Tyres for 928 S4?
Discussion
I am relatively new to the performance car game but I am the happy owner of a 928 S4. I enjoy the car's performance but I am not taking it to its limits. I would appreciate some advice about tyres.
It is currently fitted with 5 year old Continental ContiSportContacts all round. The rears have about 3.5-4.0mm tread left and the fronts 6-7mm.
1. While some way off the legal minimum I wonder when people would recommend replacing tyres, especially the rears which carry the power! I am happy to replace them when appropriate but there is no point in wasting rubber.
2. ContiSportContacts are no longer available! And the choice of 245/45 R16 tyres is very limited. For many options no front 225/50 R16s are available. The only options for both axles seem to be Pirellis - P-Zeros or Cinturato P7s. Is it advisable/acceptable to mix tyre types front and rear?
3. One reason for asking is that there are cheaper W+ rated tyres available. The other is a very practical one - if I cannot mix tyres and I cannot get Continentals I will have to replace all four tyres simultaneously...£££££!
Many thanks for comments and advice.
Mark
It is currently fitted with 5 year old Continental ContiSportContacts all round. The rears have about 3.5-4.0mm tread left and the fronts 6-7mm.
1. While some way off the legal minimum I wonder when people would recommend replacing tyres, especially the rears which carry the power! I am happy to replace them when appropriate but there is no point in wasting rubber.
2. ContiSportContacts are no longer available! And the choice of 245/45 R16 tyres is very limited. For many options no front 225/50 R16s are available. The only options for both axles seem to be Pirellis - P-Zeros or Cinturato P7s. Is it advisable/acceptable to mix tyre types front and rear?
3. One reason for asking is that there are cheaper W+ rated tyres available. The other is a very practical one - if I cannot mix tyres and I cannot get Continentals I will have to replace all four tyres simultaneously...£££££!
Many thanks for comments and advice.
Mark
Hey - welcome to the fun known as PH.
Old tyre sizes are a bugger. I am not 100% on the 928 wheels, so could you post up the widths of your actual wheels? It will help with people recommending tyres.
1 - it depends. 5 years may be ok, but it depends how they are stored. I would look at them very closely, and IMO if they are starting to crack, I would replace. The problem with old tyres is that in the dry they can be ok, but in the wet.....
2 - you can mix tyres between axles, but obviously keep them the same on the axle. You simply have to drive according to the level of grip, same as any car and in any conditions. But having new tyres on the rear and old on the front will make braking interesting, and increase understeer.
3 - Toyos and Nankangs are not great tyres - your Classic deserves better.
I would find a 928-specific forum - this question must be being asked constantly. They will have the choices.
But - are the rears 9J or 8J? Fronts 7J? Did the 928 come on 17's at all? If so I'd find some suitable 17" Porsche OE 'Cup2' wheels and get a new set of tyres.
Old tyre sizes are a bugger. I am not 100% on the 928 wheels, so could you post up the widths of your actual wheels? It will help with people recommending tyres.
1 - it depends. 5 years may be ok, but it depends how they are stored. I would look at them very closely, and IMO if they are starting to crack, I would replace. The problem with old tyres is that in the dry they can be ok, but in the wet.....
2 - you can mix tyres between axles, but obviously keep them the same on the axle. You simply have to drive according to the level of grip, same as any car and in any conditions. But having new tyres on the rear and old on the front will make braking interesting, and increase understeer.
3 - Toyos and Nankangs are not great tyres - your Classic deserves better.
I would find a 928-specific forum - this question must be being asked constantly. They will have the choices.
But - are the rears 9J or 8J? Fronts 7J? Did the 928 come on 17's at all? If so I'd find some suitable 17" Porsche OE 'Cup2' wheels and get a new set of tyres.
Edited by Orangecurry on Friday 5th February 19:35
You have a choice of 1. Pirelli. Rear is https://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s3988p165567/Pirel...
Front is https://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s3987p165541/Pirel...
Tyres were painful to find and expensive when I had my 928 sport in 2002. You can always buy a set of replica cups and put the originals away with their tyres and enjoy a wider range of tyres.
Just a taster https://lovetyres.com/search/tyres/245-45-17
Front is https://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s3987p165541/Pirel...
Tyres were painful to find and expensive when I had my 928 sport in 2002. You can always buy a set of replica cups and put the originals away with their tyres and enjoy a wider range of tyres.
