Cayman S - Pirelli vs Michelin vs Goodyear
Discussion
Apologies for raising this topic again but previous discussions seem to be a couple of years old.
I've just picked up a Cayman S PDK with 20" Carrera S wheels. The test drive roads must have been super smooth as it was relatively quiet inside. However, upon wider use I am surprised at the tyre roar generated, so much so it dominates in the car.
I appreciate the 20" wheels will contribute to this but it has Pirelli P Zero N0 tyres fitted which are apparently not the best!
Does anybody have any experience of swapping from the P Zero N0s to alternative N rated tyres from Michelin or Goodyear?
Apparently, and in the past, the Goodyears were commended with being considerably quieter and providing a smoother ride - both of these factors would be very welcome!
Thanks in advance.
I've just picked up a Cayman S PDK with 20" Carrera S wheels. The test drive roads must have been super smooth as it was relatively quiet inside. However, upon wider use I am surprised at the tyre roar generated, so much so it dominates in the car.
I appreciate the 20" wheels will contribute to this but it has Pirelli P Zero N0 tyres fitted which are apparently not the best!
Does anybody have any experience of swapping from the P Zero N0s to alternative N rated tyres from Michelin or Goodyear?
Apparently, and in the past, the Goodyears were commended with being considerably quieter and providing a smoother ride - both of these factors would be very welcome!
Thanks in advance.
I moved from N1 Pirellis to N0 Goodyears quite soon after buying the car and the improvement was night and day.
I found the Goodyears much better in the wet, quieter, and much longer lasting.
Not tried Michelins, they seem highly rated on here but aren't available in my wheel size (18"s).
I found the Goodyears much better in the wet, quieter, and much longer lasting.
Not tried Michelins, they seem highly rated on here but aren't available in my wheel size (18"s).
Hidey said:
Andy OH said:
If you can get N0 Rated Michelin PS4S in your size, they're the tyre to go for. Is the car a 718? and what sizes are they?
It's a 981. 235/35 20 and 265/35 20I'm running Michelin PS4Ss on my 981 GT4 which are not N rated, as at the time Michelin were not producing a N rated 295 30 20 for the rear, apparently the are now. I went with the normal XL MP4S and I can say they are a fantastic tyre. I do also have a set of N1 rated Michelin Pilot Cup 2s in the garage if I need them.
Everyone has their preference for tyres but having had Michelin PS4Ss on other cars and now on the GT4, I would not use anything else.
Edited by Andy OH on Friday 9th October 10:22
I’ve got P zeros on my CGTS and unfortunately I got a puncture on my front left which meant replacing both front tyres when the car was in for a service last month.
They offered Pirelli and I said okay however my rears probably need to be replaced soon and having read that the p zeros seem to drop off a cliff at about 4mm I’m a bit gutted to be having to spend the best part of £800 to replace all 4 of my tyres for MPS as everyone seems to rave about them.
The Pirelli’s don’t fill me with confidence, at least not in the wet, It doesn’t take a lot of throttle to get the rear moving around which isn’t that fun when I’m just bobbing along not having to expect an opposite input on a rainy day.
Don’t go with the Pirelli’s.
They offered Pirelli and I said okay however my rears probably need to be replaced soon and having read that the p zeros seem to drop off a cliff at about 4mm I’m a bit gutted to be having to spend the best part of £800 to replace all 4 of my tyres for MPS as everyone seems to rave about them.
The Pirelli’s don’t fill me with confidence, at least not in the wet, It doesn’t take a lot of throttle to get the rear moving around which isn’t that fun when I’m just bobbing along not having to expect an opposite input on a rainy day.
Don’t go with the Pirelli’s.
WokkaWokka said:
I’ve got P zeros on my CGTS and unfortunately I got a puncture on my front left which meant replacing both front tyres when the car was in for a service last month.
They offered Pirelli and I said okay however my rears probably need to be replaced soon and having read that the p zeros seem to drop off a cliff at about 4mm I’m a bit gutted to be having to spend the best part of £800 to replace all 4 of my tyres for MPS as everyone seems to rave about them.
The Pirelli’s don’t fill me with confidence, at least not in the wet, It doesn’t take a lot of throttle to get the rear moving around which isn’t that fun when I’m just bobbing along not having to expect an opposite input on a rainy day.
Don’t go with the Pirelli’s.
