996 Carrera 4 tyre size

[m444ttb]

I need some new rear tyres in the very near future on my 996.2 Carrera 4. The car has 265/35/18s on at the moment (they were new when I bought the car) and all the online tyre fitting company searches return the same size. However Michelin's own site said 285/30/18. Some further Google searching suggests this is the factory size for the facelift car (unsure whether that means pre-facelift run 265/35). Tyre availability seems very limited in the 285s and unsurprisingly £30-50 more expensive per tyre. So I'm wondering what other people are running? it's not like I feel the car is lacking in any rear grip even with the very worn rears compared to the fronts).

[peterg1955]

Gen1 cars had 265/35x18 rears, Gen2 cars had 285/30x18 rears (this is for C2/C4 cars, Turbo and I think C4S were wider still)

When I wanted to put Michelin PS4 tyres on my Gen2 C2 last year the only option for the rear was 275/35x18 so that's what I've been running for 7000 miles and they've been perfect - my car was having a suspension refresh at Center Gravity at the time I got the tyres fitted and Chris Franklin approved of my choice so I was confident they'd be OK.

[Scrump]

peterg1955 said:

Gen1 cars had 265/35x18 rears, Gen2 cars had 285/30x18 rears (this is for C2/C4 cars, Turbo and I think C4S were wider still)

This is correct.

[m444ttb]

While searching I think I saw the C4S had 295 rears. Not sure if that's the same as the Turbo. 275s is an option I'll take a look at too.

ETA: Michelin PS4s in 275/35/R18 99Y come in at £175.19 each fully fitted etc. That'll do I think. Also checked to see what the front 225/40s cost for a PS4 and they're a couple of pennies over £100 each. I'm sure my front P-Zeros will go on and on and on though...

Edited by m444ttb on Friday 10th August 14:56

[skinny]

I put michelin PS4 on the rear of mine. 265/35. Upgrading from conti sport contact. 996.1 tho

Edited by skinny on Friday 10th August 21:15

[m444ttb]

Just back from having the 275's fitted... I still have worn P-Zeros on the car. My local branch of ProTyre wouldn't fit them because the car has 285s. They gave me some bks about it being a high performance vehicle and fitting the incorrect size may 'set off a light or something'. After telling them I'd like a refund so I can go elsewhere the manager spent some time on the phone to his boss then tried to up-sell me some 285 P-Zeros. I was quite irritated by this point so having told him my opinion of P-Zeros (the fact I'd have bought P-Zeros had I wanted them!) I'm now apparently going to get a refund. Evidently they have my safety in mind. The reduction in tyre width could have been awful. Unlike selling everyone else the cheapest possible Chinese plastic tyres while I waited. So now I need to find somewhere else or downgrade to PS2s. Either way I won't be doing it at ProTyre!

ETA. Decided to go with a pair of PS2 in the correct 285/30/18 size as it's just less hassle. BlackCircles looked like the best price and I found the local MoT place I'm taking the car to on Thursday is one of their listed centre so I've booked in it there straight before my MoT. I have the feeling I'll be chasing my refund from ProTyre however.

Edited by m444ttb on Saturday 25th August 15:42

[ATM]

m444ttb said:

The car has 265/35/18s on at the moment

m444ttb said:

My local branch of ProTyre wouldn't fit them because the car has 285s.

I'm confused

[m444ttb]

I thought it had the wrong size on there for some reason but having checked today it doesn't.

[ATM]

I've had problems like this before. It's easily remedied if you just remove the wheels from the car yourself then take them to the fitters. They will then fit anything you like.

[m444ttb]

I took a set of wheels to their other branch a few years back. They had 225/50/16 on (I think) and I had 205/55/16 winters. I was asked if I knew they were different. I said I did and that was that. I wonder if these guys would have argued the toss had I been fitting winters where both 996.1 and 996.2 Carrera / C4 take a 265 rear.