Just a taster https://lovetyres.com/search/tyres/245-45-17
cmw928 said:
I am relatively new to the performance car game but I am the happy owner of a 928 S4. I enjoy the car's performance but I am not taking it to its limits. I would appreciate some advice about tyres.
It is currently fitted with 5 year old Continental ContiSportContacts all round. The rears have about 3.5-4.0mm tread left and the fronts 6-7mm.
1. While some way off the legal minimum I wonder when people would recommend replacing tyres, especially the rears which carry the power! I am happy to replace them when appropriate but there is no point in wasting rubber.
2. ContiSportContacts are no longer available! And the choice of 245/45 R16 tyres is very limited. For many options no front 225/50 R16s are available. The only options for both axles seem to be Pirellis - P-Zeros or Cinturato P7s. Is it advisable/acceptable to mix tyre types front and rear?
3. One reason for asking is that there are cheaper W+ rated tyres available. The other is a very practical one - if I cannot mix tyres and I cannot get Continentals I will have to replace all four tyres simultaneously...£££££!
Many thanks for comments and advice.
Mark
Options.It is currently fitted with 5 year old Continental ContiSportContacts all round. The rears have about 3.5-4.0mm tread left and the fronts 6-7mm.
1. While some way off the legal minimum I wonder when people would recommend replacing tyres, especially the rears which carry the power! I am happy to replace them when appropriate but there is no point in wasting rubber.
2. ContiSportContacts are no longer available! And the choice of 245/45 R16 tyres is very limited. For many options no front 225/50 R16s are available. The only options for both axles seem to be Pirellis - P-Zeros or Cinturato P7s. Is it advisable/acceptable to mix tyre types front and rear?
3. One reason for asking is that there are cheaper W+ rated tyres available. The other is a very practical one - if I cannot mix tyres and I cannot get Continentals I will have to replace all four tyres simultaneously...£££££!
Many thanks for comments and advice.
Mark
FRONT
https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/Summer-tyres/225-5...
REAR
Toyo Proxes TR1
OR
Pirelli
Front:
Hankook Ventus V12 Evos 225/50
Rear
Same as you Contisport Contacts - 245/45.
Both are less than 18 months old, so I must have had the last of the Contis at the supplier.
I think P Zeros are popular but they're pricey. Other than the Toyos and Wangchun pigeonflickers, it's Yokos, for about £200.
Hi, thanks for these posts. Much food for thought.
The tyres look to be in good condition so I am not rushing this.
I take the several comments about uncertain performance with different tyre types front and rear seriously. I may stagger a purchase for cash flow reasons but I am not doing much mileage at present and certainly not taking the car to its limits. When I buy I will eventually replace them all but I will regret the waste of rubber on the front.
I am fully aware that owning a 928 is not a cheap hobby but I will spend where I need to spend. I realised that tyres were not cheap before I bought the car. I am not going to buy new wheels! The cost of new alloys (and possibly cheaper tyres?) would be vastly more than a new set of rubber, I do not have storage for a second set of wheels and there would be additional costs in getting larger wheels properly fitted. I am not looking to pimp my ride and if I had £3-4000 to spare it would go on something else!
Tyre choice is limited by the 245/45 R16 rears which are now a rare breed. Choices seem to be Yokohama Advan A052s, Pirelli P Rosso Assimetrico (at a similar price) or original spec Pirelli Cinturato P7s from Longstone Tyres. I am seriously tempted by these Cinturatos as they would keep the original character but they are the most expensive option (although not by much).
Thanks again for your suggestions. I feel much more confident going ahead with a decision in due course.
Mark
All would fit the speed and load rating needed.
The tyres look to be in good condition so I am not rushing this.
I take the several comments about uncertain performance with different tyre types front and rear seriously. I may stagger a purchase for cash flow reasons but I am not doing much mileage at present and certainly not taking the car to its limits. When I buy I will eventually replace them all but I will regret the waste of rubber on the front.
I am fully aware that owning a 928 is not a cheap hobby but I will spend where I need to spend. I realised that tyres were not cheap before I bought the car. I am not going to buy new wheels! The cost of new alloys (and possibly cheaper tyres?) would be vastly more than a new set of rubber, I do not have storage for a second set of wheels and there would be additional costs in getting larger wheels properly fitted. I am not looking to pimp my ride and if I had £3-4000 to spare it would go on something else!
