Tire Choices: Modern ECS02 vs Old N Spec
 

Hi all, first thing my new 1988 3.2 Carrera needs is tires!

I have the factory 16" Fuchs, I'm trying to compare the following 4 options:

-Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02

-Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 (Porsche N0)

-Pirelli P Zero Rosso Collezione (Porsche N5)

-Pirelli Cinturato P7 Collezione (Porsche N4)

and am not finding much detailed information about the three "OE" N spec options. I know the two Pirellis are supposed to look like old tires but with modern rubber in them, and the Michelins are meant for old cars, but none of them have much in the way or reviews or comparisons to modern well reviewed tires like the Continental ECS's.

I've got the Continental ECS on my E46 M3 and they're great, and I expect they'd be great on the Carrera as well.

My question is: are there any good reasons to consider one of the other "Porsche N spec" options? Anyone have detailed experience with any of those tires? What's the difference between the N0, N4 and N5 designations?

The Michelins and Pirelli Cinturatos both seem "cool", but again, I can't tell if I'm paying more for uniformly worse tires if I go for them.

Any thoughts or experiences would be really appreciated!

If you're looking for concours (or cars&coffee) points, the P7s are pretty cool. If you want a solid tire for a reasonable amount of money, the Contis are the only one I'd consider.

I have run Conti’s and love them. On many car. I had a blow out on I-4 in Orlando with them once. Took the car to the tire shop and they said “Oh yeah Conti’s, they last 5 years and the tread separates. Only brand we see that with, and its like clock work. Great tires, just replace them every 5 years.”

I put Mich PS4s’ on the car and have not looked back. Same on my Rat Rod now. Both great tires, and FAR better than the 80’s vintage tires. As others said, if its a show queen where the Pirelli’s will give you more points in the show, get those. Otherwise I would just get really good modern rubber.

Ooh PS4S aren't available in stock 16" sizes are they? Are there "non-stock" sizes of PS4S that will fit the stock 16" Fuchs and for which the non-stockness of the size don't make them a compromise compared to correctly sized Contis?

All other things being equal I'd prefer PS4S over ECS02

The pirellis are loud. They look great but even with more modern compounds are still mostly a vintage tire.


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Have a feeling Duc Hunter's referring to the Pilot Sport a/s 4 tires -- great choice if you live in an area with a changeable climate and plan to drive your 911 in cold weather, as they maintain surprisingly good performance below 40 degrees. Ran through a few sets on my Carrera and, despite my prejudices against all season tires, found them better performers in the summer than the Continental Extremecontact DW summer tires they replaced. Ended up switching back to dedicated winter tires though, as they were pretty darned mediocre in slippery winter conditions and pretty scary when I got caught in a surprise blizzard heading home to Denver from my Golden office. Now running Michelin x-ice tires on my 16s in the winter and Yokohama Ao52 tires on 15" rims in the summer. https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-pilot-sport-a-s-4

I run the Pilot Sport 4 All Seasons on my 86... 7x16 - 205/55 and 9x16 225/50. They don't come in a 245 which is what the 9" wheel really needs... but they seem to run just fine stretched a bit...

Don't really *need* all seasons.. but I do drive a bit in the fall/winter when temps can be sort of low (for here) - sometimes even into the 30s... I'm not sure I want to drive a sticky summer tire in high 30s/low 40s... but maybe then I should just take the truck.

Yeah confirmed that Pilot Sport 4S doesn't come any smaller than 17". Normal "non-S" Pilot Sport 4 does come in 16's and only in the exact two sizes of the stock 16" Fuchs. But then the ECS02 are better than the PS4, and from what I could gather the Pilot Sport Exalto PE2 is strictly worse than the PS4. I'm in LA and don't need all seasons, so it looks like the ECS02 is the one for me.

Was hoping to hear that the Exaltos or P Zero Rossos were competitive enough to the ECS02 for me to try an N spec tire but I guess not.

Hope this thread ends up helpful to others! :)

I’ll be installing the Michelins on my ‘85 with 16” Fuchs. IMHO Pirellis are way over hyped, especially their track tires. I do like the idea of putting a P7 with the old school tread pattern on my 911, though…

If you have 8" or 9" wide rears, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport is an option in 205/55-16f & 245/45-16r). I've been running them on my 7&8 Fuchs for a couple years now. Amazing dry grip. Only downside is they are a bit less refined over patchy asphalt and bumps (read: stiffer & louder than an equivalent Michelin). Really fun tire, well-suited to an active driving style.

Loving my Michelin Pilot Exalto. Great tire especially in the wet or in changing conditions.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752323237.JPG

Regarding the Continental Extreme Contact Sport: Have any of you been on both the original and the current (2) versions?

I’ve driven a few thousand miles on the 2’s, and my ‘87 feels looser, as if there’s more sidewall flex compared to the originals. Have any of you noticed this, or am I on glue?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1753384064.jpg
Recent poll about tires and the best price I could find