Talk to me about N-Rated tyres

[Nasir 123]

So my understanding is that N means it is approved by Porsche? N3 for example is later than N1? Do Porsche test these tyres vigorously to approve them? Obviously you can't have a Porsche warranty without these tyres being the same all around.

Thanks in advance

[mollytherocker]

Been done to death on here!

Bottom line is you dont need N rated tyres. BUT, they are Porsche approved and often dont cost much more, so there is an argument to stick to them.

The argument revolves around the aim of the 'approval'. Anyone here work in procurement....

My view is the older the car the less it matters. GT3RS yes, 993C2 maybe no.

MTR

[Nasir 123]

Thanks for the reply, I understand this has been done to death but the search function seems to be temperamental. I think I know enough about them now.

[woogie]

Found this :

Porsche designs and manufacturers some of the highest performance cars in the world. All this design and performance is worth nothing if you put cheap Korean tyres on your Porsche though, and because of that prospect, Porsche introduced the N rating or N specification system.In order for a manufacturer to be an OE (original equipment) supplier of tyres for Porsches, they must work with the Porsche engineers at the development and testing stage.They concentrate on supreme dry-weather handling but they also spend a considerable amount of time working on wet-weather handling. Porsches are typically very tail-heavy because of the position of the engine relative to the rear wheels, and with traction control off, it’s extremely easy to spin one in the wet. Because of this, Porsche specify a set of wet-grip properties which is way above and beyond the requirements of any other car manufacturer. OE tyres for Porsches must successfully pass lab tests to prove that they would be capable of adequately supporting a Porsche at top speed on a German Autobahn. Once the lab tests are done, they must go on to track and race tests where prototypes are evaluated by Porsche engineers for their high-speed durability, uniformity and serviceability. If they pass all the tests, Porsche give the manufacturer the go-ahead to put the tyres into production and then they can proudly claim they are an N-rated Porsche OEM (Original Equipment Modifier).

The N-ratings go from 0 (zero) to 4, marked as N-0, N-1 etc. This N-rating, stamped into a tyre sidewall, clearly identifies these tyres as having gone through all the nauseating R&D and testing required by Porsche as described above. The number designates the revision of the design. So for a totally new design, the first approved version of it will be N-0. When the design is improved in some way, it will be re-rated as an N-1. If the design changes completely so as to become a totally new tyre, it will be re-rated at N-0. If you’ve got a Porsche, then you ought to be aware that as well as using N-rated tyres, you ought to use matching tyres all around because many Porsches have different sizes tyres front and rear. So for example if you have a Porsche with N-3 rated tyres and the rear ones need replacing but the model has been discontinued, you should not get N-0’s and put them on the back leaving the old N-3’s on the front. You should replace all of them with the newer-designed re-rated N-0 tyres.

One final point. You may go into a tyre warehouse and find two tyres with all identical markings, sizes and speed ratings, but one set has an N-rating. Despite everything else being the same, the non-N-rated tyres have not been certified for use on a Porsche. You can buy them, and you can put them on your car, but if you stuff it into the armco at 150mph, Porsche will just look at you and with a very teutonic expression ask why you didn’t use N- rated tyres

[Orangecurry]

N-rating started out as a way of Porsche saying 'look we've tested some tyres for you - we think these ones are great'.... obviously this was a good thing for them to have done.

Unfortunately it has since turned into a marketing ploy between Porsche and a few tyre manufacturers who pay Porsche a large amount of money to be the suppliers to a captive market.

I.e. if you want a warranty you have to do as you are told.

There are many worse, and many better tyres available over the N-rated versions, but NOWHERE are the functional OR physical differences stated.

Also NOWHERE have Porsche stated that other tyres are unsuitable for their cars, other than by implication (e.g. the website quoted above, which has been copied one hundred times and pasted into the misinformation highway)

I (and others) have contacted every insurance company used, and NONE have stated that N-rated tyres are in any way an insurance matter.

If you are constrained by a warranty, then buy some N-rated tyres through normal outlets rather than through your OPC.

