Who rates which tyres for the rear - 1998 996
Discussion
Tyres are always a compromise in terms of grip, dry and wet, wear rates, road noise and so on. A different make front to back will therefore raise the possiblity of altering the balance. Having said that, within reasonable limits I would have thought that all of the standard recommendations of the manufacturer would be compatible.
Just put 2 new Michelins on the back of my 996.
Was just told I should mix them!
A decent answer would be appreciated!
Surely grip on a bend is different front to rear anyway or am I just being dense?!?
So does level of tread depth matter front to rear then? and so on and so on!
Oh so confusing!
Was just told I should mix them!
A decent answer would be appreciated!
Surely grip on a bend is different front to rear anyway or am I just being dense?!?
So does level of tread depth matter front to rear then? and so on and so on!
Oh so confusing!
damiangt3 said:
Don't mix tyres, it's just not worth experiencing strange handling characteristics!
And Contis are crap. PZeros Assymmetricos aren't much better. Look at Michelins or Bridgestones if they are available N-Rated in that size.
I couldn't disagree more. I've tried plenty of tyres and have come back to Conti N2. Depends on your definition of 'better' of course, but I find the Contis have the same grip levels as Michelin, but start with more tread (Michelin came with 6.5mm new...) and last the full term too, where Michelin, for example, felt terrible below 3mm. The Michelins also rubbed on my oil line - slightly too wide.And Contis are crap. PZeros Assymmetricos aren't much better. Look at Michelins or Bridgestones if they are available N-Rated in that size.
dava said:
Don't mix tyres. If you have a accident the insurers won't pay.
Put Michelins on all four corners and have done with it. They're a revelation in bad conditions and sooo quiet at speed.
Total and utter cr$p!!!!!! So long as the car has roadworthy tyres and they are correct size and fitment they are fine.Put Michelins on all four corners and have done with it. They're a revelation in bad conditions and sooo quiet at speed.
In terms of grip etc..you would have to driving like an idiot and at extreme levels for the difference between tyre makes to have an effect...
Next you will be telling us that the car must have the same size tyres front and back; that they must be equally worn; and the car must have 50/50 weight distribution...or else the insurance wont pay!!!!!
Edited by Paracetamol on Wednesday 5th September 12:05
I've just fitted (last month) a new set all round on my C4..
Went for Michelin Pilot Sport N1's..... again !!
On the recommendation of my trusted garage.. and also because that's what was on it before.. and they have been brilliant!
Quiet, comfortable, very grippy in wet (including very wet!) and also bone dry..
Just back from a trip into europe with them, and they are showing very little wear, superb on the motorway at high speeds too..!
One thing tho..
My garage guy.. he said to NEVER mix different types/designs of tyres front to back on cars.
ESPECIALLY on cars like Porsches etc etc.. maybe ok on a Ford hatchback because the car's never really working and loading up that much, but performance cars are different.
So, I'd have to go on the bandwagon that says ...Don't mix !
Just my thoughts..
Cheers
Went for Michelin Pilot Sport N1's..... again !!
On the recommendation of my trusted garage.. and also because that's what was on it before.. and they have been brilliant!
Quiet, comfortable, very grippy in wet (including very wet!) and also bone dry..
Just back from a trip into europe with them, and they are showing very little wear, superb on the motorway at high speeds too..!
One thing tho..
My garage guy.. he said to NEVER mix different types/designs of tyres front to back on cars.
ESPECIALLY on cars like Porsches etc etc.. maybe ok on a Ford hatchback because the car's never really working and loading up that much, but performance cars are different.
So, I'd have to go on the bandwagon that says ...Don't mix !
Just my thoughts..
Cheers
Yeah dont mix. The front of the car will have totally different grip, sidewall strength and water dispersment capabilities. I did it once in my BM and it was awful-to the extent that I had them changed very shortly afterwards.
Is it really worth it? We are all driving VERY expensive cars-and all that keeps us the right side up is those black circles.
To save a few quid its just not worth risking an accident.
It does depend on how hard you drive as to how soon you notice the change in handling-lets hope its not on a rainy night when you need all the control the car is capable of.
Oh and by the way-its not utter cr*p about the insurance. If they think that tyres that are not to the manufactures spec are cause/part cause for an accident they WILL fight not to pay. (The same if the pressures are wrong). Porsche dont spend millions testing all this stuff just for a laugh you know.
Is it really worth it? We are all driving VERY expensive cars-and all that keeps us the right side up is those black circles.
To save a few quid its just not worth risking an accident.
It does depend on how hard you drive as to how soon you notice the change in handling-lets hope its not on a rainy night when you need all the control the car is capable of.
Oh and by the way-its not utter cr*p about the insurance. If they think that tyres that are not to the manufactures spec are cause/part cause for an accident they WILL fight not to pay. (The same if the pressures are wrong). Porsche dont spend millions testing all this stuff just for a laugh you know.
