Pirelli N-2 vs Michelin N-1 ?

[Alex L]

The N-0 marking is assigned to the first approved version of a tyre design. As that design is refined externally or internally, the later significant evolutions will result in a new generation of the tyre to be branded with N-1, N-2, N-3, etc., in succession. When a completely new tyre design is approved, it receives the N-0 branding and the succession begins again.

For the last few years I have been firmly in the Michelin N-1 camp as THE best tyre for the 997 but now N-2 Pirellis have been introduced for the facelift 997s I couldn't resist giving them a try on my Turbo.

Are there any facelift 997 Carrera owners that have opinions of their tyres thus far?

Typically Pirellis are a little softer than Michelins and so will wear faster, I have no idea about these N-2s though. Time will tell...

 

[Brian RS]

If Michelins cost more they are probably superior!

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: cat

If Michelins cost more they are probably superior!

...or maybe some money goes towards the brand name if not then iphone too is probably superior to all mobile phone ever made []

@ Alex:

Pirelli N2 does not mean they have found a superior formula than Michelin N1 or are still inferior to say Bridgestone N3 i.e. as an example: Michelin may have got it right at N0 or N1 stage and will never update whereas Pirelli may continue till N4...

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: THX911

ORIGINAL: cat

If Michelins cost more they are probably superior!

...or maybe some money goes towards the brand name if not then iphone too is probably superior to all mobile phone ever made []

@ Alex:

Pirelli N2 does not mean they have found a superior formula than Michelin N1 or are still inferior to say Bridgestone N3 i.e. as an example: Michelin may have got it right at N0 or N1 stage and will never update whereas Pirelli may continue till N4...

Of course you are very correct in your assessment here. I am just wondering though why most of the GenII cars have the N-2 Pirellis with the new pattern. If they were an upgrade specially for the facelift 997 then they are certainly worth a try in my eyes...

My only concern is that the facelift Turbo I believe mostly comes with the harder wearing Bridgestones (which I really didn't rate on my Turbo) as all that power to the rears makes them not last too long.

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

ORIGINAL: THX911

...or maybe some money goes towards the brand name if not then iphone too is probably superior to all mobile phone ever made []

@ Alex:

Pirelli N2 does not mean they have found a superior formula than Michelin N1 or are still inferior to say Bridgestone N3 i.e. as an example: Michelin may have got it right at N0 or N1 stage and will never update whereas Pirelli may continue till N4...

Of course you are very correct in your assessment here. I am just wondering though why most of the GenII cars have the N-2 Pirellis with the new pattern. If they were an upgrade specially for the facelift 997 then they are certainly worth a try in my eyes...

My only concern is that the facelift Turbo I believe mostly comes with the harder wearing Bridgestones (which I really didn't rate on my Turbo) as all that power to the rears makes them not last too long.

The answer (unfortunately) which one of the OPC service manager had given me when I had asked which tire make do Porsche prefer was: Whatever the best bulk buy deal they get at the time a car is built...

 

[yan]

ORIGINAL: THX911

The answer (unfortunately) which one of the OPC service manager had given me when I had asked which tire make do Porsche prefer was: Whatever the best bulk buy deal they get at the time a car is built...

Echoed by the fact that the factory do not offer the customer a choice of tyre.[]

 

[tscaptain]

My Gen 2 came with Bridgestones, which I like, but then I only have a small amount of power through the rears - relatively speaking.

 

[garyw]

Alan, I also had Bridgestones from new and replaced them with..... Bridgestones

Very happy with them so far []

garyw

 

[Alex L]

I started with Bridgestone's and after 7500 miles replaced them with Michelin's (which have last me 10,000 including a track day). Bridgestone are quite a hard tyre and for me don't have the same level of grip as the Michelin's. The Bridgestone's are also noisier on the road.

I need to get out an try my new Pirelli's to see how they compare. It is rather cold though now so it's not the best time of year to review I suppose.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

The Bridgestone's are also noisier on the road.

Have to disagree there Alex. My track wheels came with Michelins before I put the Toyo's on and I found the noise levels to be much the same, although on mine road noise wasn't overshadowed by the exhaust note![]

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: Alex L

The Bridgestone's are also noisier on the road.

Have to disagree there Alex. My track wheels came with Michelins before I put the Toyo's on and I found the noise levels to be much the same, although on mine road noise wasn't overshadowed by the exhaust note![]

Strange. Although you could be onto something with the covering exhaust noise [][]

 

[okellyt]

TS on a cooking 997 I found the tyre noise from Michelin's to be acceptable. Bear in mind I have 245's up front and 305's on the rear so more tyre noise than the stock car. However a cruising speeds my exhaust is quieter.

I had brigestones on my last Boxster - very good dry grip but not as good as the Michelin's in the wet. The Conti's were truly awful tyres.

