Cup 2 - how long do they last....
Discussion
I hate the Cup 2 tyres on my 718 Spyder.
Hard ride
Lousy in the wet.
But...they don't last long do they, so soon I can change them....
I wish.
Mine have done 13k miles now, and according to Grok they should be all done between 10 and 12k miles.
But they all have at least 4mm of tread remaining -
Obviously I need to try much harder.
How long do others' last?
And if you have changed to PS4S how did you find them, by comparison?
Hard ride
Lousy in the wet.
But...they don't last long do they, so soon I can change them....
I wish.
Mine have done 13k miles now, and according to Grok they should be all done between 10 and 12k miles.
But they all have at least 4mm of tread remaining -
Obviously I need to try much harder.
How long do others' last?
And if you have changed to PS4S how did you find them, by comparison?
Tony B2 said:
I hate the Cup 2 tyres on my 718 Spyder.
And if you have changed to PS4S how did you find them, by comparison?
Upside: Better ride. Much better in standing water, and very wet conditions. And if you have changed to PS4S how did you find them, by comparison?
Downside: Surprisingly similar noise wise. Depending on how quick you drive you may notice the predictable reduced grip / turn in etc. But I don't drive like I am on a track day so the PS4S offers all I need.
That is very much "how long is a piece of string?" On the road, can be a long way. Bet I could get at least 15k out of a set using only on the road, and only above 7 Celcius so the rubber doesn't get brittle.
In the worst of my being too lazy/thick to let the tyres down during hot track days I managed to finish a set off in less than 2500 miles, which included 3 track days if I remember right, but might have only been 2. To be fair it was more down to the tread blocks getting really mis-shapen than being completely worn out, but they were well worn too.
I'm much happier on PS4S's for road use. I'd recommend just getting them swapped over now if you're not enjoying them. We live once, and don't get to take anything left over with us. If there's enough tread left, maybe someone else could get a track day or 2 out of them if you sold them?
Liam
In the worst of my being too lazy/thick to let the tyres down during hot track days I managed to finish a set off in less than 2500 miles, which included 3 track days if I remember right, but might have only been 2. To be fair it was more down to the tread blocks getting really mis-shapen than being completely worn out, but they were well worn too.
I'm much happier on PS4S's for road use. I'd recommend just getting them swapped over now if you're not enjoying them. We live once, and don't get to take anything left over with us. If there's enough tread left, maybe someone else could get a track day or 2 out of them if you sold them?
Liam
It does rather depend on your point of view 
Personally I think they are knackered after one track day, a brand new set is worth about 1-2 seconds per lap on a decent length circuit. After that you might as well chuck them away. They only really do a couple of heat cycles at maximum grip.
Why on earth you would have them on a car used only on the road is anybody’s guess. There are far superior tyres available for that job.
Personally I think they are knackered after one track day, a brand new set is worth about 1-2 seconds per lap on a decent length circuit. After that you might as well chuck them away. They only really do a couple of heat cycles at maximum grip.Why on earth you would have them on a car used only on the road is anybody’s guess. There are far superior tyres available for that job.
Good in the dry, been through a fair amount of sets as my go to ture for 50/50 mix of road n track, 6k miles really and toward the end of their life you wouldnt want to use them in the rain on road in any anger 
Now mainly road use for me and ive switched to the new conti sport contact 7s and they are 90% of the grip in dry conditions on road but straight from cold, you have to remember that cup 2s only really perform at 100% after some decent heat in them and its unlikely you’ll get to that all the time on road, or even rarely.
So i’d say no to cup2s as a road tyre personally, not taken the conti 7s on track to see what they’re like or how they handle heat, not likely either tbh.
Tried michelin 5s before the conti 7s and prefer the contis for fast road use, mainly forward traction as i have 800hp through rear 335s.
Now mainly road use for me and ive switched to the new conti sport contact 7s and they are 90% of the grip in dry conditions on road but straight from cold, you have to remember that cup 2s only really perform at 100% after some decent heat in them and its unlikely you’ll get to that all the time on road, or even rarely.
