Current 993 tyre thinking

[Mark Elder]

I need a new set of tyres and was intending to stick with PS2s because I've been very happy with them over a number of sets, but I see PS4s (not available N rated) are rated better for wet-stopping-distance.

Any 993 drivers swapped from PS2 to PS4 and able to comment on any differences?

Anyone know why Porsche have not approved PS4s for N rating?

Thanks

 

[AJOHND]

Hi Mark - can't help I'm afraid as to why PS4's have not been granted N rating by Porsche (maybe something to do with tyre rim size/aspect ratio being in relatively small demand these days?) - but I am seriously considering switching from my current P Zero Rosso tyres to Michelin PS2 in the next few months. I run on 17" wheels. Nothing particularly wrong with the Pirellis; I'm just looking to try an alternative.

Cheers, John

 

[Stig_GT3]

Michelin PS4 tyres are great on the 993 and seem to be better rated overall than previous PS2 compound.

This is based on a 993 running PS4 (replacing old PS2) on front 225 / 40 / R18 and rear 265 / 35 / R18.

I don’t expect Porsche will go through the process of getting "N" ratings on new tyres for classic models, so it’s up to customers make the choice on upgrading to newer compounds.

Porsche are likely focused on getting "N” ratings on new tyres for new cars - e.g. new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres
should be an upgrade on the PS4S, which has been a popular replacement tyre on many modern 911 models.

 

[993C2EX]

Having always used PZeros for the past 20 years on both my 986 and 993, I recently changed both sets of rubber to Micheline P2s and am very very pleased with the change.
Partly the improvement may have come from new rubber but I can't really say that previously swapping old P zeros for new P zeros gave the same feeling of improvement that P zeros to Mich P2s has.

 

[martynh]

Hi

I've recently swapped from PS2 (n rated) to PS4 (non n rated) on the standard 17in Carrera's.

My PS2s were quite old but I'm very happy with the change. I recently did the PCGB CAT driver training day with the new PS4 and I can report they are excellent on the limit with lots of grip and really nice progression. I would happily go for them again, plus they are marginally cheaper than the older PS2.

 

[993C2EX]

Correction to my previous comment, I actually have Pilot Sport 4s, not Pilot Sport 2s and am very happy with them. I also think a notable lower tyre road noise which I don’t think has been mentioned by others.

 

[jboult]

As a slight aside to this topic, I'm just about to swap to either Michelin PS2 or PS4 from the current (and old!) PZero rubber on my Targa. My fronts are currently 205/50R17, on Cup 2 7J ET55 rims. Does anyone know if 225/45R17 will fit both the rims and the space available, and do they have experience of running them? I'd like to improve the front end if possible, especially for turn in. It's good, but it could always be better, right?!

Cheers/John

 

[Robd]

I needed new rears last month, mine naturally after six months driving every day were down to the markers. I’ve always used N rated Michelin PS2s but they’re substantially more expensive now that 18 months ago, so I looked around for alternatives. I’m very keen that my tyres are the best available for the car as flying off backwards into a hedge while thinking I should have bought better isn’t what anyone wants. I found PS4s were significantly cheaper but not N rated so I rang my insurance broker to ask what thei position might be. He said nobody had ever asked that before and since I had, I’d better speak to Porsche GB. I rang Reading and asked if N rated tyres were important and would non N rated be a problem, they said they didn’t know and put me through to my local dealer. Jack in the parts department was pretty sure it wasn’t a problem but said he would ask a department at Reading that was “non customer facing”. He confirmed with an email that as far as Porsche GB was concerned, N rated tyres were always fitted to new cars and preferred under warranty but after that it wasn’t a problem, I might find a small difference in road noise and behaviour but nothing detrimental.
I always believed that the N rating was a matter of construction due to the high loads of a rear engined fast car but it appears not. My insurance company is happy and the car is actually a bit nicer on the road.
They’re 17s, high load 98Y by the way.
i hope this helps anyone who has the same dilemma.