Another tyre question - 996TT
Discussion
Hi all
I'm in need of a couple of new tyres for the back of my 996TT.
At the moment it has continentals all round - am I likely to affect handling if I put different on the back from the front?
For Info, quotes I've had so far are:
Continental Sport N2 - £165+VAT ea fitted
Bridgestone N3 XL - £161+VAT ea fitted
Michelin PS2 (Porsche) - £189+VAT ea fitted
Pirelli PZero - £179+VAT ea fitted
Was toying with the PS2's as I had them on my Evo 8 and was impressed with them, having said that I like the continentals that are on now.
Any recomendations greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Boon
I'm in need of a couple of new tyres for the back of my 996TT.
At the moment it has continentals all round - am I likely to affect handling if I put different on the back from the front?
For Info, quotes I've had so far are:
Continental Sport N2 - £165+VAT ea fitted
Bridgestone N3 XL - £161+VAT ea fitted
Michelin PS2 (Porsche) - £189+VAT ea fitted
Pirelli PZero - £179+VAT ea fitted
Was toying with the PS2's as I had them on my Evo 8 and was impressed with them, having said that I like the continentals that are on now.
Any recomendations greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Boon
Don't mix tyres 
Porsche's are very sensitive to tyre & suspension settings.
Michelin Pilot Sports are my preferred choice, nothing better for a small premium in my experince and opinion.
Try Mark at C&S in Middlesbrough, he'll pretty much do his best to match your best internet price.
C.
Porsche's are very sensitive to tyre & suspension settings.Michelin Pilot Sports are my preferred choice, nothing better for a small premium in my experince and opinion.
Try Mark at C&S in Middlesbrough, he'll pretty much do his best to match your best internet price.
C.
Cheers, those prices were from C&S. Due to the care they've taken of my previous cars compared with other tyre fitters in the area I wouldn't take the Porsche anywhere else.
I thought mixing them would be a bit dodgy. I'll put 2 continentals on the back this time and hopefully change all four together next time.
Out of interest, what sort of mileage do you tend to get out of the rears on a 996TT?
I thought mixing them would be a bit dodgy. I'll put 2 continentals on the back this time and hopefully change all four together next time.
Out of interest, what sort of mileage do you tend to get out of the rears on a 996TT?
What evidence do people base their statement of "do not mix tyres on Porsches" on?
Hear say? What your neighbour told you? What you read somewhere? What the guy who is trying to sell you the most expensive tyres possible tells you?
My car came with brand new Bridgestones on the back and Yokohamas on the front. Both Porsche N rated.
I have just come back from the Nuerburgring where I completed 22 sub-9 min laps with this set up. I can only say that the car handled very neutrally. In corners where the car is made to drift, all four tyres would slide equally. There was no nasty upsetting of the balance of the car or anything other untowards behaviour.
I also used to believe the hype but my conclusion, which has now been drawn from my own experiences is that as long as you are using a reputable tyre (ie. it has to be Porsche N rated) it does not matter what tyre you have front and back. Sure, in an ideal world you would want the same tyre on all four corners and never ever mix tyres across axels, but in the real world the rear tyres tend to wear out quicker so sometimes you have to have a different tyre front and back. Particularly if you are like me and like to try out different tyre manufacturers to gain personal experience of which is best.
Hear say? What your neighbour told you? What you read somewhere? What the guy who is trying to sell you the most expensive tyres possible tells you?
My car came with brand new Bridgestones on the back and Yokohamas on the front. Both Porsche N rated.
I have just come back from the Nuerburgring where I completed 22 sub-9 min laps with this set up. I can only say that the car handled very neutrally. In corners where the car is made to drift, all four tyres would slide equally. There was no nasty upsetting of the balance of the car or anything other untowards behaviour.
I also used to believe the hype but my conclusion, which has now been drawn from my own experiences is that as long as you are using a reputable tyre (ie. it has to be Porsche N rated) it does not matter what tyre you have front and back. Sure, in an ideal world you would want the same tyre on all four corners and never ever mix tyres across axels, but in the real world the rear tyres tend to wear out quicker so sometimes you have to have a different tyre front and back. Particularly if you are like me and like to try out different tyre manufacturers to gain personal experience of which is best.
MaKSiNG said:
What evidence do people base their statement of "do not mix tyres on Porsches" on?
Common sense!Different tread patterns coupled with differing rubber compounds is not something I would try on a high performance car like the 996/7.
I've experienced wayward handling on my old e39 M5 sporting front Michelin's and rear Conti's and it is not something I would try again! Tha car was transformed handling wise on Michelin's allround.
C.
MaKSiNG said:
What evidence do people base their statement of "do not mix tyres on Porsches" on?
Hear say? What your neighbour told you? What you read somewhere? What the guy who is trying to sell you the most expensive tyres possible tells you?
My car came with brand new Bridgestones on the back and Yokohamas on the front. Both Porsche N rated.
I have just come back from the Nuerburgring where I completed 22 sub-9 min laps with this set up. I can only say that the car handled very neutrally. In corners where the car is made to drift, all four tyres would slide equally. There was no nasty upsetting of the balance of the car or anything other untowards behaviour.
I also used to believe the hype but my conclusion, which has now been drawn from my own experiences is that as long as you are using a reputable tyre (ie. it has to be Porsche N rated) it does not matter what tyre you have front and back. Sure, in an ideal world you would want the same tyre on all four corners and never ever mix tyres across axels, but in the real world the rear tyres tend to wear out quicker so sometimes you have to have a different tyre front and back. Particularly if you are like me and like to try out different tyre manufacturers to gain personal experience of which is best.
