Tyre choice - again

[colin129]

I know this is a well worn path...but...

I run an S2 and I have just found out that my usual PZero Asimetricos are no longer available in rear size 225/50 ZR16 N3. (Although they are in 205/55 ZR16 N3 fronts).

I therefore it looks like I have to change allround.

I would prefer to stick to Pirelli, as I have always been happy with the allround performance, but I have heard good things about Bridgestone S02 (have been quoted £192.13 for two rears, N3 rated). What would the Michelin 'default' choice be?

I am not likely to get excited about other manufacturers unless they are readily available and demonstrably better than Pirelli/Bridgestone/Michelin.

Help an experiences would be greatfully received and what about using a different make on the rear axel whilst I wait for a few months for the fronts to wear out?

 

[mik_ok]

Mytyres reckon they can have them within a week
CLICK HERE

May be worth a call.......

 

[danmason]

I had exactly this problem with my own rear tyres a couple of months back - I had been using Bridgestone S03s which proved to be stunning in all departments, but they've stopped making them in the correct size. I had been a little non-plussed with the S02s when I tried them before, and I've now ended up going for the S01s, which are superb I must say.

 

[colin129]

Thanks for your help, but I prefer not to have a pile of tyres turn up on the door step.

I haven't really got time, I need to go somewhere and get them fitted.

 

[mik_ok]

Meant to say - never used the S02 but they were very highly rated. They were however discontinued years ago, so any that you buy will have been sitting around for a good while.

 

[Diver944]

I've always been more than happy with Continental Contisports which are a readily available premium brand. Last year I started trying Kumho Ecsta 712s which are a budget brand and I really recommend them, just as good in every respect as a premium brand but half the price []

I've recently bought a new set of 17" wheels and they have Dunlops which so far feel a little loose (but its early days and the roads are slippy just now [] )

 

[DiamondDave944]

This is the same problem I had a couple of weeks ago (see "New Tyres" post on this forum).
I went with the new PZero Rosso Assims to replace the PZero's that I had fitted. The feel good and work with my PZero rears.
I went to quick fit to get them fitted, they got them next day and didnt cost that much more than internet suppliers.

 

[944turboS]

Where are the pictures of your shiny new wheels Paul?

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: 944turboS
Where are the pictures of your shiny new wheels Paul?

Well they're actually a second set of Boxster twists to go on to the S2. The original set will be destined for the Turbo when it returns. They need a small bit of paint, but I can't make up my mind what they will look like with the spokes painted Baltic Blue and the rim left silver.

 

[chrisr]

I run Michelin Pilot Sports on my 17's on the S2 and have always found them an excellant tyre if not a little on the pricey side..

Cheers
Chris

 

[colin129]

Been informed by my local tyre retailer (actually a Pirelli Performance Centre) that the S01 is not 'recommended' for the 944 but is a 968 tyre and they won't take responsibility if I stuff the car into a field!! [&:] But I'm willing to take that chance.[]

Been quoted a good price on Contisport, but I always had the idea that Continental tyres were not up to scratch, although admittedly that is an old prejudice.

Michelin FX is available, not the Pilot Sports.

The PZero Rosso is not actually N rated, I am currently running them on the front, although I have never been 100% happy with them compared to the N rated PZeros.

I'm erring towards the Bridgestones (thanks Dan)

 

[Melv]

SO2's still available as a new tyre from Wraysbury Tyres in Chertsey and Elite Tyres in Horsham.

I used to run Goodyear Eagles on my S2, but they balded prematurely in the middle of the rears at book pressures. Otherewise seemed sound on road and track and decent wear rate.

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: colin129

Been informed by my local tyre retailer (actually a Pirelli Performance Centre) that the S01 is not 'recommended' for the 944 but is a 968 tyre and they won't take responsibility if I stuff the car into a field!! [&:] But I'm willing to take that chance.[]

Been quoted a good price on Contisport, but I always had the idea that Continental tyres were not up to scratch, although admittedly that is an old prejudice.

Michelin FX is available, not the Pilot Sports.

