Tyre choice - I know, it's that old chestnut again but....

topgearuk · Sep 8, 2005

Just as mbrands says, go round your car first with the fitter and you check with him the condition of the wheels then watch them change them, even kwikfit let you stand in the bays, it only takes 20 mins or so.

OGiii · Sep 8, 2005

Well I nipped in this morning to 'order' the Rosso N4's. It was actually so that I could have a look at the place before deciding whether to go ahead.

They had the front tyres (the guy I'd spoken to had gone ahead and ordered them anyway) so I decided to bite the bullet and get them fitted.

Saw the manager, checked they were going to balance on the inside not the outside and that there was no risk of them damaging the wheels, pointing out that they were all fine now!

They fitted them with no problems, using a torque wrench rather than an airgun, overall a perfectly satisfactory job. Just hope the back ones are OK when they do them next week!

Thanks for all the replies.

Cheers

Paul

mbrands · Sep 8, 2005

Cool. Sighs of relief all round..

I'm glad the first tranche went OK. And good choice on getting the Rossos.

bladeboy · Sep 25, 2005

Just about to change the rears on my 996 which as the moment has 285/30/18's on it.

Does anyone know if a 265 will fit as my theory is with a bit more side wall it will help ride comfort?

Anyone got and opinion?

Rotorhead · Sep 25, 2005

Depending on the aspect ratio, I think 265s might stiffen the side wall as they would be 'stretched' further. You would need to take advice on the options available to ensure that you maintained the same rolling circumference and adhered to the recommended N ratings.

To improve ride comfort (and arguably road handling) you would really need to go to a 17" wheel configuration.

On the standard suspension the 996 rides quite well on 18" Rossos, and it is permitted to reduce tyre pressures by around 10%.

Andyg400 · Sep 25, 2005

Paul,

Can you report on the Tires once you have run them ?

My 996C4 came with Dunlop N0 d9000, now the interesting bit... the car has now covered 35,500 miles and the ORIGINAL fronts only have the inner edge blatted and the rest now down the wear nobble.
The rears are on the 3rd set, so these last about 12,000 a pop, even with abuse from lights

BTW my car is a tip.

I will buy my tires from Elite, they seem to know what they are doing and were the guys with Red thing car on their stand at Porsche Fest.

Andy.

Thanks
Andy

OGiii · Sep 26, 2005

Got the rears fitted a couple of days later so they've been on for a couple of weeks now.

Overall I'm happy with them. There is much less understeer than there was. Basically they are as grippy as a very grippy thing.

Pressures were a couple of PSI light so I've just put them up to 36 and 44, can't say I've noticed much difference though.

Road noise is probably a little quieter than before but I don't notice any difference in the ride comfort.

The jury's out as to whether I like the P ZERO being printed on in Red though[

]

Rotorhead · Sep 26, 2005

ORIGINAL: OGiii

Got the rears fitted a couple of days later so they've been on for a couple of weeks now.

Overall I'm happy with them. There is much less understeer than there was. Basically they are as grippy as a very grippy thing.

Pressures were a couple of PSI light so I've just put them up to 36 and 44, can't say I've noticed much difference though.

Road noise is probably a little quieter than before but I don't notice any difference in the ride comfort.

The jury's out as to whether I like the P ZERO being printed on in Red though[]

It's interesting that you say you are experiencing less 'understeer'. More grip at the rear usually increases understeer.

I thought the recommended tyre pressures were too high for UK road use and was advised that 33 front and 39 rear were fine.

OGiii · Sep 26, 2005

I mean less understeer when comparing the 4 new tyres to the old ones. The old rears were still OK but probably didn't have that long left in them, the fronts were virtually on the wear marks and I think there lay the understeer issue!

I've read lots of different advice on tyre pressures so just stuck with those in the book. I;d be interested in different people's views.

Cheers

TopBear · Sep 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: OGiii

I'd never considered them damaging a wheel.....

I know Kwik Fit aren't considered to be top drawer but how hard can it be to change a tyre when you are doing it all day? Does anybody have any experience of them cocking up?

Thanks

Well not of cocking it up, conversly the opposite.
I popped in to my local KF centre yesterday as they had done a good job of replacing the rear tyres of my old Boxster, so was looking for them to fix a slow puncture on the 996 rear wheel.
The manager came out when the fitter was taking the wheel off and came out with the obligatory " it's worn away on the inside and is flat on the shoulder", however I advised him thats as its still legal acros 2/3 of the middle of the wheel, so not quite a panic situation yet.
The long and short of it was he wouldnt repair the puncture as in his opinion, it should be replaced due to some markingcreasing on the inside, indicating that the tyre has been run underinflated (which it has by about 4psi). However a chat with the fitter after the manager had gone confirmed my suspicion that he was trying to fleece me for new tyres a bit early, as he said it would have repaired it.

