Availability of Boxster tyres

[Brian Halling]

I've spent several days trying to source a new set of tyres for my Boxster 2.7. I was told by three different suppliers that Continental tyres are in short supply and no more will be manufactured until 2005. My OPC couldn't find any either and two national tyre companies also failed.

The story is that Continental are the cheapest and have been diverted from the UK to meet mainland European demand. Pirelli PZeros are also hard to find; my local outfit eventually found them from two different sources. Michelins are available but about £150 a set more expensive. This afternoon I finally had four PZeros fitted for £580 including valve and balance, but my local fitter told me they were the only ones he could find.

I am now ready for my annual Alpine blast at the end of this month (Eurohoon). []

Anyone else encountered this problem?

 

[garyw]

Whilst looking for a Pilot sport last month, no one had got one [&:] I used the link from this site and spoke to Michellin direct (helpline number), who said they only had one in the UK, and kindly diverted it to my chosen supplier.
so a happy ending, but scary situation to be in[]
Garyw

 

[GreigM]

did you try the web suppliers - www.blackcircles.co.uk and www.mytyres.co.uk - they don't seem to be indicating supply problems

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Brian,

I needed one rear conti 17" a couple of weeks back.

Elite Tyres in Sussex manageds to source this from one of thier customers for me in 10 mins.
They are a distributor, so have good contacts up and down the chain.

 

[matt643]

Brian, I swapped to Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tyres sourced from mytyres.co.uk after a long talk with a driving instructor friend of mine from the Bedford autodrome and I can report that although non N rated they FAR outperform the N rated tyres I have gone through in the past particulary in the wet.

A couple of notes of caution though, Porsche are fussy about buying your car back into their franchise network with non N rated tyres and when buying from mytyres or blackcircles check that they are marked XL or 'extra load'

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Your insurance company could be awkward if you have a claim with "non approved" tyre as well I hear[&:]

 

[matt643]

I heard that as well Mark and checked with my insurance company (direct line) who told me that as long as the tyres are designed for the wheel they are fitted to, bare the correct idendtification/safety markings and are suitable for the vehicle, mainly the speed rating, there is no problem with fitting non N rated tyres.

Apparanty Jaguar are also trying to scare people into buying 'J' rated tyres for their vehicles! They also claim that the insurance will be invalidated if the tyres are not those endorsed by the manufacturer.

Tyres have a standardised marking system and I personally object my freedom of choice being restricted by any manufacturer. I do appreciate Porsche testing tyres for me + it can make buying replacement easier but maybe I am just one of those owners who likes to try something different.... And by that I dont mean that other members should be putting their keys in a bowl on the table and sending pictures of their other halves!!!

Off my soap box now