Your wrong..but thats your choice. Try putting a different make of running shoe on and go for a jog..the same but very different is the feeling you will get..try it!!Hear say? What your neighbour told you? What you read somewhere? What the guy who is trying to sell you the most expensive tyres possible tells you?
My car came with brand new Bridgestones on the back and Yokohamas on the front. Both Porsche N rated.
I have just come back from the Nuerburgring where I completed 22 sub-9 min laps with this set up. I can only say that the car handled very neutrally. In corners where the car is made to drift, all four tyres would slide equally. There was no nasty upsetting of the balance of the car or anything other untowards behaviour.
I also used to believe the hype but my conclusion, which has now been drawn from my own experiences is that as long as you are using a reputable tyre (ie. it has to be Porsche N rated) it does not matter what tyre you have front and back. Sure, in an ideal world you would want the same tyre on all four corners and never ever mix tyres across axels, but in the real world the rear tyres tend to wear out quicker so sometimes you have to have a different tyre front and back. Particularly if you are like me and like to try out different tyre manufacturers to gain personal experience of which is best.
bluesatin said:
After trying P Zero and P zero Rosso I have decided that the Michelin Pilot Sport are by far the best. They balance well and have lasted longer than anything Pirelli have done (6 months on the rears is a record by 2 months) I belive PS2's are not for 996tt- am I correct
Interesting. I'll be changing all four tyres in the next 5/6 weeks. How are the michelins in the wet?boony said:
Has anyone tried both Contiental and Michelin on a 996?
If the Michelin are noticably better for 'fast road' use then I'll change all four now. I reckon the fronts have got about 4mm left - any ideas how long they'll last?
I reckon 4mm will get you another, ooh, about <-------> that much. If the Michelin are noticably better for 'fast road' use then I'll change all four now. I reckon the fronts have got about 4mm left - any ideas how long they'll last?
Edited by boony on Thursday 21st June 20:48
sorry, couldn't resist
Michelins are alot better than Conti's altough Conti's last longer. (Tried and tested).
Porsche are so sensitive to tyre combination that even a old tyres in the front and new in the rear combintation makes the car handle funny for the first 2000miles or so. Let alone different rubber, you got lucky w/ that particular combo.
Porsche are so sensitive to tyre combination that even a old tyres in the front and new in the rear combintation makes the car handle funny for the first 2000miles or so. Let alone different rubber, you got lucky w/ that particular combo.
Went for 4 Michelin on Saturday to replace the Potenza SO2's, had them supplied and fitted by Bracknell Tyre & Battery for £679.
First time using Bracknell T&B and have to say I was very pleased with the speed and quality of service, as well as the price.
I called on Friday afternoon to order the tyres and was told they should arrive 'on the van' between 9 and 9:15 on Saturday morning. Arrived just before 9 to find a small crowd already waiting and a de-booted 997 already on the ramps.
Only waited around 10mins before I was called forward (seemingly ahead of some who had been there longer than I - perhaps my phone call 'booked' me in?). Job done in circa 30mins with appropriate care and attention given to my pristine rims...fitter was also careful/wary of causing an expensive PCCB repair bill and eased wheels on and off.
Price breakdown was Fronts - £106+VAT each, Rears £183+VAT ea.
First time using Bracknell T&B and have to say I was very pleased with the speed and quality of service, as well as the price.
I called on Friday afternoon to order the tyres and was told they should arrive 'on the van' between 9 and 9:15 on Saturday morning. Arrived just before 9 to find a small crowd already waiting and a de-booted 997 already on the ramps.
Only waited around 10mins before I was called forward (seemingly ahead of some who had been there longer than I - perhaps my phone call 'booked' me in?). Job done in circa 30mins with appropriate care and attention given to my pristine rims...fitter was also careful/wary of causing an expensive PCCB repair bill and eased wheels on and off.
Price breakdown was Fronts - £106+VAT each, Rears £183+VAT ea.
That's a very good price mate. I just paid £723 all-in this morning @ C&S in Middlesbrough. I'll be after some discount next time though! 
Car has certainly gained a lot of grip in the - not suprising though as the old tyres were down to about 2.5mm I'd guess. Funnily enough, I've not had chance to try it in the dry weather yet - it's absolutely lashing down.
I've booked the car in for full geometry setup @ The Racing Line on Thursday too as mine had worn quite unevenly.
Car has certainly gained a lot of grip in the - not suprising though as the old tyres were down to about 2.5mm I'd guess. Funnily enough, I've not had chance to try it in the dry weather yet - it's absolutely lashing down.I've booked the car in for full geometry setup @ The Racing Line on Thursday too as mine had worn quite unevenly.
CraigBruce said:
First time using Bracknell T&B and have to say I was very pleased with the speed and quality of service, as well as the price.
Interesting. Agree they are quick at getting tyres in, but the last 2 times I have been there they have damaged my alloys.Had 2 rears fitted on Thursday last week, they damages both alloys. Had 2 fronts fitted in Feb and they damaged one of the front alloys.
Denied all knowledge, try and prove it was us, blah blah blah.
Once perhaps is ok, but twice is not acceptable and will NEVER go back there.
USS Bozeman said:
CraigBruce said:
First time using Bracknell T&B and have to say I was very pleased with the speed and quality of service, as well as the price.
Interesting. Agree they are quick at getting tyres in, but the last 2 times I have been there they have damaged my alloys.I'll be sure to watch them closely on any future visits
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