944 Turbo New Tyres needed

[Gordon Attar]

Hi guys

Need to get a set of new rear tyres running on standard 16" factory rims for 90SE.

Car is currently running on Toyo's which I 'm not to impressed with due to the amount of sideways moments I've had, what do you guys run?

 

[appletonn]

Just bought some Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas (highly recommended in latest Evo magazine tyre tests) and dramatically improved wet weather grip, although it did have Dunlop trackday tyres on before.....[]

Someone will be along soon to give other recommendations, I'm sure!

Cheers

 

[Diver944]

Surprised to hear that about the Toyos as most people seem to really rate them, especially in cold wet conditions, are you sure you are not too used to your comfy 4 wheel drive machine []

The 968 boys seem to universally like the Goodyear Eagles in the wet

I'm a Kumho man (but I think I drive like Grandad compared to most as I've never had a problem on the road)

 

[Lemon]

My Toyo's have been fab the last 4 years. []

Although it is so long since I have driven my car I cannot really remember. Role on getting it back.

 

[Gordon Attar]

Umm......... well as I mentioned elsewhere before (might have been on the 964 forum) In my supposedly 'tail happy' 964 C2 I only had one moment in 3.5 years and that was from a standing start turning sharp right. In the 944, I've had half a dozen moments i.e. tail moves out say a foot or so and one big one shooting across some traffic lights and changing into second as I straightened out! and in the 993 just a couple of scary squirms down the road when its wet and cold usually when engaging heavy throttle in 3rd or 4th whilst overtaking, not dafy enough to do it in 1st or second!!

Anyway the tyres are Proxes T1 plus 245/45 ZR16's they are now down to the last few mm are they the correct ones!? and if it makes a difference the suspension is on the lowest setting is there an optimum pressure setting? as the 964 we found that 38ibs all round awas best as opposed to the 44ilb recommendation by Porsche! Anyone got any cheap suppliers in Oxon or around Bracknell/Reading area(work).

I was thinking maybe of getting a set of spare rims/tyres as sometimes thats a cheaper alternative, to a set of tyres and couldnt find my handbook to check the offsets, I know boxster wheels fit straight on, as I put a set of 17's on my 944S2 and my solids could do with a refurb.

Thanks for the input.

 

[edh]

Funny - I was only thinking yesterday how much grip I still had in these horrible wet conditions on my T1-R's [] I run them at around 32-36 F/R on standard sizes

I've had the car a couple of years now & don't think I've had many "moments" away from a track. Maybe that's because I drive like a girl []
In mine I think you have to be pretty brutal to break traction. If I wait until the car is lined up before accelerating hard, and try to be progressive with the throttle, it just seems to go. (I guess this is tempting fate.....). It's pretty easy to get the car loose on a wet track by coming on the power too hard on the way out of a corner.

How's your suspension - I know people who have fitted KW's comment on the extra traction they get (mine's on fairly old Ledas )

Camskill are cheapest for Toyos I think - even with the cost of a local fitter.

 

[PJS917]

Goodyear Eagle F1's are a superb tyre, I have them on both the 968 and the S2. They are getting hard to get
as they are being replaced. I hear very good things about the new Toyo T1s and am thinking about trying those
should F1s not be available. Falken are also getting good reviews as a good cheaper option. The one tyre I would stay away from though is Conti's as they do not seem good in the wet or the dry.

I also find the 944/68 very sensitive to tyre pressures and generally run about 32/33 PSI in the rears (17") anymore and the car can become skittish in the wet.

 

[geoffbateman]

ORIGINAL: PJS917

Goodyear Eagle F1's are a superb tyre, I have them on both the 968 and the S2. They are getting hard to get
as they are being replaced. I hear very good things about the new Toyo T1s and am thinking about trying those
should F1s not be available. Falken are also getting good reviews as a good cheaper option. The one tyre I would stay away from though is Conti's as they do not seem good in the wet or the dry.

I also find the 944/68 very sensitive to tyre pressures and generally run about 32/33 PSI in the rears (17") anymore and the car can become skittish in the wet.

I'm running 17" rims on my 944 and trying to find out about tyre pressures, using 29 front, 36 rear at moment (as per handbook) - would appreciate any info on improved settings.

 

[appletonn]

What Geoff asked too, but for 18" wheels - got 32psi all round at the mo.

Thanks
Nick

 

[charlieb]

I have just had a full set of Conti Sport Contact 3's fitted. A rushed decision as tha car was at the garage and I had to make a choice..

I have to say being new to 44 ownership and rear wheel powerful cars in general they are a lot better than the falkens that were on there before. I had a few arse come out moments unexpectely, one when joining motorway at about 60 on the falkens, the other really bad one down a country lane...

Some dont rate the conti's but IMO they seem miles bettter than the worn falkens. In the dry they do feel very grippy, not even close to breaking away yet, but then it is a 44 on fresh rubber so it would feel good to me.

App the main problem with the contis is getting them to wear out as its a hard compound!

I know others recommend toyo's T1S and my old man reccomends the eagles he has on his griff..

So on that basis I would say listen to the more knowledgable chaps.. Toyo's or Eagles..

 

[Peter Empson]

I've found the T1-R's to be excellent in the dry and wet (even ok in snow) so I'm surprised to hear of such problems, the only downside I've found with them is they wear out rather quickly on my car [].

I can't help wondering if it's possible something else is causing this? My initial thought was that it might just be the difference between weight distribution and power delivery of the 944 v 911 that you were coming up against, but re-reading it I can't help wondering if something is worn or not setup correctly. Just a thought anyway!

Re the tyre pressure question, from memory I run 32 ish all around too, which IIRC is similar to the factory recommendation for the the 968's when on 17's.

 

[berg944]

one big one shooting across some traffic lights and changing into second as I straightened out!

Change gear earlier[]

My turbo used to spin the wheels at 80 in damp conditions until I switched to Toyo's.

Turbo gear ratios are carp, I don't think any tyre will hold when turbo kicks in first gear.

LSD?

Mike

 

[George Elliott]

On my 4th set of Conti's, I find them really good for Wet Country roads, and anything is good in the dry with a LSD and 50/50 weight distribution.

Hear good things of Toyo's

If you want the 500hp effect, just get some Avons ZZ's and wait for a shower of rain.

I should add i hate Pirelli's

George
944T

 

[mik_ok]

Another fan of the Toyo's here (although I had T1S on the front, and T1R on the rear. Car was sold before the fronts needed replaced).

Superb tyre IMHO and we've just stuck a set on the RX8 with very favourable results.

Choices in the std turbo size (rears particulalry) is now very limited, so well respected tyres like the Goodyear GSD3 and Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta simply aren't an option.

As per other comments - I'd suspect tyre pressures are wrong (I liked 33F, 35R) or geometry issues rather than the tyres. In saying that - a '44 with 50/50 weight distribution is never going to have the traction of a even a 2wd 911, so if it's low-gear tail happiness that you've suffered you may just be expecting too much of it.