Tyres i'm confused!

CarreraUK · 03-16-2006, 08:59 AM

Hi guys I need 4 tyres for my 85 3.2 Carrera any recommendations? I have Bridgestone Potenza's in mind? Thanks.

billroth · billroth's Garage

I just put on Bridgestone S02s on stock 16 inch Fuchs. Was considering the S03s.

Lawrence

Oh Haha · 03-16-2006, 10:37 AM

Yer spelling it wrong!!!!!!!

Oh, I'm just kidding.

Check out some of the threads on tires here. I went with Fuzion ZR1 and they are great and inexpensive.

CharlesJones · 03-17-2006, 01:50 AM

http://www.mytyres.co.uk is a good place to buy tyres for the UK. I dunno if they've got S02's though.

I wanted Bridgestones for my car 'cos I heard they were the best, but I've got 15 inch wheels which seriously limits my choice of tyres, unfortunately.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Toyo are good.

livi · 03-17-2006, 03:00 AM

I have been happy with my Michelin Pilot Sport.

What ever brand - make sure they are N-rated.

Tut · 03-17-2006, 04:20 AM

I've also been happy with my Michelin Pilot Sports.

CharlesJones · 03-17-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by livi
I have been happy with my Michelin Pilot Sport.

What ever brand - make sure they are N-rated.

This might sound like a dumb question, but how do you tell if they're N-rated? Does it say on the tyre wall, or is there a definitive list of N-rated tyres somewhere?

livi · 03-17-2006, 05:36 AM

Yes, its printed on the tire wall.

CharlesJones · 03-17-2006, 05:42 AM

Thanks - I'll look for that the next time I come to change my tyres. My damn dunlops seem to be lasting an eternity unfortunately!

Steveinatlanta · 03-17-2006, 06:47 AM

Do a search for the Car and Driver test results. wait, here it is. youre going to have to cut and paste

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10252

After you read this, it will get more confusing, as Fuchs 15 and 16 inch wheels do not have a lot of the newer technology tire choices. Kumo Falken and Hankook are your cheap choices, Michelin, and Pirelli a lot steeper. If you can find them Goodyear F1 is supposed to be a great choice

Wil Ferch · 07:09 AM

1.) The tires do not have to have N-rating..... there is a lot to say about this and I won't summarize it here, I'm hoping it's all in the archives.

2.) Personal observation - - I see a lot of posts asking for tire recommendstions. Over many years of driving my Porsche in a spirited fashion on the street..and some "occasional" track work like DE's...I've come to this somewhat radical conclusion:

- if you drive on the street....it doesn't *much* matter what tire yoy have as long it has some sort of sporting pretense. Why? Because you will never drive the car ( on the street) approaching anywhere *near* the car's ( or tire's...or maybe even your own) capability. If you do...you're putting your own ( and others') lives seriously at stake. Related to this is the pretense that one-tire-vs-another....is going to make a meaningful difference in such a scenario. I really don't think so in a big picture view. That all said..if you have a specific set of conditions that you always seem to drive in ( let's say...always dry....mostly wet and rainy..whatever)...you have a better chance at choosing a particular tire that offers something "special" for your needs. Otherwise..I feel...we're being dishonest with ourselves or simply falling prey to marketing.

- if you're a track junkie...all bets are off on what I just said and there are subtle differences that we need to take note of....

- IMHO---

- Wil

wholberg · wholberg's Garage

I have Yoko AVS ES100's on my '87 and i am very happy with them. As tires for my daily driver they were relatively inexpensive and do everything I need them to, and have excellent wet traction. I have not had them on a track so I cannot comment about them there.

Wil Ferch · 03-17-2006, 07:35 AM

wholberg makes a good point and cites a good example....

The ES 100's are a good inexpensive street tire....with a performance flair....maybe the deciding factor for most of us ( for street! ) is the cost factor once we're "in" the performance tire section.....

- Wil

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

good point, wil...i'm sure many of us spend too much money on more tire than needed for the street. my last set of street tires, kumho 732 touring tires, good for 60k i think, cost me $225 mounted 4 years ago. beat that with a stick..and i can make it the rest of the year before i need to really consider replacement time..
ryan

livi · 03-17-2006, 08:43 AM

Wil,

Good to hear your view on N-rating. I have read the need for those tires so many times in British Porsche magazines. Something about Porsche "accepted" tires. Also that there allegedly are few cars that are so sensitive to what shoes they wear as Porsche. Nice to hear another view, not least from you.

Wil Ferch · 03-17-2006, 09:30 AM

Well...let's understand what N-spec means first....

N-spec is nothing more than tires built specifically to Porsche-mandated specifications. We "automatically" think this means some sort of Porsche-quirk performance oriented spec but it *can* mean nothing more than noise, harshness, vibration, longevity.....any number of things that Porsche thinks is important for an "original-equipment" tire. The *problem* is that you DON'T KNOW what the particular spec requirements ARE !!!

The "N" number is simply a series of successions...N1 will replace an earlier N0 spec...N2 is a later version than N1, etc.

Having said all that...I would place some emphasis on trying to get the same N spec as what you have now...when replacing less than all 4 tires. This gives some assurance that WHATEVER spec is being focused-on, you'll have 4 same characteristics.

Note this too...for many high performance or racing applications...guys are running DOT rated racing tires ( called "Street" tires)..or even racing slicks...and these ( Non- "N" spec !) tires don't cause the cars to run uncontrollably into guard-rails either !!!

- Wil

livi · 03-17-2006, 10:28 AM

Right, thanks Wil.

Wonder why there is so much talk about it in the magazines. One would expect the authors of articles in for example 911 & Porsche World would know what they are talking about.

Guess its like most things - a lot of different views and several roads all leading to Rome..

CharlesJones · 03-18-2006, 02:58 AM

Its interesting that you mention "911 & Porsche World" Markus. I think that magazine is written by a bunch of muppets! I've read so much twoddle in it which it presents as being fact but in reality is nothing more than the ill-informed opinion of the writers. I don't buy it anymore - I think it targets itself at those who idolise the newer porsches rather than true enthusiasts anyway.

livi · 03-18-2006, 03:36 AM

You are probably right, Charles.

I prefer total 911 and GT for a bunch of reasons anyway.