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 29th July 15:21

[Orangecurry]

woogie said:

Found this :

....Porsche give the manufacturer the go-ahead to put the tyres into production and then they can proudly claim they are an N-rated Porsche OEM (Original Equipment Modifier).

Good grief - perhaps you'd better put this wisdom back where you found it

[Sandy59]

On the 997 GT3 Michelin Sport Cup tyres, the N rating actually translated into wider water grooves compared to the standard cup tyre, so a bit more than a marketing ploy in this case at least.

I could see an insurance claim for a wet weather shunt maybe being questioned if the non N rated tyres were fitted at the time.

[Orangecurry]

Sandy59 said:

I could see an insurance claim for a wet weather shunt maybe being questioned if the non N rated tyres were fitted at the time.

How?

[Sandy59]

Surely if you had a shunt in the wet, with tyres that had physically narrower water grooves than approved for the car questions might be asked, especially as Porsche already advise caution in wet weather driving in the GT3 on their approved N tyres.

Not saying it would be an issue, but I think it could be possible ??

[Orangecurry]

Not if your insurance company state they have no interest.

Condition (including tread-depth) correct size, load index and speed rating are the actual requirements for an MOT or insurance.

Anything the Porsche service manager tells you is heresay.

[Nasir 123]

That's amazing information, thank you all. I understand it a lot better now. Do you guys put N-Rated tyres on your cars? How would a non N-rated tyre cause a warranty claim to be void when the purpose of the N-rated tyres is to improve performance? I can't see a non N-rated tyre causing a mechanical or electronic failure.

[Orangecurry]

N-rated tyres do NOT improve performance. They are simply a selection of tyres that Porsche think are good.

GT3/track specific tyres might be an exception.

ETA this is all that Porsche themselves claim, rather than some of the madness that exists elsewhere on the interweb.

Porsche said:

All Porsche Centres can precision fit ‘N’ rated tyres and offer a wheel alignment and balancing service. Unique to Porsche, the ‘N’ rating is given to tyres that have been approved by Porsche engineers in Weissach. Porsche Centres guarantee this standard by only fitting ‘N’ rated tyres to Porsche vehicles.

Advances in tyre technology mean that tyre wear or even mixing different brands, patterns or ‘N’ numbers, even if from the same manufacturer, could result in an increase in road noise and significant changes in shock absorption, steering and smooth handling. Your Porsche Centre stocks a wide range of ‘N’ rated tyres for all Porsche models to maintain your car’s performance.

http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/owningyourporsche/porschecentreservices/

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 29th July 18:41

[Wills2]

Nasir 123 said:

That's amazing information, thank you all. I understand it a lot better now. Do you guys put N-Rated tyres on your cars? How would a non N-rated tyre cause a warranty claim to be void when the purpose of the N-rated tyres is to improve performance? I can't see a non N-rated tyre causing a mechanical or electronic failure.

Nasir, I would take everything you read about N rated tyres with a pinch of salt no one posting on here works for Porsche or the tyre companies involved (unless someone wants to prove that assertion wrong) its all "opinion" based upon what they think rather than cold hard facts, cutting and pasting info from websites and then drawing their own conclusions does not an expert opinion make.

I've read threads on N rated pilot sport cups where the tyre shop has shown the physical difference between N rated and none N rated tyres they had different tread patterns etc..but hey thats just what I read not what you've seen so again do some more research and make your own mind up.

I've also read articles in Autocar about the whole rating of tyres where they show the difference in handling etc between standard and rated tyres.

I for one use N rated tyres I'm sure the car won't fall off the road if I didn't but thats what I want to do.

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

[Orangecurry]

Wills2 said:

I've also read articles in Autocar about the whole rating of tyres where they show the difference in handling etc between standard and rated tyres.

Sounds interesting - could you tell me where I would find those articles please?

[Wills2]

Orangecurry said:

Wills2 said:

I've also read articles in Autocar about the whole rating of tyres where they show the difference in handling etc between standard and rated tyres.