Tyre choice is limited by the 245/45 R16 rears which are now a rare breed. Choices seem to be Yokohama Advan A052s, Pirelli P Rosso Assimetrico (at a similar price) or original spec Pirelli Cinturato P7s from Longstone Tyres. I am seriously tempted by these Cinturatos as they would keep the original character but they are the most expensive option (although not by much).
Thanks again for your suggestions. I feel much more confident going ahead with a decision in due course.
Mark
All would fit the speed and load rating needed.
Some assorted 928 tyre gubbins here...
https://rennlist.com/how-tos/a/porsche-928-tire-mo...
https://www.928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
cmw928 said:
Hi, thanks for these posts. Much food for thought.
The tyres look to be in good condition so I am not rushing this.
I take the several comments about uncertain performance with different tyre types front and rear seriously. I may stagger a purchase for cash flow reasons but I am not doing much mileage at present and certainly not taking the car to its limits. When I buy I will eventually replace them all but I will regret the waste of rubber on the front.
I am fully aware that owning a 928 is not a cheap hobby but I will spend where I need to spend. I realised that tyres were not cheap before I bought the car. I am not going to buy new wheels! The cost of new alloys (and possibly cheaper tyres?) would be vastly more than a new set of rubber, I do not have storage for a second set of wheels and there would be additional costs in getting larger wheels properly fitted. I am not looking to pimp my ride and if I had £3-4000 to spare it would go on something else!
Hi Mark - I think you misunderstood.The tyres look to be in good condition so I am not rushing this.
I take the several comments about uncertain performance with different tyre types front and rear seriously. I may stagger a purchase for cash flow reasons but I am not doing much mileage at present and certainly not taking the car to its limits. When I buy I will eventually replace them all but I will regret the waste of rubber on the front.
I am fully aware that owning a 928 is not a cheap hobby but I will spend where I need to spend. I realised that tyres were not cheap before I bought the car. I am not going to buy new wheels! The cost of new alloys (and possibly cheaper tyres?) would be vastly more than a new set of rubber, I do not have storage for a second set of wheels and there would be additional costs in getting larger wheels properly fitted. I am not looking to pimp my ride and if I had £3-4000 to spare it would go on something else!
Buying a second-hand set of Porsche OE wheels, in 17" would cost less than buying one of the old-world Pirellis on the Longstone website. Nobody is suggesting pimping anything.
As per the link I posted to the 928 website, they suggest any of the OEM wheels fitted to the 964/993 or Boxster 986/996 would fit.
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
If you want a quality wheel to which you can fit a quality MODERN tyre, you can spend between 200 GBP to roughly 900 GBP for a full set of Porsche OE 17" wheels that would fit, according to the website
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
You need to understand that tyre technology is something that has changed over the years, and modern tyres are significantly superior in every way to the old Pirellis that cost over 200 GBP each.
Your tyre outlay alone, for the 1990s tyres, would be well over 1000 GBP.
Buying a set of 17s for say 300 GBP would allow you to buy modern tyres.
Not only are they significantly cheaper, being modern they will be significantly better at controlling and stopping the car in every situation.
You need to do specific research on the 928 forum, but fitting, say, 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 onto Porsche OE wheels will be certainly safer and cheaper than any odd combination of old-world 16" tyres.
On sale today, one of the best rated tyres, the Conti Premium Contact 6 are
119 GBP for 255/40/17
75 GBP for 225/45/17
both Y-rated.
As said above, store or sell the 16s, and there are no additional costs in fitting different wheels.
Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 17th February 12:34
Orangecurry said:
Hi Mark - I think you misunderstood.
Buying a second-hand set of Porsche OE wheels, in 17" would cost less than buying one of the old-world Pirellis on the Longstone website. Nobody is suggesting pimping anything.
As per the link I posted to the 928 website, they suggest any of the OEM wheels fitted to the 964/993 or Boxster 986/996 would fit.
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
If you want a quality wheel to which you can fit a quality MODERN tyre, you can spend between 200 GBP to roughly 900 GBP for a full set of Porsche OE 17" wheels that would fit, according to the website
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
You need to understand that tyre technology is something that has changed over the years, and modern tyres are significantly superior in every way to the old Pirellis that cost over 200 GBP each.
Your tyre outlay alone, for the 1990s tyres, would be well over 1000 GBP.