So i’d say no to cup2s as a road tyre personally, not taken the conti 7s on track to see what they’re like or how they handle heat, not likely either tbh.
Tried michelin 5s before the conti 7s and prefer the contis for fast road use, mainly forward traction as i have 800hp through rear 335s.
bigmowley said:
It does rather depend on your point of view Personally I think they are knackered after one track day, a brand new set is worth about 1-2 seconds per lap on a decent length circuit. After that you might as well chuck them away. They only really do a couple of heat cycles at maximum grip.
Why on earth you would have them on a table car used only on the road is anybody’s guess. There are far superior tyres available for that job.
Yes, it amazes me how many tyre threads measure tyre life on tread depth. Personally I think they are knackered after one track day, a brand new set is worth about 1-2 seconds per lap on a decent length circuit. After that you might as well chuck them away. They only really do a couple of heat cycles at maximum grip.Why on earth you would have them on a table car used only on the road is anybody’s guess. There are far superior tyres available for that job.
A few years ago, I was at Donington Park, where Michelin were testing control tyres for various ‘one make’ race series, which in some cases were ‘road’ tyres.
Got chatting with some of their tech guys and also saw one of them a couple of weeks later at Silverstone, where Porsche were testing Cup cars in wet conditions.
Interesting conversations about the effective life of tyres in racing - but more specifically in ‘road use’, where they are subject to infinitely greater variables.
One technician said that, if money was no object, on something like a Porsche, the road tyres would be changed at each service. And, ‘press’ test cars are often changed more frequently to maintain optimum performance.
I loved 4S when I had them on an R8. My yaris came with them and I found them good too. Until I went to CS7 and back to the 4S I noticed how soft the sidewall is in comparison. The 4S will definitely help ride etc but I found them quite a lot softer so not sure I would want them on a GT car now.
CS7 better option I think but dont last as long as the 4S and possibly not N rated.
CS7 better option I think but dont last as long as the 4S and possibly not N rated.
Tony B2 said:
I hate the Cup 2 tyres on my 718 Spyder.
Mine have done 13k miles ...
Then order a new set of tyres today. What's the point of ruining your enjoyment of a £80k car for the sake of a set of tyres?Mine have done 13k miles ...
Simple - Conti 7s or PS4S. Both excellent. Former for slightly better performance, latter for keeping a Porsche warranty sweet.
braddo said:
Tony B2 said:
I hate the Cup 2 tyres on my 718 Spyder.
Mine have done 13k miles ...
Then order a new set of tyres today. What's the point of ruining your enjoyment of a £80k car for the sake of a set of tyres?Mine have done 13k miles ...
Simple - Conti 7s or PS4S. Both excellent. Former for slightly better performance, latter for keeping a Porsche warranty sweet.
I want to retain the Porsche warranty so that rules out the Contis (I think?).
The key question for me is ride comfort (I have not tracked my Spyder and doubt that I ever will) as it is pretty much a given that wet grip will be much better with the PS4S option. I am not expecting limo comfort, just something rather more tolerable.
Some of the roads close to me, which are unavoidable, are so grim that I have to grit my teeth when using them to get out to better and more enjoyable territory.
Selling my Cup 2s is an intriguing thought, I suppose, given that they are all over 4mm, so ought to be some use to more track-focussed owners.
After the weekend I will have a chat with my local OPC, to get some prices....
braddo said:
Tony B2 said:
I hate the Cup 2 tyres on my 718 Spyder.
Mine have done 13k miles ...
Then order a new set of tyres today. What's the point of ruining your enjoyment of a £80k car for the sake of a set of tyres?Mine have done 13k miles ...
Simple - Conti 7s or PS4S. Both excellent. Former for slightly better performance, latter for keeping a Porsche warranty sweet.
I want to retain the Porsche warranty so that rules out the Contis (I think?).
The key question for me is ride comfort (I have not tracked my Spyder and doubt that I ever will) as it is pretty much a given that wet grip will be much better with the PS4S option. I am not expecting limo comfort, just something rather more tolerable.