I’d try looking at it from a different perspective, that is, it’ll probably be the best £800 you’ll spend on the car.They offered Pirelli and I said okay however my rears probably need to be replaced soon and having read that the p zeros seem to drop off a cliff at about 4mm I’m a bit gutted to be having to spend the best part of £800 to replace all 4 of my tyres for MPS as everyone seems to rave about them.
The Pirelli’s don’t fill me with confidence, at least not in the wet, It doesn’t take a lot of throttle to get the rear moving around which isn’t that fun when I’m just bobbing along not having to expect an opposite input on a rainy day.
Don’t go with the Pirelli’s.
Slippydiff said:
I’d try looking at it from a different perspective, that is, it’ll probably be the best £800 you’ll spend on the car.
agree I see people in £60k cars who garage queen them at 2k miles a year and run 10 year old Pzero hard and cracked !!!very odd people are, again proves most cars are lifestyle objects not driving machines.
Morning all
Many thanks for your replies.
Despite having always had Michelins on previous cars I am currently leaning towards the Goodyears as they have a lower DB rating than the Michelins - I am struggling with ear problems currently and hopefully this would help. There is an offer on at Costco too, if they can supply the N rated rears, which is very good value for money.
The current P Zero N0s are harsh and noisy so am looking forward to an improvement.
The Michelin looks like a great tyre but I'm willing to compromise some of that greatness for an even quieter one! Any further comments about experience of the Goodyears and it's respective volume would be gratefully received.
Thanks again
Many thanks for your replies.
Despite having always had Michelins on previous cars I am currently leaning towards the Goodyears as they have a lower DB rating than the Michelins - I am struggling with ear problems currently and hopefully this would help. There is an offer on at Costco too, if they can supply the N rated rears, which is very good value for money.
The current P Zero N0s are harsh and noisy so am looking forward to an improvement.
The Michelin looks like a great tyre but I'm willing to compromise some of that greatness for an even quieter one! Any further comments about experience of the Goodyears and it's respective volume would be gratefully received.
Thanks again
I’ve had all three, in various guises. But, for the last few years my preference is the Goodyears, for all round performance, lower noise and value.
However, I do think there is a lot of misinformation about tyres. A few people have criticised Pirellis and it becomes ‘fact’. A few people have praised Michelins and it becomes ‘fact’.
But, why do most new Porsches arrive from the Factory on OE Pirellis - and submitted for road tests on Pirellis ?
Porsche aren’t going to wreck their reputation by compromising on tyres.
I think lot has to do with the point in the lifecycle of the tyres when a judgement is made.
Replace an old set of one brand with a new set of another and there’s bound to be an improvement.
However, I do think there is a lot of misinformation about tyres. A few people have criticised Pirellis and it becomes ‘fact’. A few people have praised Michelins and it becomes ‘fact’.
But, why do most new Porsches arrive from the Factory on OE Pirellis - and submitted for road tests on Pirellis ?
Porsche aren’t going to wreck their reputation by compromising on tyres.
I think lot has to do with the point in the lifecycle of the tyres when a judgement is made.
Replace an old set of one brand with a new set of another and there’s bound to be an improvement.
Koln-RS said:
I’ve had all three, in various guises. But, for the last few years my preference is the Goodyears, for all round performance, lower noise and value.
However, I do think there is a lot of misinformation about tyres. A few people have criticised Pirellis and it becomes ‘fact’. A few people have praised Michelins and it becomes ‘fact’.
But, why do most new Porsches arrive from the Factory on OE Pirellis - and submitted for road tests on Pirellis ?
Porsche aren’t going to wreck their reputation by compromising on tyres.
I think lot has to do with the point in the lifecycle of the tyres when a judgement is made.
Replace an old set of one brand with a new set of another and there’s bound to be an improvement.
Oooh, that's a tough one.However, I do think there is a lot of misinformation about tyres. A few people have criticised Pirellis and it becomes ‘fact’. A few people have praised Michelins and it becomes ‘fact’.
But, why do most new Porsches arrive from the Factory on OE Pirellis - and submitted for road tests on Pirellis ?
Porsche aren’t going to wreck their reputation by compromising on tyres.
I think lot has to do with the point in the lifecycle of the tyres when a judgement is made.
Replace an old set of one brand with a new set of another and there’s bound to be an improvement.
Let's have a think ...
Cost.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Just looked on BC web site and it does not show PS4S 265/35/20 as being N rated the 235/35/20 are N rated .
I have the Pirelli on the car at present came with them al NO rated ,I know the consensus is that the Michelin is a better tyre but the Pirelli has a better wet rating strange. I will keep them on the car as 4/5 ml left and not likely to be using the car in the winter months so seems a pointless exercise changing at this time .
