987.2 tyres, again

[SV_WDC]

Have tried the search but nothing recent has come up.

Rear tyres due an upgrade soon, and car is currently running Eagle F1's on my Cayman.

Few questions:
1. What is the difference between N0, N1, N2 tyres? Current ones are N0 rated, so should I replace with N0's?
2. Is it worth taking the hit & upgrading to the Michelin Supersport/Pilot Sport 2 tyres? Will need to do fronts too so will get expensive
3. Any advice for fitment centres - looking at Black Circles & there are some approved garages near me, but want a garage that will take care of the diamond cut alloys

Appreciate any advice.

[DJMC]

SV_WDC said:

Have tried the search but nothing recent has come up.

Rear tyres due an upgrade soon, and car is currently running Eagle F1's on my Cayman.

Few questions:
1. What is the difference between N0, N1, N2 tyres? Current ones are N0 rated, so should I replace with N0's?
2. Is it worth taking the hit & upgrading to the Michelin Supersport/Pilot Sport 2 tyres? Will need to do fronts too so will get expensive
3. Any advice for fitment centres - looking at Black Circles & there are some approved garages near me, but want a garage that will take care of the diamond cut alloys

Appreciate any advice.

The Goodyears are great all rounders and wear well. I have them on my 981 and on my TTS prior. What would you hope to achieve with the Michelins?

[SV_WDC]

DJMC said:

The Goodyears are great all rounders and wear well. I have them on my 981 and on my TTS prior. What would you hope to achieve with the Michelins?

I read they are better & seem to be a popular choice on forums.

Good to hear you are happy with the Goodyear's, I may stick with them.

[Jasons11]

I put 4 new Michelins on my 987 Boxster 3 weeks ago, really good tyres and very happy with them.

[Oso]

I've tried options from three N rated manufacturers for 987.

My preference is for the Bridgestones. I guess it's a personal thing - FWIW I find them the most progressive and therefore confidence inspiring. The Michelins I find are snappy at the limit and inconsistent when cold, and the Continentals I just thought offered poor overall grip in most conditions.

The higher the N number the more developed the tyre. I guess they keep making the earlier N numbers available so you can match with what is already on the car to maintain the balance of grip.

If you are going down the non-N rated route, I have heard good things about the new Michelin PS4S but haven't yet tried it myself.

Careful with mail order tyres, they are new as in unused but are often old as in have been lying around for a couple of years. I suspect this might be why they are able to offer the deals the do - so check the age they are sending you. Tyres have a finite life by time.

[cay]

Just had Pirelli PZero N2 fitted to my 987.

After many years of Michelin PS2 I wasn't sure what to expect but so far they seem to have lots of grip wet and dry.

Steering feel maybe not quite as good but difficult to tell. The tyres are all dated late 2016 or 2017 so haven't been lying around for ages.

They were also much cheaper than Michelin.

I would have liked PS4s or something newer but still have warranty so wanted N rated.

[Oso]

Yes, I think the Pirellis are great - loads of grip in wet and dry. Some find them a bit soft and complain about wear rates. I got through many sets for the track as they were always by far the best deal that my guy could get me, so even if they wore faster was still cheapest option per mile by far.

Also notable how they feature so commonly on so many 9x1 cars - that might be an endorsement of where the factory sees things today, don't know...

[SV_WDC]

Oso said:

Careful with mail order tyres, they are new as in unused but are often old as in have been lying around for a couple of years. I suspect this might be why they are able to offer the deals the do - so check the age they are sending you. Tyres have a finite life by time.

Thanks for this & to all the other posters. Sticking with the Goodyear's & the garage confirmed the tyres will be at least a late manufacturer 2016 tyre, but as they are coming direct from Goodyear will likely be newer.

[jon-]

Untrue regarding online tyre sellers, everyone buys their tyres from the same places, most online retailers don't even hold their own stock, they buy from the wholesalers like the local guys do to (or are run by the wholesalers). Obviously if you're getting onto ebay then yes, buyer beware.

N0, N1, N2 etc, the higher the number, the newer the approval.

Michelin are making the best regarded sports tyres on the market at the moment with the PS4S at the top of that pile.

[Rockster]

SV_WDC said:

Have tried the search but nothing recent has come up.

Rear tyres due an upgrade soon, and car is currently running Eagle F1's on my Cayman.

Few questions:
1. What is the difference between N0, N1, N2 tyres? Current ones are N0 rated, so should I replace with N0's?
2. Is it worth taking the hit & upgrading to the Michelin Supersport/Pilot Sport 2 tyres? Will need to do fronts too so will get expensive
3. Any advice for fitment centres - looking at Black Circles & there are some approved garages near me, but want a garage that will take care of the diamond cut alloys

Appreciate any advice.

For (1) as another poster offered the higher the N number the newer/more recent the tire.

Porsche cautions against mixing different N rating tires even if the tires are otherwise the same tires.

For question (2) I have no experience with the super duper Michelin tires on either my Boxster or my Turbo. On my Boxster the regular Michelin tires proved to be a good tire but hardly better than the Pirelli tires the car came with originally. (Pirelli tires were fitted at the factory.)

But after a number of sets of Pirelli tires the car ended up with Michelin tires because at some point the price difference was small enough the cost premium of the Michelin tires was very small and I was anxious to try the Michelin tires. So Michelin tires were bought and fitted and I stayed with Michelin tires for a few years. The Michelin tires were good tires. I've no complaints. At the same or nearly the same price as Pirelli tires the Michelin tires won out mainly due to the name/reputation. However, at some point when the car needed new tires and the Michelin tires were out of stock and back ordered for months I went back to Pirelli tires. And with no regrets.

Really if I gave the tires a blind test I couldn't distinguish between Pirelli or Michelin tires.

(My Turbo came with Continental tires. These were a good tire. Then when the car needed tires and Continental tires were out of stock I went with Bridgestone tires. These were a good tire. Much like the Boxster and Pirelli and Michelin tires in a blind test with the Turbo I couldn't distinguish between the two brands fo tires.

In your case unless you are dying to try to new Michelin tires my recommendation would be to replace the rear tires with the same tires on there now -- right down to the same N0 rating -- and then when the rear tires are gone again and it is time to replace all 4 tires if you want to give the Michelin tires a spin (no pun...) have them fitted.

[rdjohn]

Oso said:

I've tried options from three N rated manufacturers for 987.

My preference is for the Bridgestones. I guess it's a personal thing - FWIW I find them the most progressive and therefore confidence inspiring. The Michelins I find are snappy at the limit and inconsistent when cold, and the Continentals I just thought offered poor overall grip in most conditions.

The higher the N number the more developed the tyre. I guess they keep making the earlier N numbers available so you can match with what is already on the car to maintain the balance of grip.

If you are going down the non-N rated route, I have heard good things about the new Michelin PS4S but haven't yet tried it myself.

Careful with mail order tyres, they are new as in unused but are often old as in have been lying around for a couple of years. I suspect this might be why they are able to offer the deals the do - so check the age they are sending you. Tyres have a finite life by time.

I have Bridgestones on a 987 Boxster and find they wear well. I use it for sunny days rather than white-knuckle drives, so that is what might be expected