Sounds interesting - could you tell me where I would find those articles please?

Do you know I was just about to dig it out, it was about BMW rated tyres on a 3 series they tested 3 tyres one was standard off the peg the other a very expensive made to measure and the other was the rated tyre for the car.

I'll have a dig around for it otherwise I guess their website may have the article on it?

Found it March 24th 2010 Autocar I'll scan and post up quite interesting reading heres a quote from it,

"Bridgestone has developed these Potenzas to a very tight brief from BMW allowing its drivers and engineers to evolve a tyre that reflects the character of the car and significantly enhance it."

I think there is alot more to "rated" tyres than a letter on the side wall

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:46

[Nasir 123]

Wills2 said:

Nasir 123 said:

That's amazing information, thank you all. I understand it a lot better now. Do you guys put N-Rated tyres on your cars? How would a non N-rated tyre cause a warranty claim to be void when the purpose of the N-rated tyres is to improve performance? I can't see a non N-rated tyre causing a mechanical or electronic failure.

Nasir, I would take everything you read about N rated tyres with a pinch of salt no one posting on here works for Porsche or the tyre companies involved (unless someone wants to prove that assertion wrong) its all "opinion" based upon what they think rather than cold hard facts, cutting and pasting info from websites and then drawing their own conclusions does not an expert opinion make.

I've read threads on N rated pilot sport cups where the tyre shop has shown the physical difference between N rated and none N rated tyres they had different tread patterns etc..but hey thats just what I read not what you've seen so again do some more research and make your own mind up.

I've also read articles in Autocar about the whole rating of tyres where they show the difference in handling etc between standard and rated tyres.

I for one use N rated tyres I'm sure the car won't fall off the road if I didn't but thats what I want to do.

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

Thanks for the reply Wills2, what you say is very true. The reason I'm asking is because I'm hoping to work for Porsche (second stage interview now) and this was the only thing I didn't understand about Porsche. Otherwise I know a lot about Porsche. If I get the job I'll let you know if there is a real difference

Edited by Nasir 123 on Thursday 29th July 19:44

[Wills2]

Nasir 123 said:

Wills2 said:

Nasir 123 said:

That's amazing information, thank you all. I understand it a lot better now. Do you guys put N-Rated tyres on your cars? How would a non N-rated tyre cause a warranty claim to be void when the purpose of the N-rated tyres is to improve performance? I can't see a non N-rated tyre causing a mechanical or electronic failure.

Nasir, I would take everything you read about N rated tyres with a pinch of salt no one posting on here works for Porsche or the tyre companies involved (unless someone wants to prove that assertion wrong) its all "opinion" based upon what they think rather than cold hard facts, cutting and pasting info from websites and then drawing their own conclusions does not an expert opinion make.

I've read threads on N rated pilot sport cups where the tyre shop has shown the physical difference between N rated and none N rated tyres they had different tread patterns etc..but hey thats just what I read not what you've seen so again do some more research and make your own mind up.

I've also read articles in Autocar about the whole rating of tyres where they show the difference in handling etc between standard and rated tyres.

I for one use N rated tyres I'm sure the car won't fall off the road if I didn't but thats what I want to do.

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 29th July 19:14

Thanks for the reply Wills2, what you say is very true. The reason I'm asking is because I'm hoping to work for Porsche (second stage interview now) and this was the only thing I didn't understand about Porsche. Otherwise I know a lot about Porsche. If I get the job I'll let you know if there is a real difference

Edited by Nasir 123 on Thursday 29th July 19:44

Good for you! Just don't tell them that their N rated tyres are marketing bullst, and you should be fine!

[anonymous-user]

If you get the job, have a dig round and come back here to tell us the truth about the N tyre spec!

[Lonely]

..........and get us some discount

[Orangecurry]

Wills2 said:

I think there is alot more to "rated" tyres than a letter on the side wall

We are all individuals.

If only Porsche would simply say what the differences are... I can only see their sales increasing if they did, and no negatives.