificity' column.

ETA an example...

http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/pirelli/pzer...

Edited by Orangecurry on Monday 16th March 11:52

[SimR]

As always thanks for all the advice. Given everything mentioned above, I'm going to go with my local tyre repair place which means £210 per tyre (fitted), but they're brand new from Pirelli, and also they've been spot on with the tyre repairs over the last 2 years so I figure they deserve my custom, even if it is a bit more pricey.

I just hope I have a run of good luck now and don't have any more damn punctures for a while (ideally never!!).

[Orangecurry]

I would ask them to reward your good custom, by meeting you halfway? It never hurts to ask. Everybody happy.

[RacerMike]

Orangecurry said:

Sorry but this is simply not true. Porsche and the tyre manufactures refuse to provide ANY information on functional or constructional differences between N-rated and non-N.

Porsche may refuse to provide information, but working in an aspect of vehicle dynamics for an OEM and having had experience of both OEM spec and non OEM spec tyres of the same brand/model, I can guarantee you that there is a difference. It's not a conspiracy.

[SimR]

Orangecurry said:

I would ask them to reward your good custom, by meeting you halfway? It never hurts to ask. Everybody happy.

I completely agree that it never hurts to ask, and I did try that. They've always been really straight with me, so I asked for their best price, I then asked again if they could do any better to help me out, but they stuck with the £210 fitted saying that really was the best they could do.

[chimster]

Just replaced the rears on the Boxster, Michelin Sport N rated £365 the pair. That's £100 less than I paid 3 years ago. Chuffed

[ilduce]

RacerMike said:

Orangecurry said:

Sorry but this is simply not true. Porsche and the tyre manufactures refuse to provide ANY information on functional or constructional differences between N-rated and non-N.

Porsche may refuse to provide information, but working in an aspect of vehicle dynamics for an OEM and having had experience of both OEM spec and non OEM spec tyres of the same brand/model, I can guarantee you that there is a difference. It's not a conspiracy.

Yes. And No.
I put non MO (Merc only) tyres on the rear of an SLK and it was difficult driving it without the traction light flashing.
On the other hand I fitted non N to a Cayman and the only difference was that they didn't wear out in 6k miles like the previous set of PS2's.

Summing up: If Porsche said it was day, I'd still pop outside to check.

[dreamcar]

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

[ilduce]

dreamcar said:

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

It never fails to amaze me that, people who are intelligent enough to be able to earn enough, to afford a £60k car, will believe something they're told by someone who has a financial interest in that very something.
Crazy and foolish.

[Trev450]

dreamcar said:

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

If the 'OEM spec' tyres are that good, why is the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone fits non- OEM MPSS tyres to some of its models.

[ilduce]

Trev450 said:

dreamcar said:

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

If the 'OEM spec' tyres are that good, why is the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone fits non- OEM MPSS tyres to some of its models.

I know! I know!
Is it because they don't have to worry about the sh'it warranty?

[Orangecurry]

dreamcar said:

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

I can't see you lasting very long on PH.

[MisterF]

ilduce said:

It never fails to amaze me that, people who are intelligent enough to be able to earn enough, to afford a £60k car, will believe something they're told by someone who has a financial interest in that very something.
Crazy and foolish.

I've just faced a similar situation. It would seem that previous owner wasn't that bothered with 3mm tread front & rear on near side tyres & 4-6 mm on offside tyres.

I've replaced them all and while it was £800 I'm happier on fresh rubber. Additionally ref N ratings, I'm sure both Porsche & Pirelli know more about my car & it's recommended tyres than I do!

[RacerMike]

I take it people realise that you can buy N marked tyres from places like Black Circles and Camskill for basically the same price as the non OEM spec ones?

It never fails to amaze me how so many people on PH seem to think everything's a big conspiracy! If you actually think about it logically, it makes far less sense for a tyre manufacturer to make multiple versions of the same tyre, as it ends up costing them money which they won't recover. The reason they do it simply because the other manufacturers do. If Pirelli suddenly turned round and refused to offer a bespoke tyre for an OEM, the OEM would just spec their tyres from Michelin or Goodyear or indeed anyone else who would offer a specific compound!

The reasons for a specific spec are many. Some will be obvious to the average driver (noise, ride comfort for instance). Others will be less easy for the average driver to feel (steering feel, turn in response, heat resistence, over limit behaviour). It's unusual that you'll end up making a car dangerous by fitting a non OEM spec tyre (although it could exaserbate less desireable characteristics like lift off oversteer), but you will ultimately be loosing some element of the designed performance.

At the end of the day, especially on a Porsche, what on earth is the point in fitting non N rated tyres? I find it funny that on the one hand people are saying 'make sure they aren't too old' and on the other hand are saying 'don't bother going for N rated ones'. They both of equal importance. To say one is not important nullifys the other. A 10 year old Conti is probably as different as an in date Audi one!

[dreamcar]

RacerMike said:

Porsche may refuse to provide information, but working in an aspect of vehicle dynamics for an OEM and having had experience of both OEM spec and non OEM spec tyres of the same brand/model, I can guarantee you that there is a difference. It's not a conspiracy.

Anyone who believes the ridiculous conspiracy theory that N rated tyres are some sort of con trick probably also believe man never set foot on the moon....

[DS240]

I would want tyres of the same condition across the same axle. At the same time I wouldn't want the difference in wear of tyres to be too far apart from axle to axle.

One area of sports car ownership I personally wouldn't cut corners on.

[dreamcar]

DS240 said:

I would want tyres of the same condition across the same axle. At the same time I wouldn't want the difference in wear of tyres to be too far apart from axle to axle.

One area of sports car ownership I personally wouldn't cut corners on.

Agree 100 %

[Technomad]

SimR said:

Yep - I hear you.

I've ordered one for now but am going to be advised by my local tyre fitters. If they think it might be dodgy once they've seen the other tyre then I'll get another quick smart.

I just can't fathom how I'm getting so many damn screws in my tyres - it appears the area around me must be one big building site!

Our builders were utterly dreadful at dropping screws all over the place. Until I told them I'd be knocking £100 off their invoices for each screw or nail found on the drive. Site got a lot cleaner after that.

[Trev450]

ilduce said:

Trev450 said:

dreamcar said:

It never fails to amaze me that some people will cheerfully pay £60k + for a new Porsche and then even think of compromising on non OEM tyre specification for the sake of maybe £100. Crazy and foolish.

If the 'OEM spec' tyres are that good, why is the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone fits non- OEM MPSS tyres to some of its models.

I know! I know!
Is it because they don't have to worry about the sh'it warranty?

That and the fact that they want to allow the cars to be experienced at their best and consequently fit tyres that reflect that.

[Orangecurry]

RacerMike said:

At the end of the day, especially on a Porsche, what on earth is the point in fitting non N rated tyres?

Because there is a wider choice of more modern tyres.

RacerMike said:

I find it funny that on the one hand people are saying 'make sure they aren't too old' and on the other hand are saying 'don't bother going for N rated ones'. They both of equal importance. To say one is not important nullifys the other. A 10 year old Conti is probably as different as an in date Audi one!

And now you've shot yourself in the foot.