The PZero Rosso is not actually N rated, I am currently running them on the front, although I have never been 100% happy with them compared to the N rated PZeros.

I'm erring towards the Bridgestones (thanks Dan)

Sorry, but that's just nonsense. How on earth can a tyre suit a model that was a very subtle evolution of the 944, but not the 944 to the point they imply it's danegrous? Idiots.

 

[colin129]

ORIGINAL: Fen
Sorry, but that's just nonsense. How on earth can a tyre suit a model that was a very subtle evolution of the 944, but not the 944 to the point they imply it's danegrous? Idiots.

I'm with you, also, from a previous thread, had N ratings been invented when the 944S2 was around?

Guess everyone needs to cover themselves in these days of litigation. [8|]

 

[mik_ok]

ORIGINAL: Melv

SO2's still available as a new tyre from Wraysbury Tyres in Chertsey and Elite Tyres in Horsham.

As stated above - Mytyres are still selling them too (and S-01).

As far as I'm aware however, Bridgestone discontinued the S-02 circa 2002 (and S-01 before that). I'm not suggesting these will therefore be dangerous - simply that you probably want to be aware of the fact.

Most (all?) tyres have a date code on them (4-digit week number / year of manufacture).

 

[Guest]

Seems strange they aren't available any more. A few of the websites still list them (inc kwik-fit if you don't want them to arrive on your doorstep). Is it a question that the N-rating has been updated to a N4 or something? Maybe they've given up on the n-rated 16" tyre size as no new Porsches use that size?

Give pirelli a ring and see what they say. I'm sure they'll reccomend something that'll be acceptable. It may be that they just don't have stock at the moment (I know they ran out of my size just before X-mas), rather than discontinuing them.

We also found out in Dave's thread that you can mix N-ratings on a car, but only front to rear, not side to side.

It would seriously P me off to find out I had to spend on a set of tyres rather than a pair just because of an aftermarket raing system amyway!

 

[944Turbo]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

I've always been more than happy with Continental Contisports which are a readily available premium brand. Last year I started trying Kumho Ecsta 712s which are a budget brand and I really recommend them, just as good in every respect as a premium brand but half the price []

I've recently bought a new set of 17" wheels and they have Dunlops which so far feel a little loose (but its early days and the roads are slippy just now [] )

I find my rear dunlops (SP9000) a bit loose as well but very controlable, flatering my driving (they seem to get to a certain slip angle and slide no further) SO2's I found held longer but let go much more suddenly.

Tony

 

[sawood12]

Sorry to bring this old chestnut up again but I am under the impression that each of the N# ratings have been developed with specific Porshce models in mind therefore the modern N rated tyres havn't been specifically developed for the 944 so are not necessarily valid. You would have to go to an earlier N rating (which are probably out of production or would be very difficult to find) to get one that has been homologated for the 944. It's on this basis that I didn't bother with shopping round for N rating when I changed my tyres last time. Putting a modern N rated tyre on a 944 would be like putting an N rated tyre on a non-Porsche car. Having said that I've not noticed much of a price difference between an N-rated tyre and it's non-N-Rated equivalent (only £6 per tyre last time I checked) so you could argue you may as well have them than not - i'm sure they wont be detrimental to the handling of the car.

By the way the Teledials which were on my car previously were shod with Toyo Proxes which felt very good especially in the dry. When I changed to my current Boxter twisits I shod them with Continental Contisports (non-N rated) which I have no gripes with at all. They offer up as much grip as i've asked them for so far, feel very secure in the wet and under heavy braking and are fairly cheap - just under £100 a corner incl vat and fitting. Granted i've not got much to compare them to on my 944 but I had both Bridgestones and Conti's on my previous car and the Conti's felt every bit as good as the Bridgestones, lasted much longer and were cheaper.

 

[Diver944]

Absolutely spot on Scott []

 

[Guest]

The difference I noticed was that N rated tyres are Z-speed rated, and non-N's are Y-speed rated. What difference on English roads that is, I guess is nothing, but on Trackdays and Autobahns, it might make some difference. Maybe it was just specific to the pirelli 18's I was after, but......