996 Tyres and wheels

[Charles8]

I recently bought a 2003 996 Targa. I'm fitting Ohlins Road & Track coil-overs + polybushes and replacing what needs replacing and generally smartening it up. I've decided to fit Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. My problem is that they don't appear to be available for 18" wheels, at least in the UK (they are available in the USA). It seems that I either have to import tyres from the USA, or buy 19" wheels (I'm thinking 5-spoke 997 Turbo ones), for which the PS4S tyres are available in the UK. Does anyone have experience of USA tyres in this country - I have an idea the compound might be different from the UK ones, but I don't know if that's the case. Any other pertinent info would be much appreciated.

[Orangecurry]

Ok I will jump in. What are you trying to achieve with the suspension changes? You could assume it is 'fast road', whatever that means, or you are going to track it? Either way shirley you would be better off with MCups? Otherwise why not MPS4 if you are going to use it in the rain? Is the S really that much better? Personally I believe in the One-inch-too-far rule, and 19 on a 996 is probably it.

[Charles8]

Orangecurry said:

Ok I will jump in. What are you trying to achieve with the suspension changes? You could assume it is 'fast road', whatever that means, or you are going to track it? Either way shirley you would be better off with MCups? Otherwise why not MPS4 if you are going to use it in the rain? Is the S really that much better? Personally I believe in the One-inch-too-far rule, and 19 on a 996 is probably it.

Thank you for that, Orangecurry. Mostly road (there are some good ones in the North East), occasional track days. I don't really want to go to 19", that's led by the wish to have the best tyres I can find. If I can get MCups in 18", I might well go with them - more research required on my part.
PS - please don't call me shirley (joke )

[Charles8]

My concern with MCups is that wet grip is probably lower than the MPS4's. As I'll use it 99% of the time on the road, I'm still thinking that 19" wheels with MPS4S tyres should be better than MCups, and certainly than MPS2s. Anyway, according to the Blackcircles website, MCups are also unavailable in 18". I'm thinking that the Ohlins coil-overs, being much more sophisticated than the (shot) standard ones currently on the car, should be a good combination. Just speculation.

[Orangecurry]

MCups are certainly available in 18, but so are MPS4, which will be significantly better in the wet.

My point was why try and get MPS4S when you can get MPS4 in 18? Is any difference worth the effort and cost this time, but also every time you need tyres in the future.

[Orangecurry]

MCup
225/40/18 about 145 GBP
265/35 about 220 GBP
285/30/18 about 207 GBP

and

https://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/michelin-pilot-sp...

scroll down to see the sizes manufactured

This may upset you, but a good friend of mine tracked his 996.2 on 17s and loved it.

[Slippydiff]

Orangecurry said:

MCups are certainly available in 18, but so are MPS4, which will be significantly better in the wet.

My point was why try and get MPS4S when you can get MPS4 in 18? Is any difference worth the effort and cost this time, but also every time you need tyres in the future.

I ran my daily smoker on MPS4, they were "reasonable" (a bit vanilla really) so next time round I decided to go with Supersports. The Supersports are far superior to MPS4 (or they were until I put my Winters on)

On the basis the Supersports are better than the MPS4, and the MPS4S is supposed to be a quantum leap forward over the Supersports. I probably wouldn't bother with the MPS4 option.

[Orangecurry]

How dare you disagree with me? My armchair says......

If it was me spending that much on Ohlins I would have an 18 wheelset with TD tyres and 18s or even 17s with easily sourced somethinggood tyres and get on enjoying it and learning the best combos. But not 19s on UK roads in the wet.

[jonindorset]

Super grippy tyres without at least baffle mods, if not dry sump, are you not in danger of lunching the engine?

[Charles8]

Orangecurry said:

How dare you disagree with meIf it was me spending that much on Ohlins I would have an 18 wheelset with TD tyres and 18s or even 17s with easily sourced somethinggood tyres and get on enjoying it and learning the best combos. But not 19s on UK roads in the wet.

Well, having pretty much decided on MPS4Ss on 19” wheels (I would put them on my standard 18s if they were available in that size), I’m just curious as to why you believe (or know?) that there should be a great difference in handling ((&/or grip?) in the wet, Orangecurry. Whilst I realise there will be some dynamic difference due to the shallower sidewalls, I would not expect all that much difference other than, perhaps, more thumping on potholes. I’m hoping that the Ohlins coil-overs will enable the tyres & wheels to cope with our increasingly rough roads. Your suggestion to fit MPS4s might be a good one, and would certainly save me money, it’s just that I want the very best road tyres and, having done quite a lot of research (including this very helpful forum, thank you guys), it’s clear that MPS4Ss are the db’s. Any further comments / suggestions gratefully considered.

[Porsche911R]

Slippydiff said:

I ran my daily smoker on MPS4, they were "reasonable" (a bit vanilla really) so next time round I decided to go with Supersports. The Supersports are far superior to MPS4 (or they were until I put my Winters on)

On the basis the Supersports are better than the MPS4, and the MPS4S is supposed to be a quantum leap forward over the Supersports. I probably wouldn't bother with the MPS4 option.

I agree, fit mpss. I actually like them in the dry more than PS4s but in the wet the PS4s is on another level.

I have only ran these 2 tyres for 10 years now. Amazing tyres , as are cup 2’s.

[PGNSagaris]

jonindorset said:

Super grippy tyres without at least baffle mods, if not dry sump, are you not in danger of lunching the engine?

OP, don’t miss this comment. Deep sump pan essential if tracking and going sticky

[Charles8]

PGNSagaris said:

OP, don’t miss this comment. Deep sump pan essential if tracking and going sticky

OK, thank you, I'll consider that. Do you know how much deeper than the standard unit the deep pan unit is & if a steel sump guard can still be fitted?

[PGNSagaris]

Sorry, missed this. Not sure tbh but do give RPM technik a call as they sold and installed mine.