Porsche N rated Tyres

[bensimmons]

Hi I wonder if you guys could help please? I have just bought a C4S 997 Gen 2 Cab. It has N0 rated Bridgestone potenzas on it. This seemeed a little strange as my last car an 08 997 gen 2 coupe had N2 tyres fitted. OPC were their usual useful self - 'oh yes sir you just need to make sure they are N rated'.

I'm in warranty and plan to stay in warranty for the forseeable future so they have to be N rated.

So 2 quations, does anyone know what the correct N rating for a C4S Cab gen 2?

Once we have established that - what brand of tyres are reco'd ? I been told the Pirelli P Zero will wear well (i have a heavy right foot) and give good performance for a 4000 miles a year 2nd car (non track day)?

Your help is appraciated or point me to a previous thread please - I'm sure this has been covered off but cant find the speciifc answer to my exact vehicle ... Regards Simmo

[996TT02]

N0, N2, N whatever etc - they do not specifically refer to the age/design age of a tyre but only to the versions of that particular tyre that happen to be N rated.

I.e. if a new tyre type (let's say Michelin "Kangaroo") were developed today for Porsche it would be N0. Irrespective of the fact that there may be other tyres that have attained version 4 of their development and hence may be rated N4.

If your tyres are in date then no worries all it means is that tyre was the first version at the time which could potentially be just as good or better than another tyre type that had a higher N rating at that same time.

Obviously today's version may be N2 or higher but even then since all tyres are compromises the changes may be better for some may be worse for others.

[bensimmons]

Thanks - thats really clear. Whats your view on mixing the tyres on the car but keeping the same on axles - I'd like to move to Pirelli's on the rear but the Bridgestones on the front have loads of life left on them?

[mrdemon]

It's getting bullst, your n rated tyre could have been designed for the front of a CGT but as long as it is n you can fit it to the rear of a cayman.

It laughable.

Fit some better tyres , keep those ones for warranty renewal , you can make a claim on warranty with non n spec tyres on, you just have trouble renewing.

[bensimmons]

Fit some better tyres , keep those ones for warranty renewal , you can make a claim on warranty with non n spec tyres on, you just have trouble renewing.

Can you be specific on 'better tyres' as i stated in the OP I do about 4000 miles per year I'm not a track day junky but I do have a heavy right foot ... Tend to mash a pair of rears at least every year - so no point in having something that is super slick and sticky but wont last 6 months? Thanks

[996TT02]

bensimmons said:

Thanks - thats really clear. Whats your view on mixing the tyres on the car but keeping the same on axles - I'd like to move to Pirelli's on the rear but the Bridgestones on the front have loads of life left on them?

Personally I think you'll be fine, my take is that handling characteristics whatever they may be are something you should always learn off your car and the way it's set up, after all 911s have the engine in the back so that's already quite a lot you need to adjust to.

Re the Pirellis, I had them on the rear and one developed huge and deep sidewall cracks, now these are not my words so I don't know how much is true and how much is hyperbole but the replacement tyre fitter (I went for Michelin, and did not buy them off him) said "they all do that" (the Pirellis) which probably means that he's seen a few, compared to other brands.

What I like about the Michelins that the Pirellis did not have is certainly the rim protector, for the rest of the Michelin experience, I'm not really qualified enough to comment.

[Dblue]

bensimmons said:

Fit some better tyres , keep those ones for warranty renewal , you can make a claim on warranty with non n spec tyres on, you just have trouble renewing.

Can you be specific on 'better tyres' as i stated in the OP I do about 4000 miles per year I'm not a track day junky but I do have a heavy right foot ... Tend to mash a pair of rears at least every year - so no point in having something that is super slick and sticky but wont last 6 months? Thanks

Well for example, the Michelin Pilot Supersport is a newer and better tyre than than the Michelin PS2 that preceded it. But its not N Rated for your car (Because it wasn't around when yours was being developed) so technically you would be in breach of warranty conditions. I am assured by my OPC that they would never fail to honour a claim on the engine or gearbox etc because the tyres were not N rated.

Over time tyre makers continue to improve their tyres , Porsche do not go back to superseded models and re-evaluate.Its your call but sticking religiously to N rated tyres you are ruling out some more modern and better alternatives.

[WindyMiller67]

bensimmons said:

does anyone know what the correct N rating for a C4S Cab gen 2?

Hi Ben
Guildford OPC recently fitted Michelin PS2s N2 rated to my 997.2 Targa 4S. Don't quote me, but I believe we have the same sizes: 235/35 R19 front and 305/30 R19 rear - assuming you have 19" wheels...
I wanted the Michelin Pilot Supersports too but bottled out on the no-warranty issue.
There may have only been one version of your Bridgestones, in which case no problem...
Hope this helps.
Windy

[Orangecurry]

Whatever you decide, *don't* choose Pirellis.

HTH.

[bensimmons]

Thanks for the input - I'm on my 4th 997 so pretty familiar with the rear engine set up lol!!

I have also had michelins PS2s on most of the them - they wore pretty well - as usual they went on the inside edges ... well before the outside and middle thread ran out umm

OK well thats a pretty much a no for the pirellis ... Back to the michelins I think... thanks guys and gals for your advice. Simmo

[Orangecurry]

bensimmons said:

...as usual they went on the inside edges ... well before the outside and middle thread ran out umm

Get a GEO done by someone who knows what they are doing. The inside edges should never wear 'well before' the rest of the tyre.

[Dblue]

Orangecurry said:

bensimmons said:

...as usual they went on the inside edges ... well before the outside and middle thread ran out umm

Get a GEO done by someone who knows what they are doing. The inside edges should never wear 'well before' the rest of the tyre.

All 911s tend to wear on the inside shoulder but I do agree, good geo should minimize that.

On a stock 911 unless the car gets driven enthusiastically for a fair percentage of its use the inside shoulders of the rears will wear fastest.

[bensimmons]

Brilliant - so I need to drive it harder to minimise inside wear!! My gf will be impressed (not) haha ...

Any reco for a good company to Geo set up in west london or oxofrdshire? thanks Simmo

[Dblue]

bensimmons said:

Brilliant - so I need to drive it harder to minimise inside wear!! My gf will be impressed (not) haha ...

Any reco for a good company to Geo set up in west london or oxofrdshire? thanks Simmo

JZM in Kings Langley, Jaz in Wembley.

Fearnsport at Silverstone are very good and if you have the time Chris at Centre Of Gravity in Leamington Spa I think is the most thorough of them all. If it was a GT3 I'd go elsewhere but for a C2S C.O.G might be worth it.

[Orangecurry]

I must be an enthusiastic driver.

[Dblue]

Orangecurry said:

I must be an enthusiastic driver.

Those off a 997?

[Orangecurry]

Heavens no.

[prout]

Another N-rated question - the rear Pirelli N1s have finally expired and I was looking forward to putting something better on. The garage, however, has advised against mixing so I either replace like for like or all 4.

I hadn't come across this advice before but a quick google turns up a couple of posts on Rennslist that make the same point.

The fronts have a few k left in them so thinking - could I get away with going for a different brand but still N1 tyre then eventually match the fronts? Or is that the fastest way into the Post Your Crash Pics thread.

Any advice appreciated!

[Trev450]

It's not a definate 'non no', although there are those who will say it is. I've done it a couple of times in the past and am still here to tell the tale. If you do decide to mix them just be aware that your normal handling characteristics may change, and not for the better! Alternatively, change all four together and put your fronts on ebay.

[Magic919]

N numbers don't match up across brands. I'd just skip the fronts and get a set of matching tyres. Fronts are the cheap ones.