Tyres for 944 S2

[1bogis]

I need to replace my tyres. Currently Bridgestones Potenza SO2A.
205/50 ZR17 fronts. 255/40 ZR17 rears. They are 8 years old and not fully worn due to my low mileage use. MOT advisory says inner front tyre edges worn and rears cracking between treads.

I don't drive hard or on the limit. However I want good grip in all conditions especially in the wet when I brake hard. Must have as little road noise as possible. Also prefer an "˜edge' to help protect alloys from kerbing. Cost obviously a concern.

Any advice or links to previous threads would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Gordon Attar]

If you are happy with the SO2's they are still available, otherwise I would recommend continental. Sport contact 2

 

[Joss Walker]

I have just put the Bridgestones on mine as I love the brand on my wife's car. I haven't driven them yet but Ollie at RPM mentioned that they can be very noisy on a 944. However I don't know what may be quieter so this isn't the most useful post!

 

[Copperman05]

I have the S02 and think there about the best tyres available for the model, perhaps not the best for ride or noise but grippy as hell and never seem to let go. If you want a better value tyre that still have good grip the Falken 452 is popular here, still not the quietest tyre though. If you want that you may need to go for a more comfort type tyre...


Edd

 

[craiginuk]

I have the Falken 452s on my turbo and have had no issues with them. Nothing to compare them to unfortunately. Seeem a very reasonably priced tyre though..

 

[david924s]

I had Toyo T1Rs on my S2 and have just changed the fronts for Toyo T1 Sport with the rears still being OK so the fronts lasted around 14K miles the rears around 16K and still going strong. Great in the dry and I have had no wet road issues although I know some who drive harder than me have reported them letting go I have not had this happen. Fronts were around £240 last Feb for 225/45/17 rears will be a little more when I replace them as they are 255/40/17.

 

[GlennS]

Another vote for you getting a new set of S02s. Superb grip on an S2 in both the wet and the dry. They're also surprisingly good in mud as I managed to drive straight out of the camp site at Cholmodeley over the same ground that Land Rovers and Range Rovers needed towing by a tractor to negotiate.

Also, they're on the Porsche approved list for the S2.

 

[Paul 290T]

Hi,

I always check the result of the latest Auto Express annual tyre test, available free on the internet.

I agree, wet weather performance is my deciding factor too. The difference between the best wet tyres and the best dry tyres, in the dry is much smaller than the difference in wet weather performance between the wet weather star and the dry weather star tyre. If you follow my logic.

Here's a taster from the 2011 test, full details including test category result are shown on thier website:

Ranking Tyre Overall score
1 Goodyear 100.0%
2 Michelin 99.6%
3 Pirelli 99.3%
4 Vredestein 99.2%
5 Nokian 98.4%
6 Continental 98.2%
7 Dunlop 98.0%
8 Bridgestone 97.3%
9 Apollo 97.0%
10 Hankook 96.5%

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259582/tyre_test_2011.html#ixzz1za3MXWzG

Regards

 

[PSH]

why I use Goodyear...

Pete

 

[bmnelsc]

Porsche recommended (N spec) tyres for 944 in 17" sizes are Bridgestone Potenza S02, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 and Bridgestone RE71s. This is the 2011 list. IIRC you can get this list off the Porsche website.

Porsche supposedly gives N specs to tyres that provide the best overall experience on particular models so if the S02s are noisy as stated earlier in this list then the handling (and perhaps wear) must offset the noise in Porsche opinion.

I have a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position on my '91 S2 and I find the noise to be acceptable (they do thump hard on potholes, etc) and the handling to be very good. This car is used for trips and leisure drives tho - so no real hard usage e.g. track or autocross (yet).

 

[1bogis]

Thanks for all the help.
When I bought the first replacement set the SO2's seemed to be favourite with most so i went for them. However am I right that the S02 'A's that I actually bought are a different tread and not the same animal as the prefered S02? I've not been very impressed with the A's in the wet.

 

[Copperman05]

Yes different tread and compound, stick with the original S02's, cant be beat imo.


Edd

 

[964RS]

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup - but then I would say that wouldn't I? []

 

[Neil Haughey]

On 16" rims they also added Michelin PE2 N0 (Pilot Exalto) in recent years. I had the normal non N spec tyre in 17" size on another vehicle a few years back, probably the best tyres I have ever had on any car. Not cheap though.