Tyre - Pirelli v Michelin

[Kendrik]

Apologies, I appreciate this gets discussed periodically, but..

I need 2 rear tyres on my 911. Currently running PZero N1. I can instead put PS4S tyres on, but will mean ditching the fronts which have only done 13k Miles so I would guess only half worn.

Therefore, is the consensus that the Michelin tyres are so much better that it is worth binning the fronts early?

Any input appreciated - car is 991.2 S if it helps.

Cheers

[Porsche911R]

Ask yourself why the 911t has PS4s standard and all the others have pzero.

[Taffy66]

Porsche911R said:

Ask yourself why the 911t has PS4s standard and all the others have pzero.

Your not quite correct there..I was at my OPC today and there were two new T's in the showroom...One was on Pirellis and one on Michelins. However if i was given a choice i would plump for PS4s every time..

[DJMC]

You could put PZero N1s on the rear and then change all four next time?

I'll be in the same position soon with my GY F1 A2s on my 981. However... my tyre retailer of 20 years went on a Michelin track day.
She and her husband (co-owner) were asked to test cars fitted with all premium brands but weren't told which brand on which car and no peeking. She told me the PS4S was so far ahead of the pack they both picked them as best performer. She was bubbling over with enthusiasm for the Michelins as I've never seen her before.

But, some reports of PS4S on certain cars have been disappointing. You may think them worse than your Pirellis for your type of driving? It's not just about chucking the PZeros away, it's also fear of a new unknown to you tyre.

[mr pg]

Ask me in a months time when we're back from a two week jaunt across Europe, which will be the first test for the Michelins (replacing N0 P zero's) I recently put on our 981CS.

[jimbo761]

Give me Michelins over Pirellis any day of the week. Mine came on the standard fit PZ N1s and I found them pretty terrible in anything other than perfect conditions.

[Kendrik]

Thanks for the comments. To add, the car is my only car and gets used every day in all conditions including occasional track use. I find the PZeros fine in the dry and warm but less convincing in the wet and frankly a little bit lethal if it is cold and wet, but I recognise that it's a powerful rear drive car so the back is always going to be a eager to come loose, but it just seems like it should be better - for example I have managed a full blown tank slapper accelerating off a roundabout when not pushing remotely hard.

[DJMC]

mr pg said:

Ask me in a months time when we're back from a two week jaunt across Europe, which will be the first test for the Michelins (replacing N0 P zero's) I recently put on our 981CS.

Anything is better than PZero N0. N1's are said to be better. I had N0 on my 981 originally and they were horrid hard skiddy things. The Goodyears have been excellent over 24k miles.
I've noticed PS4S prices have fallen by more than 20% since UK launch as competition hots up between retailers. That helps.

[Slippydiff]

bcr5784 should be along any moment now ....

[rabbitstew]

When I got my 997 turbo I had a brand new set of P-Zeros fitted. They lasted me 14000 miles. I replaced them with PS4S`s and was absolutely shocked at how much of an improvement they were. Staggering. Ive now done 15000 miles in the PS4S`s and they are not even half worn.

So for me, its a no brainer, they are night & day grip wise, and last twice as long!

[Slippydiff]

rabbitstew said:

When I got my 997 turbo I had a brand new set of P-Zeros fitted. They lasted me 14000 miles. I replaced them with PS4S`s and was absolutely shocked at how much of an improvement they were. Staggering. Ive now done 15000 miles in the PS4S`s and they are not even half worn.

So for me, its a no brainer, they are night & day grip wise, and last twice as long!

Despite you, me and countless other contributors stating the Pirellis are hopeless in comparison with the equivalent Michelins (and the Pirelllis being susceptible to failures which required the manufacturer step in and replace them FOC), bcr5784 will tell you you're "wrong", the Pirellis are a wonderful product that are in no way inferior to Michelin's products...

Mind you, you did do well getting 14k miles out of a set of P-Zeros !!

[996TT02]

I had Pirelli and they split. Replace just the rears with Michelin. No biggie. Hardly like fronts and rears are ever identical on a 911 anyway.

[DJMC]

Slippydiff said:

Despite you, me and countless other contributors stating the Pirellis are hopeless in comparison with the equivalent Michelins (and the Pirelllis being susceptible to failures which required the manufacturer step in and replace them FOC), bcr5784 will tell you you're "wrong", the Pirellis are a wonderful product that are in no way inferior to Michelin's products...

Mind you, you did do well getting 14k miles out of a set of P-Zeros !!

When Pirelli replaced my cracked front PZero N0s at 19k miles the engineer said he thought they were half worn. Not surprising really, for something hewn out of rock.

[DJMC]

996TT02 said:

I had Pirelli and they split. Replace just the rears with Michelin. No biggie. Hardly like fronts and rears are ever identical on a 911 anyway.

If it's under warranty, all four have to be the same brand and same "N" series, i.e. all N0 or all N1 etc.

If not under warranty, I'd check with each manufacturer and see what they say. You can guess what it will be!

[rabbitstew]

Slippydiff said:

Despite you, me and countless other contributors stating the Pirellis are hopeless in comparison with the equivalent Michelins (and the Pirelllis being susceptible to failures which required the manufacturer step in and replace them FOC), bcr5784 will tell you you're "wrong", the Pirellis are a wonderful product that are in no way inferior to Michelin's products...

Mind you, you did do well getting 14k miles out of a set of P-Zeros !!

Well id only just got the car and didnt feel confident at all in pushing it too hard until I got the Michelins. Which makes the Michelins even more impressive in that they are only half worn after 15,000 miles of harder driving than my P-Zeros had.