Pirellis on a 991 C4S - not great in the cold and wet?

[PaulD86]

This year my other half swapped a Gen 2 997 C4S for a 991 Gen 1 C4S. The 997 had Michelin PS2s on it and in the wet the car had lots of grip. The new one I have never been so confident in when it's wet - a few oversteer moments where my rear drive Cayman R wouldn't have flinched and where the old 997 would just have gone. Then yesterday I took it out for the first time in a while - wet day but also cold 4-6 degrees - and the car felt like it was on worn out budgets, not 6-7mm of tread factory Pirellis. On one roundabout I got understeer then a nice transition to oversteer at a pace barely any faster than I'd have gone in my old Mondeo work horse. So I am wondering, are the Pirellis a bit crap in the cold/wet? In the 3 years with the 997 on Michelins I never managed to make it slide as easily as the 991 is at the moment....

[gtsralph]

I have never felt comfortable with Pirelli grip either on traction or under braking, particularly in damp or wet conditions.

[av185]

Pirellis standard fit on the new 981 Spyder....Porsche rightly consider they are up to the job for this and personally I rate them alongside Dunlop Maxx (cups) on the GT4. Both inferior to Michelin pilots though.

[PaulD86]

I've always found them fine in the dry and were ok when it was warm and wet from my limited experience in those conditions, but I am finding the car very on edge at the moment without really pushing it. Not particularly nice - I certainly didn't expect a 4WD 911 to be giving less traction out of bends thna my RWD Cayman. Sounds like it might be these tyres though - annoying as they have lots of life left on them.

[Porsche911R]

P zero are the sttest tyre out there, they go off and crack in no time, I guess it has these on, Pirellis say they adjusted the compound but I still see quite new 981 cars with cracked hard p zero's on.
So no idea when they fixed the compound issue.

Worst tyre ever made IMO how it can have an N rating is shocking and goes to show N rated tyres are bks.
Esp when a super sport does not have an N rating.

[PaulD86]

Don't get me started on the Super sport lack of N rating - I really want these on my Cayman R.... but warranty. I am considering saving for a 2nd set of rims so the car can be warranty compliant spec or more grip spec as required.... but that's a fair way down the line financially.

[MaxA]

PZeros are over-rated. I didn't like them in the wet, they cracked and now I'm much happier running Michelins.

[pilotprice]

Similar experience here Paul!

I got a 991 c4s PDK on Tuesday (first Porsche). Went out with my brother today (Cayman GTS, also on Pirelli) and two mates in their exige s2 on r888's and M135i on PS3's. Did a blast over Buxton way, previously done this route in all weathers in previous cars (F430, c63, R8 etc etc) with zero problems.
Nearly binned the c4s about 6 times today, I pulled over at one point thinking I had a flat tyre. I had a full on 5/6 lock tanks lap at one point, just missing a curb. Pressures all good. Zero confidence in the car, I swapped to the exige which was on semi slicks and although it moved about it gave feedback and was progressive in its actions.

Very disappointed with the c4s, hope the tyres are to blame, not the car!

Edited by pilotprice on Sunday 13th November 18:21

[_Superleggera_]

Not a big pirelli fan here.

The Pilot sport cup 2's on the GT4 are fantastic.

[oddball1313]

They are st scary tyres - no progression at all, they just let go without warning and thats on every car i've ever driven with them fitted. Michelins going on the 911 this summer irrespective of the N rating label

[PaulD86]

Missed that there had been new posts on here. As it's getting colder they are getting worse. In conditions where I can get fully throttle in 2nd off a roundabout in the Cayman with just a tiny correction maybe needed, the 911 is like it's on ice. So we are looking at what other tyre options there are. Just had a very quick look but couldn't see N rated Michelins that weren't the cups... Anyone got anything on a 991 C4S that isn't a Pirelli that they can tell me about?

[PaulD86]

Just had a look on Camskill at what is N rated in the front and rear sized. Two Pirelli options, the Michelin cups and Dunlop Sport Maxx - anyone run the Dunlops? Would be interested to hear thoughts on those.

[IMI A]

The Pirelli is a terrible tyre. I had exactly the same issues you are having with them. Personally I'd just rough it on the Pirelli and put an order in for the new N rated Michelin Pilot Sport 4 which is due to be released v.soon.

[AlasdairB10]

The new Pirelli P-Zeros use a new compound which has done fairly well in recent tests- I haven't tried them so cant comment. The old ones, as people say, were not that great unless warm as I think the compound was on the harder side. Never unsafe though.

If looking for new ones, I'd look at Super Sports if they have them in your fitment. I was out in a 997 GT3 with them earlier in the week and grip was no problem. I think the replacement for them is the PS4S which has reviewed well (not to be confused with the lesser PS4).

Edited by AlasdairB10 on Friday 25th November 17:37