For a cooking 997 the Michelin's seem to be the best overall tyre - slightly down on Bidgestones dry weather grip but much better wet and cold weather grip.

Can't comment on the Turbo other than the one I was lent for a long weekend had Pirelli's and they seemed fine (I suspect more grip, shorter life).

 

[Dsmiler]

My GenII is one of the first (register July 2008) and came fitted with Michelin N1's. I'm very happy with them and was impressed when I took it on a track. However, as it was my first track experience so I can't really compare.

It does seem that Porsche fit which ever tyre they managed to get the best price on at the time.

 

[Clewsey]

My Gen 2 came with Michelins PS2s, good all round performance (wet and dry) on road and track. Road noise a little on high side but 305's on back so no surprise really (just over 8k miles) and will probably replace them with the same type when it comes to switching even though they'll cost a small fortune.

Had Michelins on most of my cars, all being pretty good allbeit expensive especially on the M3! (Cup +) tyre [] I do remember the P-Zero's I had on my S1 elise. Scary in the wet was my overriding memory of this combination of car+tyre.

Si

 

[garyw]

With what I have read the Michelin's do give a great tyre, the Bridgestone is the better all rounder, they are also slightly cheaper to replace.

Won't ever go back to Pirelli..[:'(] performance was alright but the lack of rim protector in comparison just didn't do it... especially the one time I need it[]

garyw

 

[berty987]

There is a new N version for the michelin PS2 , my experience of driving a cayman with these compared to my boxster with the previous version was that the new N version of the tyre soaks up the road noise better. As a result a cayman with the new PS2 riding on 19" wheels and standard suspesnion was smoother than my 987 boxster with PASM with similar 19" wheels.

In addition to Bridgestone, I beleive Yokohama are now available in N rated versions for Porsche sizes.I've had Yokohama A008 tyres in the past (on other cars) and found them to be excellent in the dry and wet (lousy in the snow) however they did tend to wear quickly. I'd suggest the yokohama may be a good tyre for the track day fans.

 

[Wills]

My gen2 came with PS2's as did both my M3s a very good tyre IMHO. I'm suprised to see other gen2's fitted with different tyres I thought Michelin were the current OEM for Porsche

 

[Alex L]

Yes, Michelin PS2's (N1) definitely seem the best performing tyre for the 911 (at a price). I certainly rate them very highly.

My OPC didn't have 4 new Michelin's though in stock, only 2. They had 4 new Pirelli's (N2) so I had to choose between replacing just the rears or all 4. The OPC initially quoted me £1400+ for the Pirelli's but I said last year I got a set of Michelin's for under £1000, so they called their supplier and I got the price knocked down to just above £1000 (not a bad saving for a bit of haggling!). So we shall see what these new Pirelli's handle like. This is the Pirelli N2 version description:

It is a ultra high performance tyre, technologically the most advanced.A tyre designed for the most prestigious OE fitments on premium new models.Another milestone in a continuous story of success. The new tread design offers superior handling and braking performance on both dry and wet surfaces.The new high grip compound with nano-composites in the perfect solution for an enhanced driving stability and sensitive steering control.Three wide longitudinal grooves ensure an high aquaplaning resistance, while the s-shaped sipesare deigned to reduce rolling noise.The external area with large, rigid blocks is the ideal support to exalt handling characteristics when driving on the limit.

@Gary - you say the wheel rims aren't protected as much with the Pirelli's for parking etc? I better watch that with my wheels!

 

[betternotbigger]

Hi

I had Bridgestone Potenzas on Carrera Classic 19s on my Cayman S which I found to be a good allrounder with excellent wear (over 15,000 on the rears even) but horrendously noisy!!

Recently I bought my new C2S which came with Michelin PS2s N1 and, not only are these a little quieter, but the grip levels in the wet are on a completely different planet (despite the 911 having a greater tendency than the Cayman to step out). I don' t care if these only last 10,000 miles - I wouldn't go back to Bridgestone. But I'd be delighted if someone were to recommend a tyre as good, but quieter still...

 

[Alex L]

OK so I did about an hours drive yesterday on M and A roads with the new Pirellis.

Some notes:

1) I think they are quieter than my old Michelin's and much much quieter than my old Bridgestones (if memory serves)

2) A little frisky grip wise, but that is probably due to less than 8 degC and that the tyres need a few hundred miles on them to set in

3) I aligned tyres to within 0.1psi, 34 fronts and 40 rears when cold. However when they warm up I am seeing 36 front, 42 rears on the TMPS dashboard. This may be because I am accustomed to nitrogen filled tyres and the OPC probably just used air. Think I will take down my local tyre shop and get them to put nitrogen back in. Of course it could be that these new tyres just get warmer than the Michelins did?!