Michelin Pilot Sports

[azure111s]

I've no doubt that this has been done before so sorry if I'm boring you. Just hope that some kind soul will help [] .....

Have Michelin Pilot Sports on Gen 1 C2S Cab' and need new rears. One garage has N1 (same as my current rears and same as the fronts) and another has N2. The one that has N2 says that it's Ok to mix N1/N2, front/rear. Is this correct, or should they all be N1 or all N2? They said that the number following N (ie. 1,2, or 3) is just a 'geographic region' moniker, but then went on to say that it's better to have N2 rear with N1 front than it is to have N2 front with N1 rear. This seems to discredit the first statement [&:] At that point I submitted 'no futher questions, your Hounour' and decided to ask the people that might know []

TIA.
PS. 'Search' wouldn't work :-/

 

[garyw]

Although it is the same tyre in basis, it has been re-presented to Porsche for them to rate/judge the tyre.- N1 and N2 could be entirely different compounds!!

I certainly wouldn't ever run different N rating on the same axle, preference would be the same all round but when there is no longer N1 available I'd understand why you could end up with N1 on the fronts and N2 on the rears...

Some people do say that certain brands are better on the front/rear but I think its an expensive lesson..

garyw

 

[tscaptain]

Nick,if you still want to trawl through all the tyres threads in the last year, fill your boots![]

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/searchpro.asp?phrase=michelin+tyres&author=&forumid=99&topicreply=both&message=body&timeframe=%3E&timefilter=-365&language=single&top=300&criteria=AND&submitbutton=+OK+

 

[clarkes]

Its fairly clear that the tyres supplier doesn't know what they are talking about. N indicates Porsche spec and the number is, effectively, a version and nothing to do with a regional variation. So as Garyw says, don't mix the versions on the same axle. I seems to recall someone having a problem with a Porsche warranty renewal because of different versions on the car but I can't reember if they were mixing them on the same axle. Certainly the "Michelin man" who came to an R13 meeting a couple of years ago indicated that the were no problems so long as each axle on had one version of the tyre. If you want an OPC warranty you would do well to check with them.

 

[azure111s]

Thanks all. I'm in go great rush to get them, so will query with OPC for their opinion even though car out of warranty.

Def not planning to mix N types on the axle, but looks like I could end up with N2 rear and N1 front ok.

Cheers.

 

[glamdring]

I have got N1 on the back of my C2 on a 19" rim. The fronts have just needed replacing and I can't get N1 anywhere - so odd that you seem to be in the reverse position! - so had to go for N2 on the front and N1 on the rear because there is still about 5000 miles left on the rears. Whilst I was in the OPC (Cambridge) yesterday I asked them if it mattered and they said not - Chris at CG also said it didn't matter as long as they were same make of tyre and not N1 on left of car and N2 on right - i.e not on the same axle.

 

[Lancerlot]

Porsche state that all tyres on the vehicle should have the same N rating.

Regards,

Clive

 

[clarkes]

Unless I misunderstood him, that is not what the "Michelin man" told us! Can anyone else from R13 recall the discussions at that meeting?

Having said that, if you want a Porsche warranty its what Porsche says that counts, even if it is just to get more money out of you! Personally, I can't see that it would make any noticeable difference on the public highway, even if you drive like an idiot

 

[Lancerlot]

Many years ago - in my cavalier days [8|] - I drove a Carrera with Michis on the front and Contis on the rear. It handled beautifully, particularly as they became more and more worn. [&:]

Needless to say this setup frightened my OPC to death. []

Regards,

Clive

 

[yan]

I enquired at my OPC for a pair of N1 rears last week. They explained that they were increasingly hard to find and that mixing N ratings front versus rear was not an option.
I am beginning to think changing all 4 now will be better value for money anyway since sourcing N1 fronts later will be harder and so more expensive - the price of N1 seems to be much higher than N2 if I am not mistaken.
The N number is related to the research->production stage and results in phasing out (usually) the earlier numbers.

 

[clarkes]

Clive

I wouldn't be that "brave" but I think that N1 Michelin PS on one axle and same make but N2 designation on the other end wouldn't require me to be "brave", even though OPCs don't like it!

Richard

 

[azure111s]

seems to be a difference of opinion over the 10-1 shot, as Jimmy Tarbuck used to say ;-)

I haven't spoken to OPC yet but will update thread with their 'advice' when I do. From the posts above, it looks like it could go either way. Fancy that though eh - variation in advice from stealer to stealer - who'd've though it?!? []

 

[paulfcraven]

An OPC will not issue a Porsche Warranty if the N numbers are different front and rear. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: paulfcraven

An OPC will not issue a Porsche Warranty if the N numbers are different front and rear. Don't ask me how I know this.

I don't blame them... its another chance of a sale []

 

[azure111s]

Have spoken to OPC about this. They won't recommend or indeed undertake fitment where N1s are on the front and N2s on the back. Fair enough, if them's the rules and the proper way to go. Interesting thing is that they can't get N1s - simple as that. They suggest however that Porsche will 'make a contribution' to the cost of N2s on the front when fitted at the same time as N2s on the rear; when the front N1s are still plenty serviceable (like 4mm+ ... ish). The amount of the 'contribution' is unspecified [], but I don't need it anyway [] as.....

My local tyre indy can get me 2 x N1 for the rear. They are happy to 'supply only' for a reduced fee and the cost reduction is about the same as the OPC will charge to fit them when the car goes in for MOT.

I think the existing fronts will live as long as the new rears (ie. 2 sets of rear will last as long as 1 set of fronts, thus enabling me to go for 4 x N2 / N3 / whatever, next time) and this arrangement negates the net cost of new fronts when replacing the rears this time around. That's a result, I reckon []

 

[garyw]

The right result[]