There is an argument here but it is not that critical. The Bentley reference is somewhat misleading as some models only ever had 1 tyre recommendation, relating to a tyre that the car was developed on.
This is the case with many specialist cars - they are developed on a particular type of tyre and that is the one that should always be fitted.
However, if a manufacturer recommends, specifies and fits 2 or 3 different brands AS STANDARD fitment, then it is likely they will all have broadly similar grip and handling characteristics and would not be a big problem if mixed front to rear. It won't be optimum but it would be safe.
I emhasise standard because if a manufacturer has a higher performance option, then it should not be mixed with a standard tyre.
The point about tread depth is relevant too. Much better to have different, approved makes, front to rear with similar tread than have all the same make but widely different levels of tread, particulary in the wet. Having said that, in all probability one could end up with different makes and different tread depths. In that case the tread depth will be more relevant than the make.
This is the case with many specialist cars - they are developed on a particular type of tyre and that is the one that should always be fitted.
However, if a manufacturer recommends, specifies and fits 2 or 3 different brands AS STANDARD fitment, then it is likely they will all have broadly similar grip and handling characteristics and would not be a big problem if mixed front to rear. It won't be optimum but it would be safe.
I emhasise standard because if a manufacturer has a higher performance option, then it should not be mixed with a standard tyre.
The point about tread depth is relevant too. Much better to have different, approved makes, front to rear with similar tread than have all the same make but widely different levels of tread, particulary in the wet. Having said that, in all probability one could end up with different makes and different tread depths. In that case the tread depth will be more relevant than the make.
I cannot believe some of the comments posted here.
You are talking about Porsches here.... Porsche have spent fortunes tuning the chassis dynamics on an engine layout that by all the laws of physics is wrong!
The tyre manufacturers produce, with Porsche engineers, a marque specific tyre for use with this engineering masterpiece that allows the average t
t to drive it around at fairly high speeds - and safely. By the way, the car is DESIGNED to have different sizes front to rear.
The 911 range is extremely susceptible to makes, tread levels and pressures.
The concensus of opinion is -
Don't mix tyre manufacturers
Use the tyres reccomended by Porsche
Dont allow extremes of tread levels to vary across an axle
Keep a regular and frequent check on the pressures
The only time you would or should consider going outside such advice is on track when you may be playing around with different characteristics and grip levels.
By all means ignore it but if you ever have a little 'moment' which may call upon the whole package to work a bit harder gripwise you have only yourself to blame if it ended in tears.
And for my twopenneth I found Michelin Pilot Sports and Bridgestone SO2s excellent on the 996. I found the Contis a little 'vague' in comparison.
I have tried some Pirrellis but it was so long ago I cannot remember which sort of directionales or assimetricos or whatever they might have been but I do recall they didn't last long and I was pleased to be rid of them!
You are talking about Porsches here.... Porsche have spent fortunes tuning the chassis dynamics on an engine layout that by all the laws of physics is wrong!
The tyre manufacturers produce, with Porsche engineers, a marque specific tyre for use with this engineering masterpiece that allows the average t
t to drive it around at fairly high speeds - and safely. By the way, the car is DESIGNED to have different sizes front to rear.The 911 range is extremely susceptible to makes, tread levels and pressures.
The concensus of opinion is -
Don't mix tyre manufacturers
Use the tyres reccomended by Porsche
Dont allow extremes of tread levels to vary across an axle
Keep a regular and frequent check on the pressures
The only time you would or should consider going outside such advice is on track when you may be playing around with different characteristics and grip levels.
By all means ignore it but if you ever have a little 'moment' which may call upon the whole package to work a bit harder gripwise you have only yourself to blame if it ended in tears.
And for my twopenneth I found Michelin Pilot Sports and Bridgestone SO2s excellent on the 996. I found the Contis a little 'vague' in comparison.
I have tried some Pirrellis but it was so long ago I cannot remember which sort of directionales or assimetricos or whatever they might have been but I do recall they didn't last long and I was pleased to be rid of them!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm with the "don't mix" brigade on this.I once had to run Contis on front and Michelin on the rear of my 964 (waiting for michelins in correct size for the front, but rears needing changing) and my car was changed dramatically.
If, however, yours drives the same, then I'd think you're OK...
...but my experience was that it wasn't just noticeable, it felt like the entire alignment had been changed.
To all the non mixers on here...just how on earth do you ensure that your tread on the front and rear tyres is exactly consistent. Its utter nonesense and scare mongering. Whilst I do agree totally that 2 different types of tyre should not be used across axles, the notion that front to backs have to be the same is crud. Not one car manufucturer (or even tyre manufactuer) I have come across states this, the construction and roadworthiness rules do not require this.
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