Winter Tyres on a 718 with Carrera S 20s

[oneblacktree]

Happy New year to all PCGB Members.

I am struggling with a little bit of a dilemma on Winter tyres and wondered if I could gather the thoughts of what other Cayman owners have done.

i am soon to take delivery of a new Aventurine Green 718 with Carrera S 20s in Jet Black Metallic and have been looking for winter tyres but the situation has proven difficult.

My preference is to have winter tyres fitted to my original wheels at a local tyre retailer who will store the summers for me. The reason for my preference is two fold.
1. Practical - I don’t have anywhere to store a set of wheels. So a local tyre hotel is a perfect option. Plus not sure I will keep the car for much longer 12 months.
2. Emotional - I don’t really want to take the lovely Carrera S wheels off straight away after I’ve just specced the car exactly how I want it to be.

The issues i am facing are

1. N Rated Winter tyres aren’t available in the size required for the Carrera S 20s. I can get the fronts 235/35 but not a N rated rear on 265/35. Both Pirelli and Michelin are the same. They both offer non N rated 265/35.

2. Not a huge fan of the 18 or 19 inch Porsche Winter Wheel/Tyre Sets.

3. Availability of winter tyres seems to be in short supply….no surprises in the current climate.

So ideally wanting just tyres… what are your thoughts on a non N rated rear tyres? What have others done on these popular wheels for winter.

My other thought has been to purchase a set of the 18s or 19s wheels and winter tyres from ebay and have them sprayed Neodyme .. just so they look a bit different and helps get over my emotional problem….assuming I can find someone to store my other wheels.

Cheers for your input..

 

[Twinfan]

Unless you're in an area that regular has temperatures below freezing I'm not sure winter tyres are needed in the UK.

My wife and I run Michelin PS4Ss over winter on a Focus RS and a GT4 and they're fine. If fully icy take super care until you get to gritted roads or take a taxi. She runs them all year round, I swap to Cup2s for summer.

 

[AndrewCS]

Winter Tyres on a 718 with Carrera S 20s

Welcome ...

Whilst a staunch supporter / user of Winter tyres on a daily vehicle, if you can be conditions - selective with your 718 use then I`d follow Twinfan`s advice. It`s what I have done / do with my Cayman`s

 

[oneblacktree]

Thanks Twnfan….yeah, good point.. I could leave the summers on. I was thinking I’d see what traction is like in cold conditions first.

 

[oneblacktree]

Cheers,

Well with Work From Home still likely for the next few months then it will get little use anyway. It will be my daily driver and I live in an area that doesn’t get gritted and my house is at the top of a pretty steep single track road.

But let’s see what its like on the summers

 

[Motorhead]

Jason,

Just one point if you do decide to purchase used wheels. Make sure that they have the correct offset for your 718 because Porsche often use the same design for the 911 but with a different offset.

Jeff

 

[oneblacktree]

Thanks Jeff, yeah i noticed that when I started to look at them The other day. it’s a shame.

Even the 19s from the 981 are different although they have same offset - 9.5J compared to the 718 which is 10J

 

[KenDavis71]

Hi Jason,

I had a similar dilemma but as my car will be a daily, decided to go for winter wheels which I purchased used from a 718 owner. I also struggle for space but found this storage dolly (link below) which allows the wheels to be stacked and easy to move around, it also has useful storage for the wheel bolts if you require a different colour second set.

WHEEL TYRE STORAGE TRANSPORT DOLLY (MD05) garage workshop mechanic home | eBay.

 

[Scrounger]

I would be very careful of swapping over tyres each time, twice a year. Every swap will require the wheels & tyres to be balanced meaning the old weights removed and the risk of marking the wheels doubles.

I have a set of 18 inch winters from Porsche which I haven't put on just yet due to the rather warm spell we've been having and, from previous experience, a set of winters can be sold on when the time comes for almost what you paid for them if the tread depth is still good. Just to add the 18's will fit over the larger brakes on the S and easily over the Base brakes. As a daily driver and if driven spiritedly during the winter then a set of winters is a good option especially if your area is prone to high snowfall or heavy frost. In the city, I wouldn't bother as the temps would rarely drop that low. Admittedly the 18's aren't the prettiest of wheels but they serve a purpose and they have got me out of some tricky situations back in winter '20 so for me, well worth the money.

Dan

 

[oneblacktree]

Hi Ken, I like the storage dolly. Makes a lot of sense. One of my friends has offered to store my wheels for me. So if I can one of these then he can move them around if needed. This could be a good answer.

Many Thanks Ken

 

[oneblacktree]

Hi Scrounger, I think you make a really good point about swapping wheels over and potential damage that can cause.

I live near the peak district so prone to the odd bit of snow and cold weather. Although I’ve looked at the February forecast and appears to be mild and not a lot of rain.

That said I’m coming around to the idea of winter wheels now. I do like to drive spiritedly so probably worth the investment in the wheels. I think the 18s look nicer than the 19s and there are a few sets on eBay so might go an take the plunge on a set.

cheers for the input.

 

[ERICA D]

I live in the Peak District and run both cars (the other is a Kia sportage) I have on winter tyres - I don't run N rated tyres on the porsche though - just "normal" tyres and it's not an issue - this year I decided to buy some second hand wheels as I've noticed that changing the tyres over causes occasional scratches and they then need rebalancing etc, and it becomes faffy! I'd always recommend winter tyres if you live near the Peaks as it's lots safer - they are designed to run better at 7c or less and the stopping distance is vastly improved. I have nowhere to store my porsche over winter so she has to be run at least weekly to stop the battery dying and I can't necessarily wait for the weather to improve.

I do appreciate that wheels are an additional cost, but I managed to get a secondhand set which were identical to my existing wheels off ebay for £360...so you can find these if that's what you want to do. I suggest that you look at my tyres -they've a really good range - there are 11 winter tyres in the 265/30/R20 range - this is where I got mine from - however mine are not r20s.

www.mytyres.co.uk

Hope that helps. Erica

 

[Wollemi]

I bought the 19" winter wheel and tyre set from Porsche (at a very good PCGB discount) for my first 718 GTS4.0. The 19" wheels are supplied with Michelin Alpin PA4 N0 tyres and they have proved to be excellent, significantly more secure and confidence inspiring in colder weather than my summer PS4S N0 tyres. PS4S are truly great summer tyres but do not like temperatures below 10°, certainly not until they are throughly warmed up. I couldn't agree with the advice given to use PS4S over winter.

The OPC are happy to store the wheels and tyres for me.

 

[oneblacktree]

Hi Erica,

I was looking earlier at the weather forecast for next couple of months. Although not much snow forecast there is a fair bit of wet weather and temperatures around 5,6 and 7 degrees so I’m in line with your thinking with the need to out some winter rubber and wheels on. It will allow me to drive a little more freely.

I’ve actually got my eye on a couple

of sets in the Derby area right now listed on eBay.

thanks!

 

[oneblacktree]

I’m totally with you in the Alpins. I’ve read countless reviews now that tell me these are the winters to for.

mytyres.com that Erica mentioned have them in stock.

Just need my car from the dealer now!

 

[ERICA D]

Dan, I hope you’ve put your winter tyres on by now!

This is the weather in the Peaks today, which I why I have winter tyres. Mine go on in November, come off the end of March and save wear on my summer tyres. I can often get out of the valley I live in but need to know I can get back!

Thanks Erica

 

[Scrounger]

Hi Erica

No winters on for me as yet but as she is going in March/April I'm trying to keep the mileage down by using my Sons Picanto to go to work in although I continuously have the desire to get out and drive the Cayman.

Its just wet here in Wigan!!

Dan