N Rated tire recommendations for 718 2.5 GTS

[antonyg]

MOT and inspection came back with amber on both front tires due to cracking so am figuring out which N rated option to go with when I put new boots on the car early next year.

It currently has the PZeros (from factory) and apart from the crabbing when cold I like them but open to feedback on other options (I've run good year on previous fast fords before I got the 718 and loved the F1 Asymmetrics, not sure if they do an N version?) but also interested in any other options.

edit; edit;

20" rims

 

[BrianJ]

Take care before you buy tyres -if your car is still under warranty or Porsche Approved Warranty (or if you want to take out or renew the latter) the OPC will insist on the tyres all being the same brand and probably the same N rating. Depending on the OPC, you may get away with the same tyres but different N rating for front and rear axles (eg P Zeros with new N1 on front axle and older N0 on rear). Worth discussing with them if in doubt. You don't say what size your wheels are - for example, on 20", the N1 Pirellis are a much better tyre than the N0.

 

[antonyg]

Take care before you buy tyres -if your car is still under warranty or Porsche Approved Warranty (or if you want to take out or renew the latter) the OPC will insist on the tyres all being the same brand and probably the same N rating. Depending on the OPC, you may get away with the same tyres but different N rating for front and rear axles (eg P Zeros with new N1 on front axle and older N0 on rear). Worth discussing with them if in doubt. You don't say what size your wheels are - for example, on 20", the N1 Pirellis are a much better tyre than the N0.

they're 21"

yeah I would only ever replace all the tires at one tbh m8 (unless brand new and a flat etc.) (it's a premium car, no point skimping on the boots)

 

[Motorhead]

I think that they’re more likely to be 20” Anthony [?], but according to the Porsche Configurator, for the current 4.0L GTS there are three 20” N-rated options: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, Michelin PS4S and the Pirelli P-Zero.

I had the Goodyears on my ancient Mk5 Golf GTi, my GR Yaris has the MPS4S tyres and my 987.2 CS is fitted with ageing Pirellis. Three very different cars fitted with three different tyres, but I think I’d plump either for the Goodyears or Michelins for a replacement, although the latest versions of the Pirellis seem to have their fans. They’re all N-rated and will have been tested rigorously by the Porsche development team to ensure that they’re the right tyre for your car.

Jeff

 

[antonyg]

I think that they’re more likely to be 20” Anthony [?], but according to the Porsche Configurator, for the current 4.0L GTS there are three 20” N-rated options: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, Michelin PS4S and the Pirelli P-Zero.

I had the Goodyears on my ancient Mk5 Golf GTi, my GR Yaris has the MPS4S tyres and my 987.2 CS is fitted with ageing Pirellis. Three very different cars fitted with three different tyres, but I think I’d plump either for the Goodyears or Michelins for a replacement, although the latest versions of the Pirellis seem to have their fans. They’re all N-rated and will have been tested rigorously by the Porsche development team to ensure that they’re the right tyre for your car.

Jeff

doh - you're correct - the 20" Carrera wheels.

yeah I loved the goodyears - had them on my Focus ST and then my Focus RS - really positive in terms of grip and steering - a lot of people rave about the PS4S also. I think it's between those two.

 

[Motorhead]

Agreed Anthony, I was very pleased with the Goodyears’ performance in all conditions, and the Michelins work very well with the Yaris’ 4WD system. Difficult choice, although the Michelins do seem to be flavour of the month.

Jeff

 

[GrahamW]

+1 for the Goodyears. I've run them on my previous 981 and now on the 718s. As good as the P Zero N1 originally fitted (if not better) and much quieter over most road surfacer's. Better mileages too.

 

[antonyg]

+1 for the Goodyears. I've run them on my previous 981 and now on the 718s. As good as the P Zero N1 originally fitted (if not better) and much quieter over most road surfacer's. Better mileages too.

quieter is interesting. especially on the M25 (lol - like being inside a washing machine the noise on the concrete stretches)

 

[Motorhead]

According to the EU tyre labelling the Goodyears are rated 68/71dB for exterior noise, the Michelins 71/71dB and the Pirellis 71/72dB. Bear in mind that 3dB is equivalent to a halving of the sound pressure level, although the relationship between exterior and interior noise is very complex.

These cars have big, low profile tyres generating a lot of noise and have a small passenger compartment with significant wheel arch intrusions, so they’re never going to be quiet![]

Jeff

 

[AlistairF]

I have goodyears on my 981S. (19") They are fine but don't think they will be 'quiet'.
They were quite a bit cheaper than the Pirelli last time I checked. There is also a N rated Hankook option which were cheaper still but I have seen no feedback on these.