I have the Pirelli on the car at present came with them al NO rated ,I know the consensus is that the Michelin is a better tyre but the Pirelli has a better wet rating strange. I will keep them on the car as 4/5 ml left and not likely to be using the car in the winter months so seems a pointless exercise changing at this time .
Slippydiff said:
Oooh, that's a tough one.
Let's have a think ...
Cost.
Nothing more, nothing less.
So, Porsche build a reputation for manufacturing the finest engineered sports cars in the world, and then fit the cheapest tyres?Let's have a think ...
Cost.
Nothing more, nothing less.
And, incidentally, most other prestige sports car manufacturers also fit Pirellis as OE (and all F1 cars)
I get your points. It's pouring down here so can't see when mine were manufactured but there is a fair bit of tread remaining.
I am definitely not a driving god and so the nuances of turn in and response may be somewhat lost on me between brands but I think that noise and ride quality will be easier for me to detect hence my interest in the Goodyears.
I am definitely not a driving god and so the nuances of turn in and response may be somewhat lost on me between brands but I think that noise and ride quality will be easier for me to detect hence my interest in the Goodyears.
Yes, very good experience with the Goodyear Eagle F1s on a variety of cars, and would be my preferred choice for regular road use.
They do feel marginally quieter and more compliant, but the problem in the UK is often poor roads and noisy asphalt.
I do about half my annual mileage in France, and the majority of roads there are in another league.
U.K. motorists spent so much time debating the qualities of different cars and tyres, but seem happy to tolerate poor roads.
They do feel marginally quieter and more compliant, but the problem in the UK is often poor roads and noisy asphalt.
I do about half my annual mileage in France, and the majority of roads there are in another league.
U.K. motorists spent so much time debating the qualities of different cars and tyres, but seem happy to tolerate poor roads.
Hidey said:
I get your points. It's pouring down here so can't see when mine were manufactured but there is a fair bit of tread remaining.
I am definitely not a driving god and so the nuances of turn in and response may be somewhat lost on me between brands but I think that noise and ride quality will be easier for me to detect hence my interest in the Goodyears.
Having done a back to back between Goodyears and N0 Pirellis (I've had N1 Pirellis too) I don't think you will find the difference in noise and harshness is as great as you might hope. Yes the Goodyears were a little more comfortable (but they were on 18s, the Pirellis on 19s) but the Pirellis produced less bump thump. The official noise figures are pretty meaningless - they are taken on smooth surfaces. The real issue is on coarse motorways and that is fundamentally a Cayman/Porsche problem.I am definitely not a driving god and so the nuances of turn in and response may be somewhat lost on me between brands but I think that noise and ride quality will be easier for me to detect hence my interest in the Goodyears.
Koln-RS said:
So, Porsche build a reputation for manufacturing the finest engineered sports cars in the world, and then fit the cheapest tyres?
And, incidentally, most other prestige sports car manufacturers also fit Pirellis as OE (and all F1 cars)
Who said they're the cheapest ? They could fit Continental, Dunlop or a whole host of other brands, but I suspect that Pirelli are perceived as a premium brand, so it's more a case of what Porsche can get away with. And, incidentally, most other prestige sports car manufacturers also fit Pirellis as OE (and all F1 cars)
But I doubt that many of the other tyre manufacturers are prepared to meet the costs and demands Porsche require for N rated certification.
But this is numbers game, so how many tyres do you reckon Porsche buy a year off Pirelli ? 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 ? Even if they save £5 a tyre over the equivalent Michelin, that's a huge amount of money they've saved.
And let's not forget these are consumables, the vast majority of owners won't care what brand the tyre is, as long as it's black, round and grips "reasonably" well. It's only the real enthusiasts such as those to be found on internet forums, that care about the last few percent of grip in extremis.
If and when the owner has to replace the tyres on his Porsche, he has the option to vote with his feet. Most will go with what their local OPC or tyre supplier fitter says ie "Same again ?".
Whilst those who take an interest in these matters will do their due diligence and decide whether they want to fit a superior product.
As to why Pirelli get branded "poor" and Michelin get branded "good" ?
I'd suggest you take the time to do a search either on PH or generally on an internet. The evidence all points to Pirelli being the poor relation, both in terms of grip, longevity, noise and overall consistency.
Time after time when the question is asked, the products from Italy get negative comments, and those that formerly ran cars on Pirellis and went to Michelins, all too often state the French manufacturer's products are a night and day improvement.
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