Grrrrrr... damn these bloody N rated tyres!
Discussion
So there's me needing a new pair of rear boots for my 986. Fronts are fine, and I've currently got Conti Sport Contacts N2 all round. These are an asymetric pattern.
So do you think I can get any more of the damn things? Nope. Ringing around, they seem to be on back order. 6 weeks at one place, 8 weeks at another etc etc - even my OPC (whom I would never usually buy from) say unknown ETA.
So I ask OPC, OK what about another pair of approved N2 rated, asymetric pattern tyres? Nope he says, mixing brands (even if both N2) will throw off the braking balance and could "in extremis" trigger ABS too early. But, he rather helpfully suggests he just replace all 4 with an available approved N rated brand. Yeah thanks.
So I ask, OK what about a different pair of approved assymetric pattern tyres, this time N3 Pirelli, which are in stock everywhere?
Nope he says, mixing N2 on the front and N3 on the rear will upset the balance of the ride and result in unpredictable handling "on the limit". Again, he cheerfully suggest he can easily replace all 4 with N3 if I'd like..... thanks again.
Phoned two different independent tyre specialists and had a long chat with both and although their opinions differ on which N rated brand would be best, they were both in agreement that so long as I used an official Porsche approved tyre, there would no discernable difference - or more importantly danger - in normal road conditions, dry or wet. Interestingly they both did add that this however was a definite no-no for track use (which I have no plans to do). Now don't get me wrong, I know that it seems the most obvious thing in the world to say that "Porsche knows best, end of." but I have to admit, sometimes it does sound like reciting the corporate litany somewhat - I mean we're not talking about maintaining a warranted car here, it's an 11 year old.
All this leaves me with a galling choice it seems - to throw two good tyres away just to satisfy the rulebook, or to take the car off the road until some more Contis come in sometime in October. I suppose another option is to sod the approved N rated situation completely and replace the rear pair with a cheaper asymetric alternative such as Falken.
Looking out the window this past week in the evenings it seems a crime not to go out for a hoon in the autumn sun, but if I was to be pulled my rear boots would be VERY close to being exactly what Plod would need to ruin my year...
What would you guys do? I should perhaps add that I don't have wads of spare cash about as I'm saving for house deposit, so bear that in mind before just saying replace all 4 with the most expensive Michelins...
So do you think I can get any more of the damn things? Nope. Ringing around, they seem to be on back order. 6 weeks at one place, 8 weeks at another etc etc - even my OPC (whom I would never usually buy from) say unknown ETA.
So I ask OPC, OK what about another pair of approved N2 rated, asymetric pattern tyres? Nope he says, mixing brands (even if both N2) will throw off the braking balance and could "in extremis" trigger ABS too early. But, he rather helpfully suggests he just replace all 4 with an available approved N rated brand. Yeah thanks.
So I ask, OK what about a different pair of approved assymetric pattern tyres, this time N3 Pirelli, which are in stock everywhere?
Nope he says, mixing N2 on the front and N3 on the rear will upset the balance of the ride and result in unpredictable handling "on the limit". Again, he cheerfully suggest he can easily replace all 4 with N3 if I'd like..... thanks again.
Phoned two different independent tyre specialists and had a long chat with both and although their opinions differ on which N rated brand would be best, they were both in agreement that so long as I used an official Porsche approved tyre, there would no discernable difference - or more importantly danger - in normal road conditions, dry or wet. Interestingly they both did add that this however was a definite no-no for track use (which I have no plans to do). Now don't get me wrong, I know that it seems the most obvious thing in the world to say that "Porsche knows best, end of." but I have to admit, sometimes it does sound like reciting the corporate litany somewhat - I mean we're not talking about maintaining a warranted car here, it's an 11 year old.
All this leaves me with a galling choice it seems - to throw two good tyres away just to satisfy the rulebook, or to take the car off the road until some more Contis come in sometime in October. I suppose another option is to sod the approved N rated situation completely and replace the rear pair with a cheaper asymetric alternative such as Falken.
Looking out the window this past week in the evenings it seems a crime not to go out for a hoon in the autumn sun, but if I was to be pulled my rear boots would be VERY close to being exactly what Plod would need to ruin my year...
What would you guys do? I should perhaps add that I don't have wads of spare cash about as I'm saving for house deposit, so bear that in mind before just saying replace all 4 with the most expensive Michelins...
My 2004 986 currently has N4 Pirelli PZero Rossos on the back and non-N on the front and I have no hesitation in driving it to the limit of grip on track. The only ratings listed in the manual state size, speed and load ratings - N-ness isn't even mentioned. Have just put another pair of non-Ns on the front but might go for a set of Federal 595RSR next and they're most certainly not Porsche approved.
Edited by spyderman8 on Sunday 16th September 13:55
Before you give up, try www.camskill.co.uk
If they can't get your tyres, it's time to try another approach! Good prices normally too!
If they can't get your tyres, it's time to try another approach! Good prices normally too!
