New tyres - Michelins? 987 Boxster on 19's

[JMR]

Evening everyone, first post on the forum so I'll make it a good one

I've got a 2007 Boxster 2.7, FPSH running Bridgestone RE050A N0 tyres at the moment.
Front tyres are '08' date stamped and starting to crack around the edge. Low tread on the insides from poor tracking during previous owner's time.
Rears are not as bad, but are hovering around 4mm tread.

Ready to buy some new ones and keen to keep 'N' rated.
Porsche website recommends the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 for my car which is a N2 tyre.

What do we think??
I'd like to retain the decent rim protection flange of the Bridgestones. I'm reasonably happy with them to be honest, but just thinking I am missing out on something sooooo much better.

I do about 6-7k per year and I don't want to be forking out for rears every year.

Fronts are 235/19 ZR19 (87Y) (91 XL on the Michelins I think)
Rears are 265/65 ZR19 (94Y)

Credit card is poised ready for action on Camskill over the weekend

 

[MrDemon]

Ps4s not n rated tough but who cares.

 

[JMR]

I did the North Yorks Moors for a couple of days last summer (31degC) and the first little trip out this year will be the Yorks Dales, Buttertubs Pass etc.

Thats going to be in the next few weeks as I've some time off, and I'm wanting to have the tyres sorted by then.

Summer is looking like a visit to the Scottish Highlands which my son is really looking forward to!

 

[JMR]

Ps4s not n rated tough but who cares.

Decent rim protection?

I'd go for the Continentals, but a friend of mine has a FK2 Civic Type R and the tyres (same size fronts) seem really stretched over the wheel, almost like it's too narrow.

He only gets 5-6k out of a set on the fronts, even on steady driving, which sounds poor.

 

[Printboy]

Hi The first set l fitted to my 986 3.2 s were Pirelli p zero,good grip but only good for 18 month (10,000 miles). Then after much research went for the Michelin Pilot sport sp2. Brilliant! Great grip 20,000 miles on and still 5mm tred and good grip. got them though ASDA tyres. Yes! ASDA, give them a try and save yourself a few quid.

 

[Brian_Innes]

I'd unreservedly recommend Michelins. If you are keen on N rated, then your options are limited. Michelin PS4S N0's are not available in 19" sizes. They were tested and developed by Michelin and Porsche for the 718 Cayman in 20" sizes.

I've visually compared the non N rated 19" and N rated 20" versions of the PS4S and the side walls are very different. It's not only the rim protection aspect, the PS4S N0 seems wider in profile and more "chunky" looking. I've yet to fully appraise this tyre on my 718 CS. If they perform as well as they look, they'll be a stunning road and track tyre.

If I were you, I'd buy a set of non N rated Michelin PS4S 19". The other available options are second best in my experience.

Brian

 

[JMR]

Hi The first set l fitted to my 986 3.2 s were Pirelli p zero,good grip but only good for 18 month (10,000 miles). Then after much research went for the Michelin Pilot sport sp2. Brilliant! Great grip 20,000 miles on and still 5mm tred and good grip. got them though ASDA tyres. Yes! ASDA, give them a try and save yourself a few quid.

Thanks for this, just what I wanted to hear

 

[JMR]

I'd unreservedly recommend Michelins. If you are keen on N rated, then your options are limited. Michelin PS4S N0's are not available in 19" sizes. They were tested and developed by Michelin and Porsche for the 718 Cayman in 20" sizes.

I've visually compared the non N rated 19" and N rated 20" versions of the PS4S and the side walls are very different. It's not only the rim protection aspect, the PS4S N0 seems wider in profile and more "chunky" looking. I've yet to fully appraise this tyre on my 718 CS. If they perform as well as they look, they'll be a stunning road and track tyre.

If I were you, I'd buy a set of non N rated Michelin PS4S 19". The other available options are second best in my experience.

Brian

Thanks Brian, very helpful

 

[CFo]

Another vote for Michelin PS4s.

In fact, in my 48 years of car ownership, I've always find that Michelins last a lot longer than other tyres. Use Michelin all climate on the family 7-seater, great grip and decent life.

 

[JMR]

Thanks for the replies gents.

I have gone ahead and ordered the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 from Camskills.

Hopefully will be here by the end of the week and fitted at the weekend.

 

[andrew.risk]

Good choice.

I also recommend the Michelin PS2s, had them on my 2007 Boxster with 18" rims for 2 years now and so much better than the Pirelli's that were on when I got it. Full confidence in both the wet & dry, reasonable wear, and ride comfort excellent on long journeys.

 

[Mark_Hamilton]

Hi JMR,

Good choice to go with Michelins . I have been through 2 sets of PS2 n rated on my 987 Boxster S and am now using PS4 which is another jump in performance but fully appreciate some people will want N rated. For me, I have found Michelins to be a little more expensive and like other replies on this thread, a little bit longer lasting. You will not go wrong and I am sure you will enjoy wearing them out !

 

[JMR]

Cheers Mark

Tyres are here now and sat in my office waiting to be fitted!

Saturday morning, first thing.

I'm going to have to have some fun wearing the existing rears out a bit more before then ;-)

 

[JMR]

Got the tyres fitted this morning.

A couple of little nicks in the paint on the edge of the rim, which I expected, they are sooooo tight on the front wheels with the 35 profile.

I'll touch up the little nicks, hardly visible tbh.

Bizarrely enough, the rears went on no problem.

Initial impressions are good.

Much better at low speed, like pulling in to the drive, as they don't crab or judder like the Bridgestones.

Will give them a clean up tomorrow and post up some pics.

The Michelins still have a nice rim protector, and possible look better than the Bridgestones which I'm happy with.

The profile is not quite as wide, they look a sportier tyre if you know what I mean.

 

[s999sws]

Are you saying that the tyre fitters damaged the wheel rim, and that you expected it to happen?

If so, then I'd give them a miss next time.

Sws

 

[JMR]

Are you saying that the tyre fitters damaged the wheel rim, and that you expected it to happen?

If so, then I'd give them a miss next time.

Sws

No, the front wheels had a couple of 1/4" scrapes on the edge when I bought the car, suspect from previous tyre fitting as they're not wheels that you can really kerb without damaging the rim protector on the tyre. The rims were not kerbed.

They were scrape marks, and I touched them up.

Taking the tyre off took the touch up off, so I'll do it again.

They've looked un-noticeable for the past 11 months.

My mate at work fitted them for me, and I was confident that he took as much care as anyone could take, so I wasn't annoyed that I've got to re-touch them up.

These things happen.

 

[JMR]

Cleaned the tyres up this morning and gave the car a wash.

I'll attach pics showing the Bridgestone vs the Michelin shortly

 

[MrDemon]

PS4S or the old PS2 ?

 

[JMR]

PS2's.

Cant upload any photos direct from my computer at the moment as the site says its down :-(

 

[MrDemon]

o that's a shame , in that it's a 10 year old design :-(

And while I loved the PS2 10 years a go it's not a good tyre vs what you can buy now.