987.2 dreadded tyre question...sorry in advance

[911hillclimber]

2009/2.9 987.2 Boxster.
Car used for holidays and cruising etc, no 'sideways round islands' antics.

Rear tyres are doing really well, about 20K so far and easily the Scotiish tour in them. (3mm to the bar).
Will need to replace the rears for 2022 tour, so just thinking out loud:

Replacements will be Bridgestones like the ones on it now (Fr and Rr)

Question, what exactly does the N rating bring to the party?
Tyres are 235 x 35 x 19 Z, fronts are miles and miles to go.

 

[NicD]

I would fit N rated only if the car may go into the OPC network. I put them on mine last time (18 inch PS2) as I thought I may trade it in, in fact I will keep the 987.2 alongside the GTS
Nic

 

[Motorhead]

Graham,

Probably you’ve read the online stuff like this:

https://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/parts/tyres/

Basically it just means that the tyres have been developed by Porsche in collaboration with the tyre supplier to optimise the compound - and maybe the construction - for the specific vehicle, so the tyre will be slightly different from its non N-rated equivalent (although it may look identical). Whether or not you’d be able to tell the difference in normal motoring is open to question.

I seem to recall someone on the Cayman forum mentioning that there are physical differences in the appearance of N-rated Michelin PS4S tyres compared with the equivalent non N-rated tyre, the N-rated tyre sitting proud of the rim whereas the non N-rated tyre is flush with the rim.

Jeff

 

[AndrewCS]

Question, what exactly does the N rating bring to the party?

From the info. that I have read ... optimisation of the design of the car, by way of structural and compositional changes

Having had the same size and type of tyre to visually compare both N and non N (Cup 2 235/35 x 19) I can vouch for the structural aspect re. that particular example

The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N1 was / is the N rated item for your car, not sure if it has been updated ...

FYI ... I have posted a few associated links on the subject of OEM specific tyres in the Wheels and Tyres section of the Forum

 

[Chappelle]

In lockdown we had a Zoom call with Pirelli. Whilst I buy N rated tyres, I did think it was a bit of a con. But were were shown cutaways of the SAME SIZE tyre and TYPE (P Zero I think) made for different manufacturers and they were radically different. I didn't expect that!

I've bought tyres recently and again found Camskill to be the cheapest matched by my local tyre place.

 

[tscaptain]

I guess it could be considered a "con" if they were more expensive than the non N counterparts? But they aren't. Well, certainly not the Bridgestones I use.[]

 

[911hillclimber]

Good stuff!
The fronts are N rated Bridgestones, cant remember if the rears are, but I think they are, must check the receipt.

Locally, hard to find any for pricing comparisons locally, and we have a lot of fitters here, so expected to be spoilt for choice, not so.
I always get a bit bothered about the reaction by an insurance assessor in the event of a crash if the tyres are not 'right' to the manufacturer's spec.

 

[AndrewCS]

Receipt ? ... it`s on the sidewall []

All my `rating` conversations with insurers have them focused on the road legal requirements ... which non N rated are

 

[MrDemon]

987.2 buy PS4S opr the new Good years. bin off N spec as there is no Modern N spec tyre for a 987.2

fitting 15 year old PS2 is a joke imo great tyre in the day but crap now.

 

[911hillclimber]

Andrew, the receipt just says the tyre spec.
Where on the wall is the 'N' spec?
The current rears transmit road noise really badly, but maybe all Boxsters do?
I had the thought that N spec tyres might improve things if the ones I have are not N spec.

 

[AndrewCS]

... on a Michelin

 

[Briggy]

I wouldn't argue that non N rated were better than N rated tyres when your car was first made, but tyre technology has moved on. A modern non N rated tyre may well be better than an original spec N rated tyre. That's the conclusion I came to and fitted Michelin PS4S tyres (not the same as PS4) when the time came to replace and have yet to see them even twitch in any conditions.

 

[911hillclimber]

Thanks Andrew, the tyres are N1 all round.I need new glasses!
Graham

 

[Motorhead]

Graham,

I reckon Bridgestone tyres in general have a reputation for being hard-wearing. Maybe they use a harder compound, which may be contributing to more road-induced noise? You may find that Continental, Michelin and Pirelli tyres will give you a quieter drive … but having said that, big low profile tyres aren’t conducive to that!

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Yes, I think you are right.
A friend has recently bought a nice Cayman 981, loves it totally, except, the tyre road noise and fitted a set of Pirelli all round. Still a stack of conversation killing road noise.
With expected Scottish tour soon and a Euro tour coming up, some silence might be appreciated....
The noise is particularly bad from the rear, hence this thread!
Got to add a picture! Just love this car on a moody holiday.

 

[AndrewCS]

Noise ... it`s the road surface not the tyres []

 

[Motorhead]

That’s an excellent photo Graham … a perfect setting for your white car with its black hood.

I’m afraid there’s little that can be done to reduce road-induced noise, although you can at least drop the top which I presume gives you a more acceptable sound mix?

Foam earplugs will only take out the higher frequencies, which won’t be of much use … and you wouldn’t want to be driving wearing some hefty ear-defenders!

New tyres might help a bit, the taller tread blocks being more flexible than those on a worn tyre.

Jeff

 

[tscaptain]

You can fit whatever brand you fancy but you won't get rid of the road noise. [] On long journeys we use these...

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/headphones/earbuds/quietcomfort-20i-acoustic-noise-cancelling-headphones.html#v=qc20_apple_black

Can be found cheaper elsewhere.[]
They are brilliant at getting rid of the tyre drone.

 

[911hillclimber]

On concrete surfaces at 70 it is impossible, I can't hear the Boss...
Difficult to get directions and other instructions!

Good Welsh roads all is ok, it is a sports car after all.
The pic was in Scotland last year, going back this year.

To me, the 987.2 is the perfect Scottish car. First hotels booked for 2021!!