Tyre choice for early 2.5 Boxster

[kumaram]

All advice will be gratefully received.

My 1996 Boxster 2.5 Tiptronic has done just over 20K miles on its original factory fitted Continentals and the rear (225/50 R15 Z) needs urgent replacing. The front (205/55 R15 Z) are probably alright for another 2-3K. I am not sure if they have N designation - not sure if they were specially rated by Porsche way back in 1996.

I have done the usual searches with tyre bays, blackcircle etc and discovered that Continental Sport Contact 225/50 R16 W (92) available for the rear is not N rated. Fronts Tyres' are Porsche N1 rated. Has anyone else experienced this situation and opted to go with it - If so was the experience good?

Alternately anyone care to suggest other brands. N rated or otherwise that might suite my rim size.

I hear good things about Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 - however not Porsche approved by N designation. Anyone opted for these?

All comments and advise gratefully received.

The situation is slightly urgent as my MOT has just expired.

Thanks in advance

Kumar

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I'd be suprised if it's on 15" wheels - the 16" further in your post is the right size []

Continental are no longer produceing Porshce approved "N" tyres, so it would probably be sensible to replae all 4 as when you cometo replace the fronts you won't find any contis.

If you can find Michelins Ithink you'll be very happy (if..) Or Pirelli/Bridgestone seem to get good reports.

 

[kumaram]

Thank you for correcting my mistake Mark, you are quiet correct.my rims are 16.

I am now looking at alternative
Michelin Pilot MXXX3 N2 or Bridgestone Potenza S02 Pole Position N3.

Should I anticipate handling problems switching just the rear tyres to one of the above for now and stick with the existing fronts for a few K's. .

Also reverting back to Conti argument, does it really matter replacing with non Porsche approved (i.e. no 'N' designation) but correctly sized performance tyres?

Thanks again.

Kumar

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Tricky questions...

You really shouldn't mix tyre makes front-rear, although I'm sure I remember John Bond saying he had with no ill effects. Maybe some combinataions wouold work, but others might be lethal.

Likewise the N-rated tyres ARE tuned to the Porsche specifically. I see no reason that non-N tyres should not work, however as the manual says you should use them this might be a get-out for any insurance company that wanted to avoid a payout in the event of a claim.[&:]

I'd personally recommend following the recommendations, even if from the Club's point of view I can hardly recommend anyone go against them either...

 

[colinbythesea]

As a new owner of a 2.7 I am just getting used to what I have bought and am making a list of the jobs. Apart from it surviving a roof tile falling on the hood in the storms diverting attention from the jobs in hand, one of the future issues is tyres. At the moment it runs on the tyres the previous owner had fitted. Fronts are N rated Continentals as they should be but the rear has a new fitting of Falkens! They don't have any N's on but are correctly rated for the speed of the car. It looks like they were fitted to get it through an MOT before the last owner changed his car. I have yet to challenge the cars limits, and it seems so grippy I wonder if I will. The car is stable and has no funny habits around corners. It was jumpy when I got it but I found the tyres over inflated so fixed that. It does have traction control to rein in any bad tyre habits as well.

I would recommend getting all proper N rated tyres but can confirm inferior tyres are not a disaster.

 

[Black80XSA]

Given the age of the original front tyres i suggest you replace all 4 - they are 12 years old after all !!

Bridgestone SO2 are a great tyre - give excellent grip wet or dry, fairly quiet and a comfy ride. Michelins will outlast them, but this isn't your priority !


You could go for something without N rating if you wanted to - there will no doubt be queries regarding complying with insurance etc etc, but on a 12 year old car i don't see it unreasonable to be on non factory rated tyres. Goodyear Eagle F1 with the V groove pattern are excellent tyres.

You should be able to get 4 Bridgestones fitted for under £430, maybe £400 for goodyears ?

Also look at kwik fit - they often have 25% off for 4 bridgestones

 

[GOOFY]

Hi

The "official" view is that all (4) tyres should be the same N number rated and they should all be the same make. I believe non N-rated may affect insurance, or anything that conflicts with what is in the handbook. If you go through the Forum you will see many eaxmples of issues where handling problems has arisen when tyre brands were mixed etc. Personally in your situation I would get all 4 changed to a a new set of good quality N rated specs.
Recently attended a talk by OPC tyre supplier and he advised tyres not more than 5 years old, and good spec N rated all round. (Never thought I would find a talk on tyres interesting...now where's that anorak.)

 

[DavidB]

I had Eagle F1 GSD3s on my Impreza WRX and the wet weather grip was stunning - in the dry, with the 4wd, anything would have been good.

No idea what they'd be like on a Boxster though, and they're certainly not N rated.

Mark, you say Contis are no longer N rated? I have a brand new Boxster S loan car at the moment fitted with N0 rated Contis - are they just using up existing stock?

Cheers

David

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I understand Continental are no longer producing tyres for Porsche. You can see the date the tyre was produced if you like - look for a 4 digit number on the sidewall - it's the week and year that the tyre was made []

 

[Black80XSA]

ORIGINAL: DavidB

Mark, you say Contis are no longer N rated? I have a brand new Boxster S loan car at the moment fitted with N0 rated Contis - are they just using up existing stock?

Cheers

David

Yes thats right - there are cars int he showroom unsold that have Continentals fitted, and no hope of getting replacements any more - pity help the poor souls that buy up these cars.

 

[DavidB]

Quite! Glad my own car (which I now have back after 5 weeks at Bodytechnics!) has Pilot Sports on it.

 

[Glyn]

My previous Boxster was 2.5 and i fitted GSD3s- they are absolutly brilliant in the wet and dry - superb- no other tyre i have used performed as good as these, however on snow they are dangerous, no grip whatsover even slight gradients the car would not stop, I used to change from the 17 inchers with GSD3s to the original 16 inch with Pirellis if we had snow.
In Leicestershire though we seem to be protected from the extreems of weather and if we get snow its gone by lunchtime.
Personally i would not fit the GSD3s again but only because of the snow issues as i use my car everyday and will sacrifice some performance to be able to cope with all weathers (staying at home when snow falls is not an option and getting the Bus is completly out of the question, even though i have a bus stop at the end of my garden, just hate public transport)


Regarding the N rating.

I hear stories about whether or not using non approved Porsche tyre would affect insurrance, however i cant find anyone who has experienced a problem with fitting non N rated.
A tyre sold by a retailer must be of merchantable quality - they must be fit for purpose, providing you have the correct speed rating then there should be no issues, indeed the law places an obligation on a business to ensure they fit correct tyres.
The everyday man is not expected to be a tyre expert, you take your car in for new tyres and they should only fit the correct and legally compliant product, if they fit agricultural tyres or wrong speed rated tyres then litigation can be taken against the company as they remain culpable.
Obviously things are a little different if the retailer tells you your tyre choice is not legal or advise against the fitting and you override that advice - then you assume responsibility.
I believe the N rating to be just marketing hype by Porsche, and of course this action is very sucessful for Porsche as majority of owners are not that strapped for cash, they want the best car and the best products fitted to it so they pay the premium for those "approved" tyres.

 

[kumaram]

In the end I happened on Conti N1's at a north london tyre supplier (Wembmbley Tyres) and hope it will last another 20K's at least.before I have to think tyres again.

Thanks very much every one for your considered advise.

Cheers.

kumar