N1 vs N2 tyres

[Redline88]

As we head into the warmer weather and trackday season, I need to get some new front tyres for the GT4. I’ve run the Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2s since I purchased the car and have only so far changed the rears. I’ll be honest that I didn’t check them when changed at the end of last year at the local OPC but they fitted N1 tyres from 2019 (somebody else was reporting similar on another thread - anyway I will likely finish them off this year due to wear so no biggie even if a bit annoying)!

Looking at fronts, I can only see N2 options available. I understand that this is the newer version of the tyre but my questions are:

• Any real issues with mixing N1 and N2?
• Would I be correct in assuming that now N2 is in production, N1 will be discontinued so ultimately I would need to move to N2 or keep buying older stock tyres?
• Has anybody had their OPC get funny with mixing N rated tyres? To me that sounds ridiculous but you never know! To be clear, both axels will have the same rated and age tyres, just N2 front, N1 rear.

[b0rk]

I'd doubt the dealers will spot the difference. So many different N marks are okay based on the individual tyre manufacturer.

Dunlop are now on N2's for the front and rear. Dunlop N1's will age out fairly soon anyway even if you can locate stock that is.

However Michelin Cup2's are N1 front and rear, PSS4S's are N0 or NA0, Pirelli PZero's N1 front, N0 rear. Goodyear Super Sport RS N0 or Super Sport R NA2 front and rear.

[Cheib]

If you take your car to Center Gravity they will tell you that the car should have the same N rated tyres on all four wheels (as they explained to me a couple of years ago). If the assumption is older N rated tyres will have inferior performance you can understand why…in my case the older tyres were on the front.

[jackliebling]

I think this is mostly marketing BS. A bit like directional speaker cable...

Porsche no longer insist on the use of N tyres, they recently changed their policy on that. They just advise you use them.

If the difference between n1 and n2 is big enough to make a difference in normal driving it would infer that n1's were a dangerously bad design in the 1st place!

But I could imagine (though I doubt it) that when driving on the limit on track, the compound may be different so they could wear at different rates, dealing with the heat in a different way.

[RTA3]

‘Porsche no longer insist on the use of N tyres, they recently changed their policy on that. They just advise you use them’

This is in writing somewhere?

Thanks

[Redline88]

Thanks all for the replies. I can’t see the N1s for the front online anywhere however it sounds like they tend to stop making them when a newer version is released so I guess the options to keep all the same N rating would be either to shop around and find an older set of N1s or change all to N2. It does seem like a real waste to bin a set of N1s that still have 5mm tread so I’ll just keep them for now and have N2 front / N1 rear and will change the rears to N2 in a few months when needed

[Ed.Neumann]

jackliebling said:

I think this is mostly marketing BS. A bit like directional speaker cable...

No it's more than that.

Porsche Pilot Sport 2 tyres, for example, use a much firmer sidewall and the outside 1/3 of the tyre is a much firmer compound than the off the shelf PS2.

This is why if you go from an N rated PS2 to a non N rated PS2 there is a a complete lack of precision in the steering, it really loses that sharp off centre steering feel, the directness that you get from a 911is gone.

Put on a Bridgestone N rated, Pirelli and it comes back.

Same when you stick on a more modern tyre like the PS4S, still not got that lovely steering feel like the now 20 year old PS2 (Yeah I know the N4 PS2 is not 20 years old).

Now, not saying that the grip is not better on the PS4S, it is not quieter, more comfy, far better in the wet. But is it worth the sacrifice compared to having that razor sharp steering?
I will be honest, steering feel is something I enjoy every time I drive the car, pushing the car to 10/10ths in the rain is not something I do anyway.


Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate a bit? But my point is, many N rated, * rated, MO rated tyres are very different to the standard version, they can give the manufacture the feel they want their cars to have and when you deviate from that you "may" not like the way it changes things quite as much.


I have no idea how the N rated PS4S compares to the non N rated one, but the non N rated one is just numb and a bit boring imho. I would love to try the N rated version to see if they have recovered some of the steering feel.

[Cheib]

This is a good listen…quite eye opening the lengths manufacturers go to for tyre testing.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/car-chat/id1...

[b0rk]

Redline88 said:

Thanks all for the replies. I can’t see the N1s for the front online anywhere however it sounds like they tend to stop making them when a newer version is released so I guess the options to keep all the same N rating would be either to shop around and find an older set of N1s or change all to N2.

The Dunlop N2’s appeared as a result of GT4 RS homologation. How or what changes Dunlop made hasn’t been disclosed. The official EU dry grip, wet grip and noise ratings are the same. I’d guess a stiffer sidewall and possibly compound changes around the shoulder to accommodate the geo changes with the RS.