Some of the roads close to me, which are unavoidable, are so grim that I have to grit my teeth when using them to get out to better and more enjoyable territory.
Selling my Cup 2s is an intriguing thought, I suppose, given that they are all over 4mm, so ought to be some use to more track-focussed owners.
After the weekend I will have a chat with my local OPC, to get some prices....
I did 8000 miles on Cup2s on my 718 Spyder and have just changed to PS4s. The old tyres were good for another 7000 !
I changed after a couple of squeaky bum moments in the wet .
After 200 miles yesterday i would say there is a difference in turn in feel , maybe the increased tread depth has an effect here ? Apart from that, on the road, the ride comfort might be marginally better but otherwise for road use they are pretty similar.
ive upped the pressures in the front tyres to see if that changes the feel.
I changed after a couple of squeaky bum moments in the wet .
After 200 miles yesterday i would say there is a difference in turn in feel , maybe the increased tread depth has an effect here ? Apart from that, on the road, the ride comfort might be marginally better but otherwise for road use they are pretty similar.
ive upped the pressures in the front tyres to see if that changes the feel.
I found the Cup 2's more comfy than the PS4S.
Running them at the same pressure that is not the case, but, you can run the Cup 2 much lower pressures than the PS4S without them feeling like a squidgy mess due to the firmer sidewalls and the material they use on the outside edge.
I ended up running them at 30psi front and 33psi rear (cold) where as the PS4S started to feel really horrible anything below 36f and 38r.
Not sure what pressures you run them, but consider lowering them right down and see what you think.
I found the PS4S more noisy too, the rears anyway.
I should just say though, these were not the N rated PS4S, they were not available in the sizes I needed. I understand they are a very different compound to the non N rated version.
Running them at the same pressure that is not the case, but, you can run the Cup 2 much lower pressures than the PS4S without them feeling like a squidgy mess due to the firmer sidewalls and the material they use on the outside edge.
I ended up running them at 30psi front and 33psi rear (cold) where as the PS4S started to feel really horrible anything below 36f and 38r.
Not sure what pressures you run them, but consider lowering them right down and see what you think.
I found the PS4S more noisy too, the rears anyway.
I should just say though, these were not the N rated PS4S, they were not available in the sizes I needed. I understand they are a very different compound to the non N rated version.
Tony B2 said:
Well, I am definitely close to doing that, and I have always liked Michelin (I have *marked PSS tyres on my M3 and really rate them).
I want to retain the Porsche warranty so that rules out the Contis (I think?).
The key question for me is ride comfort (I have not tracked my Spyder and doubt that I ever will) as it is pretty much a given that wet grip will be much better with the PS4S option. I am not expecting limo comfort, just something rather more tolerable.
Some of the roads close to me, which are unavoidable, are so grim that I have to grit my teeth when using them to get out to better and more enjoyable territory.
Selling my Cup 2s is an intriguing thought, I suppose, given that they are all over 4mm, so ought to be some use to more track-focussed owners.
After the weekend I will have a chat with my local OPC, to get some prices....
Tbh I'm not sure anyone sensible would (or should) be buying your used cup2s as I presume they are the original tyres so quite old by now even with tread as the tyres would drive like old tyres on track anyway and heat cycles are typically the major problem for the tyre.I want to retain the Porsche warranty so that rules out the Contis (I think?).
The key question for me is ride comfort (I have not tracked my Spyder and doubt that I ever will) as it is pretty much a given that wet grip will be much better with the PS4S option. I am not expecting limo comfort, just something rather more tolerable.
Some of the roads close to me, which are unavoidable, are so grim that I have to grit my teeth when using them to get out to better and more enjoyable territory.
Selling my Cup 2s is an intriguing thought, I suppose, given that they are all over 4mm, so ought to be some use to more track-focussed owners.
After the weekend I will have a chat with my local OPC, to get some prices....
Since you're not tracking the car, ps4s isn't going to make a lot of difference for enjoyment in the dry and obviously it's a much bigger operating window if wet/cold. Fwiw, Contis definitely will not last as long as any equivalent michelin ime.
Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff