Porsche and Michelin partnership

[Schuey]

Porsche and Michelin are marketing their partnership. Does this mean all future 911s will come with Michelin tyres?
https://youtu.be/XrCY1-ERiwI

As of now I think it’s pot luck what you end up with, Goodyear, Pirelli’s or Michelin’s…

 

[AndrewCS]

Does it really matter ?

 

[Schuey]

Yes, it does to some. Having tried various brands across different performance marques then I'd personally prefer Michelin if I had the choice.

 

[AndrewCS]

Can you quantify / qualify your reasons ?

I ask ... because my experience, albeit not of road going 911`s is that the often maligned non Michelin brands are actually extremely good and perform well beyond most drivers capability

 

[BigCat]

It’s not just an exclusive partnership with Michelin, Porsche have worked with all the tyre companies to develop tyres for their cars such as the new 992 GT3 as evidenced by a press release earlier this year.
https://news.goodyear.eu/goodyear-eagle-f1-supersport-r-chosen-as-original-equipment-for-the-latest-502-hp-porsche-911-gt3/

Andrew I share your view that non Michelin brands tend to get maligned by some people with no data to qualify, I’d believe some of the comments if it was actually as a result of test data under controlled and more importantly repeatable test conditions by expert drivers but I doubt anyone on here can do that.

You only have to look at the "the ring time” where cars are tested by expert drivers with different tyres to realise how small the differences are and when it comes to wear rate two different drivers with the same tyre will get totally different mileage as a result of their driving style.

I would suggest that most of the opinions shared on here about tyres are subjective preference and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[AndrewCS]

Thank you ...

I would suggest that most of the opinions shared on here about tyres are subjective preference and there is nothing wrong with that.

For sure, all useful insights ... I guess I`m too far into the detail

 

[Schuey]

I would suggest that most of the opinions shared on here about tyres are subjective preference and there is nothing wrong with that.

I think this is the key thing, it's about how they make you feel and inspire confidence.

In response to Andrew, from my personal experience here are my reasons with the different cars:

E92 M3 - Car came new with Continental Sport Contact 3. Grip in the dry was not great and had a few twitchy moments, would take quite long to get up to temp before they inspired any confidence. Changed to Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the car felt much more planted, could get on the power earlier exiting corners and less flashing of the TC light.

W204 C63 AMG - Car came with Pirelli P-Zero, terrible traction in the rain, even mildly wet and the back end would want to slip. Changed to Michelin Pilot Super Sport and transformed the car, it felt more planted and wet grip was improved over the Pirellis.

F82 M4 Comp - Car came with Michelin Pilot Super Sport and I was happy with the grip and performance from the off.

Pre covid, with friends I'd go to the Nurburgring 2 - 3 times per year, and although I was not setting any lap records I was pushing the cars reasonably hard. So had a fair idea on how the car was performing on different tyres. It may just be in my head but for me I always felt the Michelin's performed better in most conditions. Surprisingly, even with the extra grip the Michelin tyres seemed to last longer which made them feel like great value for money.

Anyway, I don't want to turn this thread into a tyre and performance debate. I just wanted to know if this partnership meant new cars would be coming with Michelin tyres, but it looks like that won't be the case as BigCat mentions the Good Year partnership also. Back in the day, I had Good Year Eagle F1's on my Mk2 Golf GTI 16v and I got on with them very well

 

[AndrewCS]

Thank you for the details ...

 

[Schuey]

Thank you for the details ...

No problem, not a very scientific explanation but just my experience. []

 

[richardfleming]

It’s not just an exclusive partnership with Michelin, Porsche have worked with all the tyre companies to develop tyres for their cars such as the new 992 GT3 as evidenced by a press release earlier this year.
https://news.goodyear.eu/goodyear-eagle-f1-supersport-r-chosen-as-original-equipment-for-the-latest-502-hp-porsche-911-gt3/

Andrew I share your view that non Michelin brands tend to get maligned by some people with no data to qualify, I’d believe some of the comments if it was actually as a result of test data under controlled and more importantly repeatable test conditions by expert drivers but I doubt anyone on here can do that.

You only have to look at the "the ring time” where cars are tested by expert drivers with different tyres to realise how small the differences are and when it comes to wear rate two different drivers with the same tyre will get totally different mileage as a result of their driving style.

