GT4 Winter Wheels

[leemanning]

Does anyone run anything other than Cup 2's over winter? If you do, which do you use?

Looking at purchasing a car and wondering whether to change the tyres over winter.

[CEREC1]

Mines a CGTS not a GT4 but I’m running 19 inch wheels with Continental winter tires. Planning to swap my wheels over in the next couple of weeks.

[nudgerwilliams]

leemanning said:

Does anyone run anything other than Cup 2's over winter? If you do, which do you use?

Looking at purchasing a car and wondering whether to change the tyres over winter.

If you want to use it regularly, I would change the tyres and ideally put winters on it. I think those are only available in 19s though, so that means extra wheels. The Cup 2s are OK on cold roads provided they are dry (though with much greater grip drop off than you get with a regular summer tyre), but in heavy rain they are a bit of a liability because of the aquaplaning risk.

Good on you for wanting to use it over winter, though - mine stays tucked up in the garage.

[LiamH66]

CEREC1 said:

Mines a CGTS not a GT4 but I’m running 19 inch wheels with Continental winter tires. Planning to swap my wheels over in the next couple of weeks.

Are they on the same front brakes as the GT4? I offered up my 18" 718 winter set to my GT4, and they are a country mile off fitting over the front calipers, so those will be going on eBay at some point. I will consider winter wheels and tyres again when I have recovered from the car purchase - would be great if there are some 19" that fit.

Liam

[leemanning]

So, after some research it seems this is actually quite tricky.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S are made in the right size for the GT4 and have just had a bunch of great reviews. However, only the fronts are N rated.
Given that I want to keep the warranty in tact, any suggestions?

[LiamH66]

For 20" winter tyres, Michelin Pilot Sport Alpin and Pirelli SottoZero are both available N rated in GT4 sizes. Ran SottoZero on my 718 Cayman last winter. They are better than most would have you believe. Had the snow shovel out just once getting the car back home when snow had drifted badly, but in general was pretty confident I could get wherever I needed to be.

Liam

[leemanning]

Ok so bit of an update.

Apline's and Sottozero's are indeed available, however their cost is quite high. Looking around £1800 a set fitted, that's if you can find somewhere that actually stocks them.

The main reason for different tyres for me was to clear water as I'm not confident in the Cup 2's over winter. Given the cost of the full winter tyres I bit the bullet and went for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S's, effectively the replacement of the Super Sport, but with better wet weather performance.

Pick the car up next week so will report back on the tyres (if anyone's interested or cares)

[LiamH66]

Very interested Lee. The Dunlop Sport Maxx Race tyres on my GT4 are abysmal in the cold and damp, and I would guess downright dangerous if they had to clear much water. I need some road car tyres!

Liam

[Fokker]

leemanning said:

Ok so bit of an update.

Apline's and Sottozero's are indeed available, however their cost is quite high. Looking around £1800 a set fitted, that's if you can find somewhere that actually stocks them.

The main reason for different tyres for me was to clear water as I'm not confident in the Cup 2's over winter. Given the cost of the full winter tyres I bit the bullet and went for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S's, effectively the replacement of the Super Sport, but with better wet weather performance.

Pick the car up next week so will report back on the tyres (if anyone's interested or cares)

Yep PS4S' seem to be a popular decisions for the winter