MPS4S tyres - std vs N rated

[JasonSteel]

i currently have non N rated MPS4S tyres on my Cayman. I removed the Pirellis (N0, 2 of which are brand new with labels still on, and the other 2 are almost new) because i didn't like the lack of grip and feel in the wet and cold; the Michelins OTOH are simply fantastic in this regard.

now that Michelin have an N rated version of their tyre I am considering selling the Pirellis and fitting a set of N rated PS4S tyres.

however looking at Michelin's own data, the score given to the N rated in the wet is 'B' whereas the score for the non rated is 'A'. does that mean that Porsche have made the Michelin tyre more like the Pirellis?

[arcamalpha]

I’d still wager N rated Michelins are better than Pirellis. It could be the n rated michelins have less tread hence worse wet rating. I’d be surprised if Porsche have made them compromise the compound.

Moreover, I have had non n rated tyres and the OPC never cared. Id only swap if you get issues rather than burning £hundreds just in case.

[JasonSteel]

arcamalpha said:

Id only swap if you get issues rather than burning £hundreds just in case.

warranty renewal is coming up in Oct...

[arcamalpha]

JasonSteel said:

arcamalpha said:

Id only swap if you get issues rather than burning £hundreds just in case.

warranty renewal is coming up in Oct...

Warranty renewal wasnt a problem for me but I appreciate that’s no guarantee for you.

I think new N rated Michelins will be fine if that gives you peace of mind. Otherwise put in for warranty as-is and if they moan get them to fit new n rated tyres at the same time. In the meantime see how much you can get for the Pirellis.

[bcr5784]

arcamalpha said:

Warranty renewal wasnt a problem for me but I appreciate that’s no guarantee for you.

I think new N rated Michelins will be fine if that gives you peace of mind. Otherwise put in for warranty as-is and if they moan get them to fit new n rated tyres at the same time. In the meantime see how much you can get for the Pirellis.

Or you could swap to the old Pirellis and swap back again after your warranty has been granted. Of course they could be iffy if a steering/suspension issue arose - but for most warranty issues I can't see them suggesting that non-N rated tyres are relevant.

[V800MJH]

If you're that keen on having N rated tyres on for the warranty renewal. I'd swap back to the N rated Pirellis for that renewal and then swap back when it's done.

Or buy a second set of wheels for the N rated tyres.

I certainly wouldn't be buying another full set of PS4S just for the N rating and warranty

[James McScotty]

I've yet to understand what's so wrong with Pirelli tyres, they seem absolutely fine to me.

[ATM]

James McScotty said:

I've yet to understand what's so wrong with Pirelli tyres, they seem absolutely fine to me.

Do you have N0 or N1 - they're very different.

[JasonSteel]

James McScotty said:

I've yet to understand what's so wrong with Pirelli tyres, they seem absolutely fine to me.

and do you drive yours in the cold and/or wet? that's where I find the Michelins are in a different league.

[JasonSteel]

arcamalpha said:

Warranty renewal wasnt a problem for me but I appreciate that’s no guarantee for you.

I think new N rated Michelins will be fine if that gives you peace of mind. Otherwise put in for warranty as-is and if they moan get them to fit new n rated tyres at the same time. In the meantime see how much you can get for the Pirellis.

can you PM me where you had your warranty renewed?

do you think they simply missed that they weren't N rated or they let it go?

[JasonSteel]

bcr5784 said:

Or you could swap to the old Pirellis and swap back again after your warranty has been granted. Of course they could be iffy if a steering/suspension issue arose - but for most warranty issues I can't see them suggesting that non-N rated tyres are relevant.

each time i swap the tyres there's the risk that the wheels get damaged and at £100 a go, that's £200 to swap to and back... so 4 times and i may as well put a new set of Michelins on (but that wet B rating..?)

[JasonSteel]

V800MJH said:

If you're that keen on having N rated tyres on for the warranty renewal. I'd swap back to the N rated Pirellis for that renewal and then swap back when it's done.

Or buy a second set of wheels for the N rated tyres.

I certainly wouldn't be buying another full set of PS4S just for the N rating and warranty

i'm not keen at all on the N rating. very happy with the non N rated i have now but i've always heard that warranty will not be extended if tyres aren't N rated.

i called Michelin and asked about the A vs B rating and the guy I spoke to didn't have much to say other than the A rating on the none N rated tyres is a "low A", and the B rating on the N rated is a "high B", so there shouldn't be that much difference. essentially the B rating comes from a slightly longer braking distance in the wet.

i asked about cornering performance in the wet and he said he would ask someone with more knowledge and email me but i'm still waiting for the email to arrive.

i think i'll have a go at putting the car through as is and see what happens.