[Redline88]

b0rk said:

Redline88 said:

Thanks all for the replies. I can’t see the N1s for the front online anywhere however it sounds like they tend to stop making them when a newer version is released so I guess the options to keep all the same N rating would be either to shop around and find an older set of N1s or change all to N2.

The Dunlop N2’s appeared as a result of GT4 RS homologation. How or what changes Dunlop made hasn’t been disclosed. The official EU dry grip, wet grip and noise ratings are the same. I’d guess a stiffer sidewall and possibly compound changes around the shoulder to accommodate the geo changes with the RS.

But these would now be the n rated sport Maxx race 2 that Dunlop produce right? I.e. they won’t continue to manufacture N1 and N2?

[mr pg]

RTA3 said:

‘Porsche no longer insist on the use of N tyres, they recently changed their policy on that. They just advise you use them’

This is in writing somewhere?

Thanks

No longer a Porsche owner but when renewing my warranty it was always stated that tyres had to be N rated and all have the same N rating. Has this requirement now changed, have the warranties been re-worded?

[Yellow491]

mr pg said:

RTA3 said:

‘Porsche no longer insist on the use of N tyres, they recently changed their policy on that. They just advise you use them’

This is in writing somewhere?

Thanks

No longer a Porsche owner but when renewing my warranty it was always stated that tyres had to be N rated and all have the same N rating. Has this requirement now changed, have the warranties been re-worded?

Its a load of nonsense when the porsche 991gt2rs demo that was doing the rounds of the opc,s before release had n1&n2 on the same car.

[maura]

Same, had N0 & N2, front & back, can’t remember which way round on a Macan Turbo, One OPC said, change, another OPC said no problem as long as they were in date, think less than 5 years, went with that OPC for 24 Months Extended. Fast forward today, looking at Macan at dealer with 2 years Approved Used Warranty, and this car has different N numbers back & front!! So as long as in date range, you will be ok, but might be OPC dependent, when it should be universal.

[Ed.Neumann]

The N rating can sometimes be something as simple as making sure the tyre sizes are correct tolerance wise for size.

I know that on some star rated tyres, like the MPS4S, it is compound, so much firmer outside edge for sharper steering feel compared with the standard PS4S, but on many of the tyres it is to make sure the rolling circumference is right. By right I mean that when you have a wide rear on an xDrive car they are within the required spec to make sure the diff doesn't get wound up. So nothing special to write home about.
BMW have said previously that there have been issues when people use "certain" tyres that can only be out by mm, but as they wear are even more out to the point where it causes issues. They will cover any diff or transfer case issues if tyres they have approved are used, but if someone is using a tyre they have not they won't. Which I guess is fair enough.

I think Mercedes had an issue with certain tyres causing issues on their AWD cars like the CLE, aggressive Ackerman effect, which was sorted by changing tyres.


I really don't think mixing N0 with N1 or N3 with N4 versions would be an issue.

[ChrisW.]

Interesting to see this information from Continental on N rated sales for a 991.2 GT3RS ...



Look at the differences in weight ... and no N rated 265, so not currently an option on that car.

[b0rk]

Redline88 said:

But these would now be the n rated sport Maxx race 2 that Dunlop produce right? I.e. they won’t continue to manufacture N1 and N2?

Yes both are well where the Sport Maxx race 2. N1 was homologated for 981 GT4, 718 GT4. N2 for 981 GT4, 718 GT4 and 718 GT4RS. Based on production codes floating around it looks like Dunlop stopped N1 production sometime in 2021.

[Redline88]

b0rk said:

Redline88 said:

But these would now be the n rated sport Maxx race 2 that Dunlop produce right? I.e. they won’t continue to manufacture N1 and N2?

Yes both are well where the Sport Maxx race 2. N1 was homologated for 981 GT4, 718 GT4. N2 for 981 GT4, 718 GT4 and 718 GT4RS. Based on production codes floating around it looks like Dunlop stopped N1 production sometime in 2021.

Perfect - thanks for confirming

[Redline88]

b0rk said:

Redline88 said:

But these would now be the n rated sport Maxx race 2 that Dunlop produce right? I.e. they won’t continue to manufacture N1 and N2?

Yes both are well where the Sport Maxx race 2. N1 was homologated for 981 GT4, 718 GT4. N2 for 981 GT4, 718 GT4 and 718 GT4RS. Based on production codes floating around it looks like Dunlop stopped N1 production sometime in 2021.

Perfect - thanks for confirming