Tyre Availability

[Buddy]

I have driven Porsches for about 15 years and am used to having to search for tyres around local suppliers but the searching is usually limited to trying a couple of dealers and taking the best price/delivery date since they are rarely a stock item. But now many of our members who have the latest optional size tyres ( mostly 19" ) will have found that there are none to be had which are Porsche N rated.

But it is one thing paying high prices and another when there is no availability.

For whatever reason there seems to be a Porsche tyre drought, the tyre manufacturers seem unconcerned as when I called Continental to try to find out when they would have tyres available their customer services guy suggested I buy a set of another brand? I thought a German company would be efficient enough to follow the trends of orders/usage etc including putting a loading in for some times of the year when punctures or more miles are being covered, apparently not.

I am told that Michelin are stating that they will be delivering against back orders about 20th Feb!

I would suggest that it's about time that the other big name tyre manufacturers start to have their tyres Porsche rated too! Maybe it's that Porsche need to ask them if they will allow them to rate their products, whatever, we need tyres.

If more tyre choices were available we would not be so dependent on these companies.

Maybe then the two mentioned would not be so complacent.

There is the concern of course that having no spare wheel we can end up stranded having to get our cars sent on a truck to the dealer and waiting for weeks.

 

[carrera7]

Unfortunately this seems to be an ongoing problem. I have been aware of previous shortages for the Boxter/Caymen and last year I was made aware of shortages of 19inch tyres for the 997. I have a contact at Pirelli so if you let me know your size i will see what the position is with them. Also Porsche should be made aware of this situation. RO

 

[Helen Goff]

problems getting tyres?? I never have, on any of cars.

Try Jeff Fowkes, Station Road, Ibstock LE67 6JJ Tel: 01530 263111. i have never had to wait more than 24 hours ad his prices are very competative. (he gives PCGB members discount)

 

[smallspeed]

there is a bit of a rubber shortage at the moment (and for the last 18mo to 2yrs) which is totally killing people who try to buy "odd ball" tyres. I work in the construction equipment industry and our supply of tyres has been really sparodic for the last couple of years. Apparently tyre manufacturers are using the rubber they have available to first and foremost produce their bread and butter product lines meaning there is a shortage of less common sizes and types of tyre, for example ag./construction tyres, N3 rated tyres, etc..

I really struggled to buy a pair of rear tyres for my car last summer, and ended up getting a pair delivered from a company in the north east (north east tyres I think, found them on ebay). At the same time I got a call from a company in Loughborough (speedy tyre?) who had a pair of p-zero's in stock (which I wanted to match my fronts).

I also spoke to a guy called jeff fowkes (http://www.fowkesauto.com) near my work who spent about a week trying to find tyres for me.. He seems a decent guy and a few people at work used him for tyres for an elie, subaru impreza and a lancer evo 8 when they were struggling and he came up trumps.. I think my main problem was I wanted a specific tyre and no one could find any.. 255/45/17 p-zero rosso's seem to be as rare as hen's teeth!

I also got a good response from A1 Autocentre in wigston who were really helpful, and came up with a few alternatives.. good price too..

Hope some of these help you out..

ben

 

[carrera7]

I have contacted Porsche and they are aware of the situation and are trying their best to resolve the matter, however it does seem that they are not at the top of the manufacturers list when it comes to supplying customers.

 

[Buddy]

The tyres on my car have done less than 5000 miles and one has been damaged when someone hit the wheel so it was wheel tyre and suspension damage with scuffs and scratches to one wing and the bumper. So the car is in the Porsche approved bodyshop and they with Porsche are trying to find me tyres as the wear on the tyres would be uneven it means replacing the rear pair or a full set but it's the availability that is the problem especially having no spare of any kind as even Porsche assist have nothing to help. Maybe we need to keep a second set of wheels, just in case.

 

[smallspeed]

i think its probably easy to blame porsche/kwik-fit/whoever in this situation for not having tyres, etc., but the problem is at the tyre manufacturers not being able to get materials to manufacture the tyres in the first place.. we are currently selling machines with used tyres just so we can get them out the door; its been going on for some time now, and about time it got sorted!..

hopefully you can sort something out.. have you tried giving jeff fowkes a ring? he managed to find some for me when others couldn't (although I already found some for myself by then). He rang around just about everyone he knew and only came up with one pair..

ben

 

[Buddy]

I called Jeff Fowkes earlier and they had a pair so I have now got onto the bodyshop to get them now waiting for a call back, anxiously....

Fingers Crossed!!

Kevan

 

[smallspeed]

glad he managed to sort you out

ben

 

[jason]

That's nothing....you try and find these...!

225/50x 15 (front) & 285/40x15 (rear) Yokohamas (but the exact same tread pattern is not available in both sizes)

or

18/60-15 or 23/62-15 (front) & 26/61-15 (rear) Michelin TB 15's

 

[Buddy]

Jason is that because they don't make those sizes in the same treads, I don't think that Porsche have ever approved Yoko's sorry on the Michelin TB's I'm unfamiliar with them.

My point is that Porsche and others now sell cars with no spare, ok, how often do you get a puncture, but when you have no get home spare available you can be stuck. The break down people have no spare and then there are no new tyres available all when Porsche state on their own website for all of the UK centres tyre programme, availability guaranteed. They should at least cover the current range and those which can have extended warranty.( up to 10 years ) it simply means that when tyre manufacturers see that their stocks against a size in a type have reduced to a set level they instigate or prioritise a production run rather than banging out another 10000 175x13's or whatever will sit on the shelf until it perishes. Distribution is another problem in that due to our choice of car the tyre sizes are not yet common. On the other hand, I saw a Vauxhall Viva HC a few days ago, I bet he has difficulty getting tyres for that these days!

 

[jason]

No they are for 9x15 and 11x15 fuchs for a 1973 2.8RSR!!!

 

[Black80XSA]

The UK law says you on only have to supply parts for a vehicle for up to 20years after its last manufactured - there is no ruling for tyres - those sizes aren't exactly run of the mill nowadays, your options will always be limited , and decreasing year by year i would imagine !

 

[jason]

I know. I was just being humorous.[&:][&o][]

 

[smallspeed]

sound like the same as the ones I have on my grand cherokee!.. try geoff fowkes, and if the rumors are true and you brought a 2.8rsr/rep prepare for an email begging for a ride []