[bcr5784]

JasonSteel said:

each time i swap the tyres there's the risk that the wheels get damaged and at £100 a go, that's £200 to swap to and back... so 4 times and i may as well put a new set of Michelins on (but that wet B rating..?)

You are going to the wrong tyre fitter! I've had no problems, I use the same company and although it's a bit of a treck, at £7.50 + VAT a wheel it's no issue.

[James McScotty]

ATM said:

Do you have N0 or N1 - they're very different.

N0 x 4 on a 981CGTS.

And yes, it's a DD, so out and about in all weather. No misbehaviour of any kind so far.

[JasonSteel]

bcr5784 said:

You are going to the wrong tyre fitter! I've had no problems, I use the same company and although it's a bit of a treck, at £7.50 + VAT a wheel it's no issue.

hmmm, that's quite a difference indeed.

OK i didn't quite pay £100 (can't remember exactly) but it was definitely more than £90 incl VAT. that's about twice what you're paying.

i did phone around and there wasn't much variation so i went to my usual place as they seem to take a bit more care than most.

will definitely phone around a bit more and try again.

OOI where do you have yours done?

[JasonSteel]

James McScotty said:

N0 x 4 on a 981CGTS.

that's what i had but my experience was very different. the back of the car frequently stepped out at roundabouts or when overtaking and there was simply no feel in the cold and/or wet, so i used to take corners really slowly. no such issues with the Michelins so far.

[bcr5784]

JasonSteel said:

hmmm, that's quite a difference indeed.

OK i didn't quite pay £100 (can't remember exactly) but it was definitely more than £90 incl VAT. that's about twice what you're paying.

i did phone around and there wasn't much variation so i went to my usual place as they seem to take a bit more care than most.

will definitely phone around a bit more and try again.

OOI where do you have yours done?

It's in Northampton. If that's anywhere near you I'll get their contact details fpr you. When they know you have a flash car they put one of their better guys on the job, not wanting to have any issues, but could mean a bit of a wait.

[James McScotty]

JasonSteel said:

that's what i had but my experience was very different. the back of the car frequently stepped out at roundabouts or when overtaking and there was simply no feel in the cold and/or wet, so i used to take corners really slowly. no such issues with the Michelins so far.

Well that's weird. I've driven it over frozen Fen roads in the March freeze, and on all kinds of roads since then.

No issues whatsoever, it's glued to the road. Considering that these tyres were supplied as standard by Porsche when the car was new, and presumably they don't want their cars to handle badly, I really don't get the PH problem with P-zeros.

[Porsche911R]

James McScotty said:

Well that's weird. I've driven it over frozen Fen roads in the March freeze, and on all kinds of roads since then.

No issues whatsoever, it's glued to the road. Considering that these tyres were supplied as standard by Porsche when the car was new, and presumably they don't want their cars to handle badly, I really don't get the PH problem with P-zeros.

you must drive very slow, my mates getting over steer in the dry in a standard Boxster just of roundabout in 30oc heat !!

I can spin mine up in a straight line in 3rd ! p-zeros suck

I think Porsche do it to perserve bush's etc and so the car gets past the 3 year warranty with little to no issue.

add grip parts wear out.

[ATM]

Porsche911R said:

James McScotty said:

Well that's weird. I've driven it over frozen Fen roads in the March freeze, and on all kinds of roads since then.

No issues whatsoever, it's glued to the road. Considering that these tyres were supplied as standard by Porsche when the car was new, and presumably they don't want their cars to handle badly, I really don't get the PH problem with P-zeros.

you must drive very slow, my mates getting over steer in the dry in a standard Boxster just of roundabout in 30oc heat !!

I can spin mine up in a straight line in 3rd ! p-zeros suck

I think Porsche do it to perserve bush's etc and so the car gets past the 3 year warranty with little to no issue.

add grip parts wear out.

Yes I also found the N0 were shocking once I started to press on. Mine were a few years old so maybe age is the problem. If James McScotty has a newish set then they may be ok. Perhaps even Pirelli got their finger out and changed them once they saw all the complaints about these cracking with age. I tossed mine before I found out people were getting refunds from Pirelli.

Slightly off topic I saw a friend's new 718S this weekend. He has the 20 inch wheels. The rims must be at least an inch wider than 918 as the rear tyres have a crazy stretch on them.