I would suggest that most of the opinions shared on here about tyres are subjective preference and there is nothing wrong with that.

agree with you on all those points - while at the same time have experience of various tyres on different vehicles that have formed my non-lab-tested views - totally personal and highly subjective - but I'm buying them so there it is
Summary experience below for example
summers:
- continentals - very soft, felt always 'slippy' under cornering and acceleration - car chewed them up and was lucky to get 15k out of them and it wasn't a nice confident 15k either - not getting those again - awful
- bridgestone - hard, thumpy, tough though, lasted ages, and I got rid before they wore out as I got fed up with the constantly jarring ride
- michelins - good balance of wear and comfort for my driving style - no complaints
- pirellis - good balance of wear and comfort also - happy with these too - no complaints
winters:
goodyear - two years on these - so far so good - did the job and definitely feel the difference in wet/slippy/slushy roads with them
pirelli - three years on these - happy with these also - but not had them in properly tough winter conditions yet

but version to version, year to year I'm sure things will change and one or other tyre type or manufacturer will jump ahead of another. But continental will have a tough job convincing me to try them again.

 

[AndrewCS]

Am currently running 245/30 x 20 Continental Sport Contact 6 on a non Porsche, an OEM fitted item and very impressive when compared to the benchmark Michelin PS4S that I have / have used on other cars

 

[ralphmusic]

See tyrereviews.com

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Tyre-Reviews-UHP-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

This is one of many, he also did Cup2 v other similar performance tyres.

 

[BigCat]

Not sure how well this is known, on the Porsche GB web site configurator Porsche list all the tyres that can be fitted to each of their cars. It’s shown in the Wheels section, click on the Tyre Symbol and that will bring up the EU Tyre Labels for the tyres that are available for that car. From there the product data for each tyre can be downloaded. If you take a 992 Turbo S as an example, there are five different tyres listed:
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric F3
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport R
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Pirelli P Zero
Pirelli P Zero Corsa

Go to the corresponding page for a Carrera GTS and there are only three listed:
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric F3
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Pirelli P Zero
Unfortunately, as far as I know it’s still not possible to specify what tyres to have fitted by the factory when ordering a new Porsche.

 

[Timrice]

Interestingly, it does not seem possibly to find N rated PS4S for the C2S. Hopefully it’s availability is imminent.

 

[Schuey]

Go to the corresponding page for a Carrera GTS and there are only three listed:
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric F3
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Pirelli P Zero
Unfortunately, as far as I know it’s still not possible to specify what tyres to have fitted by the factory when ordering a new Porsche.

Yes, I noticed this as well. Seems a bit pointless however if you're not allowed to spec which tyres you would like.

 

[BigCat]

I just checked again and the three tyres showing for the 992 C2S are all there, you do have to scroll down the page:
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3. - Front 245/35 ZR20 (95Y) XL Rear 305/30 ZR21 (104Y) XL
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Front 245/35 ZR20 (95Y) XL Rear 305/30 ZR21 (104Y) XL
Pirelli P Zero - Front 245/35 ZR20 (91Y) Rear 305/30 ZR21 (100Y)

The P Zero has a lower load index than the other two but assuming you have a 992 C2S, the sticker on the driver's door frame will show the tyre sizes and it should also show both load index ratings.

It's not of any use at the time of ordering but it is when you need to replace tyres as at least you can see what options are/were available when the car was built.

I have a new 992GT3 which came with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport R tyres which are road legal track day tyres, but my main use is as a road car and I found with those tyres on anything other than smooth tarmac the car would tramline severely and follow every surface undulation so I have just had a set of P Zero P74s fitted (which are on the configurator) and these tyres have transformed the behaviour of the car no more tram-lining and a lot more tread depth to start off with so they will be much better on a rain soaked road.

 

[jackdog2021]

I am with Schuey on this one.
I def prefer Michelin PS tyres on my Porsches. The just feel like they work better on "roads” and where we also have to buy our own tyres and live with them for (hopefully!) a year or more.
not to malign other brands really, but to have a brand and product preference from experience.
Pirelli PZero made it on my sh1t list by selling me failed quality tyres, costing me a fortune on balancing, tracking and more to diagnose the problem was their tyres themselves, and to then try an invoice me for the 2mm tread used!!! (Still makes me grrr - perhaps you can tell? )
My C2S came with Pirelli PZero’s sadly, but they also show poor wet traction but ok lateral grip. So nothing i like about them in use either.
My carrera cab had Goodyear Eagle on it from new; they felt sound all round.
991.2 Turbo had Michelin PS on it, but that car had massive chassis grip so tyres always felt connected.

 

[MBB]

My 2019 992 C2S came with Pirelli's and I replaced the rears on 13K miles like for like as Michelin PS4's were not available. Now on 20K miles and need to replace the front set and debating whether to try for Michelin again. Is it best to stick with same brand all round or can you mix front to rear?

 

[vectorzero]

It looks like the Michelin Pilot 4S is now available in NA0 for the 992. I've had good experience with Pilot Sports on all my previous 911s so I'll be taking the plunge when my favoured tyre emporium can get hold of them. Attached the spec sheet (front) for those interested.


Download

 

[vectorzero]

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rear spec sheet.


Download