Buying a set of 17s for say 300 GBP would allow you to buy modern tyres.
Not only are they significantly cheaper, being modern they will be significantly better at controlling and stopping the car in every situation.
You need to do specific research on the 928 forum, but fitting, say, 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 onto Porsche OE wheels will be certainly safer and cheaper than any odd combination of old-world 16" tyres.
On sale today, one of the best rated tyres, the Conti Premium Contact 6 are
119 GBP for 255/40/17
75 GBP for 225/45/17
both Y-rated.
As said above, store or sell the 16s, and there are no additional costs in fitting different wheels.
are you telling Mark what to do ? Buying a second-hand set of Porsche OE wheels, in 17" would cost less than buying one of the old-world Pirellis on the Longstone website. Nobody is suggesting pimping anything.
As per the link I posted to the 928 website, they suggest any of the OEM wheels fitted to the 964/993 or Boxster 986/996 would fit.
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
If you want a quality wheel to which you can fit a quality MODERN tyre, you can spend between 200 GBP to roughly 900 GBP for a full set of Porsche OE 17" wheels that would fit, according to the website
https://928.org.uk/60-wheels.html
You need to understand that tyre technology is something that has changed over the years, and modern tyres are significantly superior in every way to the old Pirellis that cost over 200 GBP each.
Your tyre outlay alone, for the 1990s tyres, would be well over 1000 GBP.
Buying a set of 17s for say 300 GBP would allow you to buy modern tyres.
Not only are they significantly cheaper, being modern they will be significantly better at controlling and stopping the car in every situation.
You need to do specific research on the 928 forum, but fitting, say, 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 onto Porsche OE wheels will be certainly safer and cheaper than any odd combination of old-world 16" tyres.
On sale today, one of the best rated tyres, the Conti Premium Contact 6 are
119 GBP for 255/40/17
75 GBP for 225/45/17
both Y-rated.
As said above, store or sell the 16s, and there are no additional costs in fitting different wheels.
Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 17th February 12:34
Many Porsche and Ferrari owners prefer original Factory spec
Orangecurry said:
...wouldn't dream of it - I was explaining the suggestion of changing wheel size.
And the later 928 did come on 17s.
ETA
I was [i]telling[/i/] him that modern tyres are significantly safer than ones developed in the 1990s.
Extending just the tyre performance envelope can also create an unsafe environment.And the later 928 did come on 17s.
ETA
I was [i]telling[/i/] him that modern tyres are significantly safer than ones developed in the 1990s.
Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 17th February 13:32
Just the GTS had 17", which also had different offsets.
It's commendable that Pirelli have addressed the Classic market in line with Porsche and Ferrari Classiche programmes
FWIW one of my cars arrived with 18" Turbo Twists and low profile Kumhos from the PO. It's road manners were beyond interesting, and so swapped for original 16".
Weissach engineering was fully restored
As I've said, countless times, the best place to check all info (sizes, width and offsets) is on the 928 site
Let's be 100% clear.
There is nothing unsafe about that.
Bo_apex said:
Extending just the tyre performance envelope can also create an unsafe environment.
If you put slicks on the car, maybe; if you put normal modern road tyres, like Conti6, then no.Let's be 100% clear.
There is nothing unsafe about that.
Orangecurry said:
As I've said, countless times, the best place to check all info (sizes, width and offsets) is on the 928 site
Let's be 100% clear.
There is nothing unsafe about that.
I found the Conti5 to be a good all rounder for street use.Bo_apex said:
Extending just the tyre performance envelope can also create an unsafe environment.
If you put slicks on the car, maybe; if you put normal modern road tyres, like Conti6, then no.Let's be 100% clear.
There is nothing unsafe about that.
Many 928 forum members rate the TOYO for street.
ahhhhh right.... the slight insult and we're done post
Well... to the OP - I've given some advice/experience on your questions and given you some options, options suggested on the 928 website, about moving to 17s, and yestold you that modern tyres are safer than the 200 GBP ones, but I have not tried to frighten you with random statements that have no bearing on your situation or choices.
I'm out
Well... to the OP - I've given some advice/experience on your questions and given you some options, options suggested on the 928 website, about moving to 17s, and yes
told you that modern tyres are safer than the 200 GBP ones, but I have not tried to frighten you with random statements that have no bearing on your situation or choices.I'm out
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