Cayman S tyre choices

[evomike]

Hi guys,

I've managed to get through the rear set of Pirellis (19") on my Cayman S in 8,000 miles. I don't exactly drive everywhere like I've stolen it so this seems pretty high. Part of the problem I think is that some of the treads are much shallower than others. So, what tyres are others using and what is the wear rate like? Anyone who has tried both Pirelli and Michelin I'd be interested to hear if hte latter choice are any better.

Thanks

Mike

[DSM2]

evomike said:

Hi guys,

I've managed to get through the rear set of Pirellis (19") on my Cayman S in 8,000 miles. I don't exactly drive everywhere like I've stolen it so this seems pretty high. Part of the problem I think is that some of the treads are much shallower than others. So, what tyres are others using and what is the wear rate like? Anyone who has tried both Pirelli and Michelin I'd be interested to hear if hte latter choice are any better.

Thanks

Mike

I've had both on my 911S and the PS2s outperform the Pirellis in both grip and wear. One thing I noticed with my first set of rears was that they wore out in the centre of the tread. Since running lower than Porsche recommended tyre pressures, as suggested by Paragon, I don't see that problem any more and would expect longer life.

[cslwannabe]

Bought my 987 Boxster S last year that came with Conti SportContact 3s and have to say that when the rears were approaching 3mm the grip was seriously reduced. Last month I fitted a complete set of Michelin PS2 (Costco) and car feels great - have done less than 500 miles so far but somewhat alarmed to see the rears are already below 7mm. Eek!

I don't do a huge mileage but based on the PS2s I had on my E46 I expected the wear rate to be pretty good (although most of my driving was steady speed dual carriageway back then but not so much these days) so I'll be keeping a close eye on it over the next few months.

[Trev450]

Another vote for PS2's and as mentioned above, dropping the rear pressures by a couple of psi helps even out the tyre wear.

[mrdemon]

Ps2 or pilot super sports depending what you think about warranty.

[jackliebling]

I put 10000 miles on a set of Bridgestone tyres on my 2.9 Cayman and they were 5.5mm when I sold it. I prefered the Bridgestone to PS2. Seemed much harder wearing and safer in the bad weather...

[mrdemon]

jackliebling said:

I put 10000 miles on a set of Bridgestone tyres on my 2.9 Cayman and they were 5.5mm when I sold it. I prefered the Bridgestone to PS2. Seemed much harder wearing and safer in the bad weather...

I gave my bridgestones away and put on PS2 in bad weather you just drive to the conditions , but on dry roads you want the best grip. Imo

[DoubleSix]

DSM2 said:

I've had both on my 911S and the PS2s outperform the Pirellis in both grip and wear. One thing I noticed with my first set of rears was that they wore out in the centre of the tread. Since running lower than Porsche recommended tyre pressures, as suggested by Paragon, I don't see that problem any more and would expect longer life.

That's weird, normally lowering tyre pressure would increase centre wear...

OT Another vote for PS2s.

[tracydeedance]

I had Bridgstones on my Cayman S Sport seemed fine.

[Maersk]

Lowering pressure increases wear at the edge of the tread contact patch. Increased pressure wears the centre.

[DoubleSix]

Maersk said:

Lowering pressure increases wear at the edge of the tread contact patch. Increased pressure wears the centre.

Ok, I stand corrected, but I remember reading somewhere that running low pressures allows the tyre to ovalize under high centrifugal forces, hence increasing centre wear...

Obviously running high pressures will cause centre bulge, I get that.

[spyderman8]

DoubleSix said:

That's weird, normally lowering tyre pressure would increase centre wear...

No it wouldn't: increase pressure and the centre (across the width) bows out, increasing wear; decrease it below optimal and the shoulders take more wear; optimal pressue and you make the center and shoulders share the weight and wear and increase the contact area to maximum.

Pressure and temperature are related (Boyles law) so as the temperature rises, you need to reduce the pressure to maintain the best possible contact area.

[spyderman8]

DoubleSix said:

Ok, I stand corrected, but I remember reading somewhere that running low pressures allows the tyre to ovalize under high centrifugal forces, hence increasing centre wear...

I think that only happens on large, soft-walled tyres like you'd get on dragsters.

[Matt Seabrook]

I took off Bridgestones and fitted Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Much better all round tyre IMO. They are also a little less noisy than the B/stones too. The B/stones still had life in them when I reo=moved them as well.

[kotafey]

Another vote for PS2s. Just fitted new ones at the front (£470 for 2 x 19"). Went for a long drive today and no complaints, felt planted throughout.

[cslwannabe]

Agree with mrdemon - the evo magazine tyre test from a few years ago rated the ContiSport3s higher than PS2s overall, however the Michelin was pretty much the best overall tyre in the dry. As my Boxster is a 'fair weather' car I decided to go for the PS2s (plus I thought they were good on my 330Ci) and managed to take advantage of the Costco 20% sale, although Camskill do seem keenly priced if you haven't got access to Costco.

[FisiP1]

PS2.

Agree with the rear pressure point as well, Porsche recommended doesn't feel quite right to me anyway. Cayman feels very sensitive to tyre pressures I have noticed.

[ChrisW.]

I spoke to the Porsche Experience Centre who suggested that Super Sports may become available in N rating.

I have now done 7,500 miles on my PS2's and have done three track days --- a dry half day Oulton (but finishing the running in at 1500 miles and being careful), a wet Cadwell Park at which the car was phenomenal, and a dry Oulton Park at which the car was magnificent.

The rear are now 50% worn and the fronts are 65% worn, though I adjust tyre pressures to 32psi all round when hot.

I'm not sure if a little more negative camber at the front would help me --- I am going the get the geo checked by an engineer who will analyse my tyre wear.

The alternative is a second set of wheels and a set of Pilot Sport Cups which I assume would be in N rated sizes ??

[Matt Seabrook]

cslwannabe said:

Agree with mrdemon - the evo magazine tyre test from a few years ago rated the ContiSport3s higher than PS2s overall, however the Michelin was pretty much the best overall tyre in the dry.

I am always a little suspicious of mag recommendations that have manufactures paying large sums of money for advertising in said mag.

[jon-]

I know the guys who put together the tyre tests, you don't have to worry about bias like that.

The only real worry is either home advantage, when a tyre company hosts the test, or a brand sending a "test special" super soft tyre that the mags miss out on.