He quoted me what I think is a good price of £210 each for Michelin Pilot Sports 285/30/18 ZR N1 fitted, which is by far and away cheaper than anywhere else. He showed what me their buy price is on the computer screen, and what is there recommded price (£267). Obviously desperate for the business!!

Guest · Sep 27, 2005

i'm looking for 2 michi ps2 same size.... is that price availble at all kwikfits??

TopBear · Sep 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: chillo

i'm looking for 2 michi ps2 same size.... is that price availble at all kwikfits??

Mines arent just Pilot Sports, so that prices isnt for PS2's and I believe they are more expensive, but that price should be acheivable if you say you can get them 'somewhere else' at that price[

]

Guest · Sep 27, 2005

i've done a bit of digging and ps2's arent actually available at the moment? not sure why or if anyone else has heard this?
so pilot sports it is! especially at if i can get them for £210 each!!

but i tried my local kwik fit and they said they can do a pair at £500 but will 'price match'
is £210 correct? if it is can you pm me the number of the glasgow branch[

]

Andyg400 · Sep 27, 2005

ORIGINAL: garyw

Also to add check the Pirelli web site as they had a cashback offer if you registered and bought tyres within a certain period... I won a free driving experience at Thruxton from it.[]

garyw

Gary, I had a look could not see anything, was it hidden and you just found it, or was it on the home page ?

Thanks
Andy

Andyg400 · Sep 28, 2005

ORIGINAL: OGiii

Believe it or not, kwikfit.com are quoting £516.50 for the Rosso N4's, their quote is made up as follows

Make Model Tyre Size Price Quantity Total
Pirelli P zero Rosso N4 Porsche 225/40Z18 £146.00 01234567 x2 £292.00
Pirelli P zero Rosso N4 Porsche 265/35Z18 £173.00 01234567 x2 £346.00
25% Pirelli Tyre Discount £159.50
Valve and Balance £8.50 x 4 £34.00
Tyre Disposal Charge £1.00 x 4 £4.00

Total £516.50

From Elite Horsham, with PCGB discount, I have been quoted £610.10p, exactly the same config as above.[:'(]

garyw · Sep 28, 2005

ORIGINAL: andyuk99
Gary, I had a look could not see anything, was it hidden and you just found it, or was it on the home page ?

Thanks
Andy

Andy, it was on the home page, I only noticed it as I was looking for tyre sizes on the site, I think I may have linked to the Pirelli performance centre link...

garyw

Andyg400 · Sep 28, 2005

Thanks Gary.

Well for a set of Rosso N4's .. £488 inc VAT etc etc , from an alloy refurb place in kent

Email me and I will provide the details
Andy

TopBear · Sep 29, 2005

ORIGINAL: chillo

i've done a bit of digging and ps2's arent actually available at the moment? not sure why or if anyone else has heard this?
so pilot sports it is! especially at if i can get them for £210 each!!

but i tried my local kwik fit and they said they can do a pair at £500 but will 'price match'
is £210 correct? if it is can you pm me the number of the glasgow branch[]

I dont have PM access, perhaps its a 'full member' feature only!

Kwik-Fit Anniesland - 0870 999 7227 ask for Robert (manager)
My advice is probably to advise him that "your a friend of the guy with the 911 that came in with the puncture late on Monday night, that he wouldnt repair.", rather than just ask outright for his best price over the phone.

Dapster · Sep 29, 2005

ORIGINAL: OGiii

I'd never considered them damaging a wheel.....

I know Kwik Fit aren't considered to be top drawer but how hard can it be to change a tyre when you are doing it all day? Does anybody have any experience of them cocking up?

Thanks

I picked up a nail in the rear tyre of my last Boxster and had it repaired as the tyre was only about 2,000 miles old. A bit later in it's life I picked up another. I called the KF local to where I happened to be working at the time, agreed a fitted price for a pair of Conti Sport Contact N1's (as replacing just one would have been out of the questions) and turned up to have them fitted. Fitter took the wheel off and said "there's nothing wrong with this tyre - I can repair it without any issue. Z rates tyres can be repaired 3 times without a problem". So... he did a perfect job and charged me £12 or something rather than the £4 - 500 I was expecting to shell out. Result!

But generally...go to KF to have your Focus tyres fitted and somewhere a bit more savvy for your sports car.