 

[antonyg]

I have goodyears on my 981S. (19") They are fine but don't think they will be 'quiet'.
They were quite a bit cheaper than the Pirelli last time I checked. There is also a N rated Hankook option which were cheaper still but I have seen no feedback on these.

i have a set of Hankook Ventus Evo 3 tires on our other car, a Mini JCW, and they’re actually pretty good. not as good as the Goodyears tbh but they do well when the JCW squirms on a pull.

 

[Wollemi]

Take care before you buy tyres -if your car is still under warranty or Porsche Approved Warranty (or if you want to take out or renew the latter) the OPC will insist on the tyres all being the same brand and probably the same N rating. Depending on the OPC, you may get away with the same tyres but different N rating for front and rear axles (eg P Zeros with new N1 on front axle and older N0 on rear). Worth discussing with them if in doubt. You don't say what size your wheels are - for example, on 20", the N1 Pirellis are a much better tyre than the N0.

What Brian says is absolutely right, and the OPC will insist on all tyres being exactly the same, including the same N rating. After all the N1 P-Zero is markedly superior to to the N0 - it's a different tyre.

So if you are going to change tyre brands then you must change all four tyres. My personal choice is the Michelin PS4S, but the current P-Zero is not a bad tyre either although I found it harsher riding and noisier than the Michelin.

 

[LesGTS]

My OPC recently sold me a 2015 981 Boxster with 3 Pirelli N1s and 1 Pirelli N0 and, despite my challenge, the SE felt this was acceptable and wouldn’t budge as "they were all Pirellis and it had been through the 111 Porsche check.”
Should l be challenging this further as l have their warranty till 2026?
Thanks

 

[BrianJ]

My OPC recently sold me a 2015 981 Boxster with 3 Pirelli N1s and 1 Pirelli N0 and, despite my challenge, the SE felt this was acceptable and wouldn’t budge as "they were all Pirellis and it had been through the 111 Porsche check.”
Should l be challenging this further as l have their warranty till 2026?
Thanks

I have never heard of an OPC diverging from the dictat included in all Porsche handbooks: "Only tyres of the same make, same type and with the same specification number (e.g. "N0”, "N1” …) can be fitted.” In my experience OPCs (except yours) are completely intractable on this. I suggest you dig out your handbook and ask them why it doesn’t apply to your car. Also, all Porsche Approved cars must have tyres no older than 5 years - on mine, the rears were slightly over 5 years and had to be changed under Porsche rules. We negotiated a price to change all of them so that all 4 were the later and much better N1 rating rather than all being the older N0 version (20” Pirelli’s in my case).

 

[Wollemi]

My OPC recently sold me a 2015 981 Boxster with 3 Pirelli N1s and 1 Pirelli N0 and, despite my challenge, the SE felt this was acceptable and wouldn’t budge as "they were all Pirellis and it had been through the 111 Porsche check.”
Should l be challenging this further as l have their warranty till 2026?
Thanks

Absolutely challenge this, as Brian points out it's completely outside Porsche's own printed stipulations. It would also make me question everything about that OPC who clearly do not understand Porsche standards and are putting profit ahead of doing things properly. They don't understand the basics of tyre fitment anyway, in that you never on any car mix tyres on the same axle, and a N1 P-Zero is a demonstrably different tyre to the earlier N0 model.
Appalling.

 

[SpyderDavid]

My OPC recently sold me a 2015 981 Boxster with 3 Pirelli N1s and 1 Pirelli N0 and, despite my challenge, the SE felt this was acceptable and wouldn’t budge as "they were all Pirellis and it had been through the 111 Porsche check.”
Should l be challenging this further as l have their warranty till 2026?
Thanks

This sounds like the reaction of an SE who can see extra costs impacting his commission and hopes that you’ll be fobbed off - as others have said escalate above him/her and you should absolutely get the right outcome. If you still face resistance escalate to PCGB - they will enforce conformity to standards and apply a slap on the wrists.

 

[LesGTS]

Well gents l have good news!
Thanks to your encouragement and insistence that my instincts were right about the strict requirement that the tyres should be of the same spec, l wrote this morning to the Head Honcho at the OPC and within 3 hours l had a email back from the service department saying they had been instructed to order two new front tyres for fitment!
l have owned a Porsche for five years but its my first dealings with an OPC.
The 3 months since date of purchase have not been enjoyable experience.
l won’t go into all the problems (BGTS) that became apparent from day 1 but once the tyres are replaced, at the same time as the long awaited replacement sports exhaust system and a working tracker l might finally have the car l was dreaming of.

Thanks once again.

 

[Greenman986S]

Presumably it is your second experience of an OPC as you bought from
them..

 

[LesGTS]

No, as l said it was my first experience of an OPC.
I bought my first Porsche from an indie 5 years ago and in fact sold it back to them this August.

 

[Greenman986S]

My OPC recently sold me a 2015 981 Boxster with 3 Pirelli N1s and 1 Pirelli N0 ...

but you bought from your OPC...