N rated Tyres.....Is it a Con?

[crypticc]

Interesting contemporary comment to an historic thread started nearly 20 years ago!
Regards,

Clive

Aye

 

[ianthow]

As I understand it, during the extensive development testing of new models, major vehicle manufacturers work with the tyre companies giving real-time feedback on ride, handling and endurance under extreme conditions. As a result of this, the tyre manufacturer may evolve tyres to suit specific applications. Some changes like tread block pattern may be applied to an entire product family while changes to the carcass may be manufacturer or even model specific.

Additionally, all manufacturing has a degree of variability requiring criteria to be set for acceptable variances from a nominal design spec. The tyre manufacturer will determine this to meet legislative demands and their own performance targets.
During new vehicle development and testing the vehicle manufacturer may specify a tighter standard for some high performance models.

As a result, all tyres supplied to the factory for fitment to new cars will be required to meet the vehicle manufacturer's standards, even though normal road use will not stress the tyres to the extremes applied during new model development.

So, to the question "is it a con?"
Yes and No.

For Porsche, it ensures that every new car leaving the factory is safe in the extremist situations so protecting them from litigation in the event of an accident.

For the average owner this may not matter and fitting quality, non 'N' rated tyres will be acceptable. Quality unrated tyres are safe and should not be an issue in the event of an insurance claim following a road accident.

They may be an issue when selling a car as the prospective buyer will try to negotiate the price down by the cost of a new set of 'proper' tyres... even worse, the prospective buyer may see these 'cheap' tyres as a sign of cutting corners with maintenance and simply walk away.

 

[crypticc]

... And the N stands for that the tyres have been tested on the Nürburgring

So do we all think that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 which 98Y load rating but is not N rated won't survive on the famous green hell when fitted to a 993, but PS2 which can be found N rated but only 94Y load rating is somehow better when fitted to the same Porsche model? Do we honestly think Michelin have tested the PS2 and determined it better than the PS4?

Do we believe that the "improved" N3 rear R17 PS2 tyre at 94Y load, somehow is able to support more load at the back than the front R17 PS2 which is only available with the older N1 rating but higher 95Y load rating?

Sorry, but in the budget bracket I agree we need to be careful, but I think it's more a cost saving thing that Porsche and Michelin can't afford to test every new tyre released in every size for each car model and pay for N on the sidewall.

Regards
Chris

 

[crypticc]

... And the N stands for that the tyres have been tested on the Nürburgring

So do we all think that the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 which 98Y load rating but is not N rated won't survive on the famous green hell when fitted to a 993, but PS2 which can be found N rated but only 94Y load rating is somehow better when fitted to the same Porsche model? Do we honestly think Michelin have tested the PS2 and determined it better than the PS4?

Do we believe that the "improved" N3 rear R17 PS2 tyre at 94Y load, somehow is able to support more load at the back than the front R17 PS2 which is only available with the older N1 rating but higher 95Y load rating?

Sorry, but in the budget bracket I agree we need to be careful, but I think it's more a cost saving thing that Porsche and Michelin can't afford to test every new tyre released in every size for each car model and pay for N on the sidewall.

Regards
Chris

Btw the n3 rear tyres possibly to do with noise "improvements" reducing the load allowed compared to the front still on n1.
If anyone has noise and load stats for the n1 and regular non-N PS2 rears it should be possible to check.

 

[pse_SC]

I wouldn’t say non-N rated Michelin are particularly ‘budget’... they seem to cost as much as the rest.
Surely the more important thing nowadays on any tyre for 993 is if it performs superlatively?

I saw recently that a very special Tuthill developed 993 is running Michelin PS 5 all round.
Knowing Tuthill’s exemplary real-world experience, I’ll be in no doubt in getting a full set of those for my 993 when it needs new rubber soon - they know their stuff