N Rated Tires

eyue · eyue's Garage

My question is this: Does the N-rating (N0, N1, N2, N3, N4) really make a difference? The dealer says the N indicates a different compound in the tire and means the tire is optimized for Porsche cars. Apparently a non-N-rated tire can make the 911 kind of squirrelly (?) to drive. Any thoughts?

Wil Ferch · 02-04-2004, 09:13 AM

This debate has gone on forever..

Simply stated..."N" spec only means "special-Porsche-spec". What could this mean?? It could be compound...it may be noise characteristics, it might be wear..it might be performance over a range of ambient temps. It may have nothing to do with performance, per se...at all. It simply certifies compliance to a certain set of ( unpublished) Porsche standards pertaining to "that" tire at "that" time. As time rolled on...and there were revisions to the Porsche spec...N0 became N1 and then N2, etc...

Having said that, it is usually wise that if given an option....you should replace a "N" spec with a like-kind ....if for example your current set of 4 suffers a bad blowout on one.

IMHO... if you buy 4 new tires...it's not worth too much to go out of your way to get these as "N".

Race / DE guys have found this out a long time ago...

---Wil Ferch

jeff1hughes · jeff1hughes's Garage

I am looking at new tires now, Pirelli P6000, they are available in the size I need, 195-65-15, and both N1 and not N1. THe not N1 is VR rated the N1 is WR rated. Don't know that I need the W, but should I get the N1, my car is a 71, stock with VR?

Wil Ferch · 03-01-2004, 02:05 PM

Again..I don't think it will make a difference when you get all 4 at the same time. I'm not even sure if Porsche used the "N" rating back in 71 anyway. "W" speed rating is higher than "V" (I believe) and either one should be good for the speed capability of a stock 71.

If you're nervous about it...why not simply get the N specs and be done with it? I would hate to give advice that says "no N" and have it not work out for you for some odd reason....

Be advised that new tires may need to get some meaningful miles on them to start behaving well. I usually buy sets of two at a time ( rears wear out 2x to 3x faster than fronts)...and it takes upwards of 700-1000 miles ( for me) to get the whole chassis to settle down. Some say it takes only 300-500 miles, however.

---Wil Ferch

tcj · 03-02-2004, 08:47 AM

I heard from a dealer that N-spec tires are tested and approved by Porsche to handle the rear engined Porsches which might necessiate special properties for a tire.

The other piece of information was that all corners should have the same N-spec numbered tires. The number corresponds to the version of the tire so different numers may indicate different properties. N-spec has (perhaps) not any other meanings.

Any other opinons?

Regards,
TcJ

Wil Ferch · 03-06-2004, 07:13 AM

Again..."N" spec ( depending on the particular tire)....might address only a particular characteristic that may have no practical meaning to the repeat buyer of tires for an older 911.
Example:...when Porsche went to the cradle type of rear suspension with the 993's , the suspension was much better isolated from the car ( noise) than before. The "N" spec for that year might have allowed more noise ( from the tire) because of this...and nothing else. "N" spec could also allude to wear, harshness, etc...and not necessarily to grip, cornering power, rear engine configuration, etc. The fact is that I've never been able to get the related (internal-to-Porsche) reference when "N" specs are concerned....and ..IMHO...the dealer can say just about anything to goad you into buying ( from him!) N-spec tires. Of course, the opposite could be true ( that there is a particular Porsche performance peculiarity) that the particular "N" spec addresses.

The fact that serious DE and club racer guys buy performance tires such as Hoosiers or extreme DOT "street" tires ( with those really low wear ratings like "0" or 20 or somesuch)...with excellent results... say that "N" spec is not a consideration.

Again...because we don't know the specifics of the "N" spec, the warning not to mix-n-match various versions of "N" specs on one car...or using non-"N" with "N"...is likely to be true.

---Wil Ferch

tcj · 03-06-2004, 10:09 AM

One amazing discovery here in Finland was that some exactly same tire models of some famous tire brands are offered with and without N-spec, e.g. Michelin Pilot Sport and Pirelli Pzero Rosso.

However, the dealers seem not to know what is the difference in the charecteristics or behaviour.

The amazing thing was the the price is the same with or without N-spec, so why not take with if you end up buying these brands.

My guess would be that N-Spec is something like a certification mark indicating that the tire has passed the tests and criterias set up by Porsche. The number N1, N2, etc. would then correspond different versions of the tire model. However, that is only a guess.

/TcJ

Wil Ferch · 03-06-2004, 04:26 PM

N0, N1 , N2, N3, etc... are indeed revisions to the original "N" spec....whatever it was !

Wil Ferch

ben@benlovejoy. · 03-07-2004, 01:14 AM

The N-rating tells us *only* that Porsche approved that tyre for use at the time. It may be a variation on the original, or it may be identical to the non-rated tyre.

Given the extent to which tyre technology has developed over the years, I wouldn't give the slightest consideration to it now.

However, given the propensity for some insurers to wriggle out of claims at the slightest excuse, I do personally inform my insurers that I use non N-rated tyres. Their letter of acknowledgement did not express any interest.

Ben

eyue · eyue's Garage

So if the tires that you are trying to get and let say they are the right sizes and with the same price, would you consider a N' rated one ?

ben@benlovejoy. · 03-07-2004, 02:25 AM

I'm not clear what you're asking here ...

If you mean, the exact same tyre (eg. my current favourite, Toyo Proxes T1-S) was available in N and non-N versions for the same price, then sure, why not.

If you mean would I choose to get a *different* N-rated tyre instead of my current favourite, then no, absolutely not.

Ben

eyue · eyue's Garage

Actually I am using a set of Michelin Cup Sport on my 85 Carrera, 16 inches that does not have N rated, Also for the year 85, I do not remember Porsche recommend N rated for that year until in the early 90's. But my 3.6 Turbo, I have BridgestoneS03, non N rated because S03 does not have N's....

eyue · eyue's Garage

Actually I am using a set of Michelin Cup Sport on my 85 Carrera, 16 inches that does not have N rated, Also for the year 85, I do not remember Porsche recommend N rated for that year until in the early 90's. But my 3.6 Turbo, I have BridgestoneS03, non N rated because S03 does not have N's....

Wil Ferch · 03-08-2004, 12:05 PM

How 'bout this ?.....

Bridgestone S0-2 and S0-3 are excellent tires.

So are Michelin Cup.

If you're buying 4 tires....get them in "N" spec if they don't cost more. If they're not even available as "N"...then if its these two brands/types you're considering...don't worry.

---Wil Ferch

ben@benlovejoy. · 03-08-2004, 12:18 PM

S0-2 are excellent, but I wasn't that impressed with S0-3s. There is rumoured to be an S0-4 on the way that is much closer to the S-02 characteristics.

Ben

eyue · eyue's Garage

Where did you heard about the SO-4's? I used the SO-2 amd SO-3, O-2 personally I like better, O-3 seems to me the side wall is a little soft when pushing hard around corners. But both IMHO is great tires....