Last Time I got tyres for my 996 I only (!) needed the rears..up front were Bridgestones so I matched those. This time I'm much luckier in the sense that I need all four..so I can choose any brand. I've been perfectly happy with the Bridgestones apart from the fact that they have lasted around 7,000 miles. Lewis Hamilton gets more than that, and I'm a much better driver than he is. Am I expecting too much? Unlike Mr Hamilton I don't bother with track days, so grip on the limit isn't the most important criterion - and, unlike Mr Hamilton, I will be expected to contribute lots in VAT, so getting better wear is. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Tyre choice (brand, not whether they are a good idea!)
- Thread starter Eduardo
- Start date
I have never fitted Bridgestones, so I can't comment on those. I have had Pirelli P-Zeros, Continentals and Michelin PS2s.
Out of the three I've had, in terms of wear, I would rate them:
1. Michelin
2. Pirelli
3. Continenal
In terms of grip, I thought the Pirellis and Michelins were similar. The Continentals were not quite as good.
Cheers,
Neil.
Out of the three I've had, in terms of wear, I would rate them:
1. Michelin
2. Pirelli
3. Continenal
In terms of grip, I thought the Pirellis and Michelins were similar. The Continentals were not quite as good.
Cheers,
Neil.
colinb1
New member
My recommendation, as I said on the phone... is Michelin Sports. N Rated. I had Pirelli P Zeros on before and they felt very hard and twitchy to me. The Michelin Sports have made such a difference. I think I've done more than 7,000 miles on them too.
I paid just over £700 for the four. National Tyres. They gave me a deal where they knocked 25% off if I bought four at the same time.
I'd be interested to know how much others have paid for a full set of tyres.
BTW - My local OPC offered to put the same tyres on my car for £1400 +VAT. When I pointed out that that seemed excessive I was told they would knock 10% off for being in the PCGB.
I paid just over £700 for the four. National Tyres. They gave me a deal where they knocked 25% off if I bought four at the same time.
I'd be interested to know how much others have paid for a full set of tyres.
BTW - My local OPC offered to put the same tyres on my car for £1400 +VAT. When I pointed out that that seemed excessive I was told they would knock 10% off for being in the PCGB.
chriscoates81
New member
Your'e in the same boat as me then i guess with 17" wheels and theres only a choice of 5 tyres that are N rated.
My 996 Cab, came originally with Continental ... just due to replace, and have spent some time on the interweb comparing prices etc. Best Deal turned out to be at my servicing Independent. .... Also having the wheels refurbished at same time so all will look great. Costs: Conti Rears £268, Fronts £232 includes fitting etc and road testing. BTW the alloy refurbs £45.00 ea. Image
There does seem to be a lot of 'haggle space' with tyres; my rears needed replacing and I was looking around for a few weeks for competetive pricing.
In the end, 2 weeks ago my indy charged me £218 each for Conti N2 SC2 285/35/Z18's including balancing, fitting, valves, VAT etc. Added another £200 for a full geo alignment and the car is riding so much better!
The Conti's may be a compromise but I couldn't afford all 4 and the fronts are still good!
In the end, 2 weeks ago my indy charged me £218 each for Conti N2 SC2 285/35/Z18's including balancing, fitting, valves, VAT etc. Added another £200 for a full geo alignment and the car is riding so much better!
The Conti's may be a compromise but I couldn't afford all 4 and the fronts are still good!
chriscoates81
New member
I just had a quick look on a few websites, and i cant find any ps2's on any of them. Have they stopped making them with the arrival of the ps3's?
Diesel130
New member
I think they are getting difficult to find, but it looks like ... Elite in Rainham have them
Also Camskill appear to have 18" fronts, but not rears.
HTH
Have you tried your local OPC - it appears that some of them are getting a lot more negotiable with pricing ?
Although more expensive than the prices you're looking at & definitely not targetted at the low wear rate end of the market, I managed to get ~30% discount on a set of 18 inch Pirelli P Zero Corsas from 1 of my local OPCs !
They stated that they were willing to price match against other local suppliers & then accepted the challenge with good grace when I told them my alternative quotes.
For anyone interested, the tyres have phenomal grip in the dry & wet. Grip not so good in the very cold period just before X-Mas & they are probably noisier than the "standard" Pirelli P Zeros I had previously. On the last set I got ~9,000 miles including a couple of track days @ Curborough in the Midlands that definitely were not kind to the tyres. The current set appear to be lasting in a similar way.
My previous Pirelli P Zero Rossos wouldn't die - grip was occasionally borderline in the wet, but the rears were still legal after 15,000 miles on the back & 4 track days. I sometimes thought they must have been a "bad batch" as so many other people talked about much lower mileages & better grip.
Conclusion : Check out your local OPC& give them a challenge !
PS They also appear to have priority when tyres are in scarce supply
Paul
2004 C2 40th Anniversary
Although more expensive than the prices you're looking at & definitely not targetted at the low wear rate end of the market, I managed to get ~30% discount on a set of 18 inch Pirelli P Zero Corsas from 1 of my local OPCs !
They stated that they were willing to price match against other local suppliers & then accepted the challenge with good grace when I told them my alternative quotes.
For anyone interested, the tyres have phenomal grip in the dry & wet. Grip not so good in the very cold period just before X-Mas & they are probably noisier than the "standard" Pirelli P Zeros I had previously. On the last set I got ~9,000 miles including a couple of track days @ Curborough in the Midlands that definitely were not kind to the tyres. The current set appear to be lasting in a similar way.
My previous Pirelli P Zero Rossos wouldn't die - grip was occasionally borderline in the wet, but the rears were still legal after 15,000 miles on the back & 4 track days. I sometimes thought they must have been a "bad batch" as so many other people talked about much lower mileages & better grip.
Conclusion : Check out your local OPC& give them a challenge !
PS They also appear to have priority when tyres are in scarce supply
Paul
2004 C2 40th Anniversary
Eduardo, I'm surprised at your comments on low mileage from Bridgestones? I am getting close to needing to replace my rears (S02's, 3mm remaining) having just covered 15,000+ mls on them. The original rears also covered same mileage. Fronts are slightly better. The car is used everyday so gets a real variety of use - local and motorway. I find the grip excellent on them also - particularly in the wet.
Ashley
Ashley
That is really impressive on a Turbo S.
chriscoates81
New member
Ive got p zero rossos on the back of mine. They where new on when i bought the car last august and ive done around 5000 miles and they're about half worn at 5 mil. I change my tyres at 3 so im guessing ill get around 10000 out of them.
Diesel130
New member
err.. but from that list, neither 225/40/18 nor 265/35/18's are going to be available with the Pilot Super Sports! So, all of us on 17" and 18" wheels will be left to non-Michelin choices once the PS2 stock runs out...
P.S. (to Alex). Have taken my 996 to Norway twice - great roads you have there inland ;-). In fact my thumbnail pic was taken on the quayside in Arendal...
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