Tyres - Which & where?

[mikecolquhoun]

I am sure there were some threads on tyre choices and good places, but my search didn't find them so ....

Which is the best tyre to choose? Michelin Pilot is I guess the best?

Where is the best place in the South East to buy them?

Looking for pair of 205/50 ZR 17 and 255/40 ZR 17 ... anyone got any price indicators?

 

[Melv]

Try Wraysbury Tyres at Chertsey, 01784 490065 -Steve or Kevin -mention my name. Been using them for yers and always competitive. See www.wraysbury-tyres.co.uk. I 've got my own page there!!!

Choice? Depends on your parameters. Road only? Track? Hard wearing/less grip/high mileage; softer tyre/more grip/less mileage? Noise an issue?

Tell us more!!

Reckon on £500-800 per set, depending on type.

Melv

 

[mikecolquhoun]

Really I am just an allrounder, I am not hard on tyres. Bit concerned about hold as lost it once coming out of turn and it had a 'moment' ... I like grip on cornering. Not a high mileage driver. Noise, at the mo I have Continentals and they are okay noise wise but they don't feel quite all that ... dunno how to explain that.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Try the Pirelli P Zero Rosso's - heard lots of good things about them.

Other Tyre Sources - Elite Tyres just outside of Horsham. Say you are a club member and you will get a good deal (Ask for Dave or Richard).

 

[jleo]

Although its a bit of a drive from Chislehurst (my area as well) I would recommend Micheldever down the M3 from Basingstoke. They have recently replaced the same size tyres for me (Michelin Sports, N1 compound) for 275 for fronts and 310 for rears. Be suprised if you will beat that price and service was very good! You can find them on the web, ask about premier service.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ask about premier service

OK, I'll ask!

What is it? Does it get you to the head of the queue on a Saturday?

 

[jleo]

Its better than that - you call them up and pre-book a time! Have dedicated service bay for 'premier' cars with 16ins rims and above so you don't join the queue! Probably trying to boost business in this market, worth a go but you will have to register by phone in advance. Tel 01962 774437

 

[Rodney Naghar]

http://www.mytyres.co.uk
Seriously cheap. Eg Michelin Pilot Sports 205 17inch for £128.60 inclusive of Vat and delivery. They give ratings for most of the tyres, so you can compare and contrast all the major brands, and choose what you like, ie better grip in the wet lower road noise etc.

 

[tim court]

I have previously used Bracknell Tyres and Micheldever Tyres. Very little in price between them. I usually trade one off against the other to get the best deal.

I got a full set of 18" dia whatevers for my 996 C4 - Michelins valves balanced and fitted (and torqued!) for £626 inc vat. on Xmas eve last year. Farnham Tyres quoted £750 odd!! All N rated natch!

Bracknell quoted about £605 but needed a couple of days to get stock.

 

[Mike Butler]

Just to add my 2 cents..... Don't get Michelin Pilot Sport Cups if you intend to drive in the rain (ie in the UK)..... Just bought myself a set of winter tires! (P-Zero Rosso)...

Cheers,

Mike

 

[evoke]

I think the standard fit for new Boxsters is Michelin Pilot Sports (N-Rated). These are very slippery in the rain! Superb on dry roads though. They also have a rim-guard on them although I still managed to scuff one of my alloys recently!

 

[Mark_Bennett]

It depends - I'm not sure what the criteria is as to what tyres you get, but they have at least 3 different tyres fitted as standard:

Pirelli PZero
Michelin Pilot Sports
Continental

They have not standardised on any one.

 

[ashley]

My car had Dunlop sports fiited as standard on the 18" carrera rims

 

[Ian Gilmour]

My 203 Boxster S came with Yokohamas on the 18" carerra rims.

Recently had 2 Michelin Pilot Sports (18") fitted on the wife's company Golf at Kwik Fit (have to use them under the terms of the lease). Manager said he would do the equivalent tyres on the Boxster for £180 all in. Same sized Pirellis would be £150. Apparently Kwik Fit now has a different owner - Tom Farmer sold out - and individual managers seem to have more discretion when deciding prices. I know they're not the obvious first choice but might be worth checking out to give you a benchmark.

I have used Micheldever before but living "oop north" had to buy via mail order and get them fitted locally which was a bit of a pain but the prices were good. That was for yokohama A008Ps on my old 911 SC.

 

[Guest]

Has anyone tried Goodyear Eagle F1's ? Was thinking of fitting a set.

They seem popular on other performance cars.
A good balance of wet and dry grip.

Any comments on how these cope on the Boxster appreciated.

 

[Melv]

Terrific on my 944 S2 some years ago,.

Melv

 

[Guest]

I aslo had Goodyear Eagle F1s - on a 3.2 Carrera and they were excellent, especially in the wet.

As for 17" Boxster - I have Pirelli P Zero Rosso's and find them excellent for most things. Good dry grip, excellent wet grip (just survived a track day at Silverstone when it was peeing down) and low noise. Wear rate is also very good.

I used Denmead (nr Southampton) and they did 4 N3 rated tyres for 580 which included 4 wheel alignment to my settings. Very pleased with the service and the car drove very well afterwards. Number is 023 9225 5955 if you are interested.

 

[mikecolquhoun]

So how much is alignment? I have no idea what my settings should be ... I suppose by doing track days you find these things out?

The Bridgestone seems to be a general favourite closely followd by Rossos ... anyhow the list is, in order of MY (semi-elightened) preference:

Bridgestone so3 n3
Pirelli Roosos n3
Micehlin Pilot spt n2
Continental spt n2

BUT I have Continentals on the car right now and I have had the back swing out on a corner, damp conditions. Anyone have a view on this list?

I have to say the information that I have been able to assemble has made me a wiser buyer, but on the downside it has made me more questioning! It is good to know that there is the knowledge out there and, more importantly, you share it[

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Mike,

I've paid typically £150 for a proper alignment to be done. Takes about 2-3 hours.
Nic published his recommended track settings in a recent Porsche Post - in the Boxster Register section. It is worth setting the car up to these.

Concerned to hear the Continentals doing this - I have recently bought a second set of wheels with delivery milage Continentals on. I don't really want to be replacing them with Rosso's before I have to!

 

[Guest]

I had 17" Contis on my daily drive (not a porsche) after 4 sets of SO2s . Found the reduction in grip in the dry substantial and for wet use they were awful..still they did last around 15,000 longer than my best set of SO2s so I guess what you lose in performance you get back in wear. Got a set of Goodyear GSD3s, not Porsche fitment, which is a shame because I can now go around corners in the wet like I used too!