I bought my 2004 986 last autumn and it has Michelin Pilot Sports N1s on the rear and Pirelli P Zero N3s on the front. I have to admit this did irritate me initially because I've always subscribed to the theory on same brand/model tyres all round, but having covered 6k fairly spirited miles so far, I've come to realise my Michelin/pirelli combo is fine. The car still handles like a dream and I've had no handling/braking disasters. In short it's far from being a death trap.
That all said, ive not had the chance to experience running my car on all Michelin PS2s, so maybe that will be a revelation when I finally do change - doubt it though...
That all said, ive not had the chance to experience running my car on all Michelin PS2s, so maybe that will be a revelation when I finally do change - doubt it though...
It seems there's some confusion over the N number here. The number related to the generation of that particular tyre make/model, so N numbers between brands cannot be compared. E.g. An N3 Michelin could actually be a newer version of their tyre than an N5 Bridgestone.
I wouldn't worry about the N rating too much anyway. I once put Hankook Ventus 285 30 18 on the rear of a 996 Carrera (my ex-girlfriend's car i.e. not a sales car) as I found them with www.tyretraders.com at £53 each inc VAT. They were round and black and worked fine and no-one died.
I wouldn't worry about the N rating too much anyway. I once put Hankook Ventus 285 30 18 on the rear of a 996 Carrera (my ex-girlfriend's car i.e. not a sales car) as I found them with www.tyretraders.com at £53 each inc VAT. They were round and black and worked fine and no-one died.
Afternoon all, thanks for the replies. Good to hear that my initial opinion that I could fit a non-matching pair and just get on with it was supported by so many others.
I was looking at Falkens and Kuhmos etc whilst phoning around for the Contis, and they look like excellent value.
One question though - what is you guys' feeling about Asymetric patterns? Would it be unwise to fit a non asymetric pair on the rear given that the front pair are asymetric pattern?
Cheers
I was looking at Falkens and Kuhmos etc whilst phoning around for the Contis, and they look like excellent value.
One question though - what is you guys' feeling about Asymetric patterns? Would it be unwise to fit a non asymetric pair on the rear given that the front pair are asymetric pattern?
Cheers
thegoose - thanks for that link. They certainly seem to offer loads of choice, but confusingly when I enter all the specs of the current tyre there are no results. If I remove the Speed option (mine are ZR) then there are loads of choices.
If I just enter Z in the speed option, it does find options, but only the N rated.
I was quite interested in a couple of the mid range brands at under £100 per tyre but I only get those options if I remove the Z rating from the speed option.
Is that wise do you think?
Cheers
EDIT
Update to this is I have found these which have the Z rating in them but don't appear if I put Z in the filter - are these the Falkens that some of you guys have tried?
http://www.tyretraders.com/tyreInformation|ItemID|...
If I just enter Z in the speed option, it does find options, but only the N rated.
I was quite interested in a couple of the mid range brands at under £100 per tyre but I only get those options if I remove the Z rating from the speed option.
Is that wise do you think?
Cheers
EDIT
Update to this is I have found these which have the Z rating in them but don't appear if I put Z in the filter - are these the Falkens that some of you guys have tried?
http://www.tyretraders.com/tyreInformation|ItemID|...
Edited by lastexile69 on Monday 17th September 10:25
As others have said, you don't need to match front to back - just side to side.
N-ratings are not mandatory for insurance purposes however, if you are convinced that you want N-rated, you might find some Bridgestone S-02's in 986 17" fitments. However, I have had a set of these on and they are bloody noisy - from new - so much so that even a Porsche tech. once told me my wheel bearings were on their way out. Thankfully, they subsequently told me it had to be the tyres when they had it in on the ramps to take a closer look and even asked me if I had bought the tyres there as they would have swapped them for another option but sadly I hadn't. They're not so noisy now that they are worn (or maybe it's my hearing that has been impaired.) I won't buy another set of them though...
Another tip to find a wider choice of tyre and to save money is to look for a lower speed rating. However check what it says in the handbook as minimum speed ratings are given and I'm not sure if you are oblidged to stick with the quoted minimums for insurance purposes or not - even if your car will *never* see these speeds...
N-ratings are not mandatory for insurance purposes however, if you are convinced that you want N-rated, you might find some Bridgestone S-02's in 986 17" fitments. However, I have had a set of these on and they are bloody noisy - from new - so much so that even a Porsche tech. once told me my wheel bearings were on their way out. Thankfully, they subsequently told me it had to be the tyres when they had it in on the ramps to take a closer look and even asked me if I had bought the tyres there as they would have swapped them for another option but sadly I hadn't. They're not so noisy now that they are worn (or maybe it's my hearing that has been impaired.) I won't buy another set of them though...
Another tip to find a wider choice of tyre and to save money is to look for a lower speed rating. However check what it says in the handbook as minimum speed ratings are given and I'm not sure if you are oblidged to stick with the quoted minimums for insurance purposes or not - even if your car will *never* see these speeds...
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