N rated tyres options

Hello guys, I currently have 4xContinental Sport Contact N rated tyres on my C4s. I am in need of 2x front tyres but seems these tyres are not available anywhere in Europe any more (am not sure if they stopped making them). As alternatives I seem to have the option of Michelin PS2 and Pirelli P-zero Rosso Assymetrico both with N rating. If i choose not to put N rated tyres i have the options of Contisport 5, etc.and also they are like 70 euros less each installed and bought locally. I dont like to have different brands between front and rear, but i guess this have to be the case as my rears have around 5k miles on them and they were installed not even 20 months ago. Is it ok to use non N rated tyres? I know these are some specifications of Porsche but how people feel about it? If i choose to go for N rated tyres, i believe Michelin PS2 is the way to go as they have also 30 euros difference each with the P-zeros.

if you have porsche warranty, no if you don't have porsche warranty, yes , save $$$

So no real benefit or handling differences between N rated or non N rated tyres?

As I understand it, N rating can be considered effectively "Porsche approval" more than anything else.... and the higher the rating the greater the approval :dont know: Re. the Porsche approval - I like to think there is some kind of accompanying nod to performance and sidewall loading, given the rear engine nature of our cars..? But other than that, I also tend to assume that current N rated tyres are probably kept to better stock levels that others in the actual sizes that I need. With Continentals - I used to run these for years, but I think Porsche since moved away from them - hence I likewise switched to N rated Michelin for summer and N rated Pirelli for winter and have been particularly happy with the Michelins compared to the Contis.... I'm quite happy to spend a little extra money on the one thing connecting the car to the road

Honestly N rating is just a gimmick, IMO. At best it shows a minimum level of quality for a tyre, but little more. I don't think anyone has ever demonstrated that oem marked tyres are any better than the non-oem marked? With so much snake oil and marketing around car parts, I'd look for independently verified tests and results before paying extra for any car part, doubly so with something as important as tyres.

Full explanation about 'N' rated tyres here --> http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=53470&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight= Opinions from a Michelin tyre Expert here --> http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=92039&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

As an Automotive Engineer that has worked with BMW, Audi and Mercedes over number years, if necessary I wouldn't hesitate to use a premium none N rated tyres of correct specification on a C2. Most of us are not going notice the structural differences in a N rated and none rated tyre.However on my C4 or any AWD / Quattro / X drive I want to guarantee the correct rolling circumference, this is more challenging when running any 4 wheel drive with different sizes front to rear. As I understand it tyres of the same N rating sequence guarantees this. For us the UK ..... I got these from Blackcircles.com a few weeks ago, At the price (supply only with 15% promo code ) why use anything else? Tyre Details: 2 x Michelin Pilot Sport 2 (Porsche (N3)) 225/40 R18 Y (92), Reinforced 2 x Michelin Pilot Sport 2 (Porsche (N3)) 265/35 R18 Y (97), Reinforced Price: £476.40 Dave

How are you guaranteeing correct rolling circumference on tyres that will wear at different rates? :?: I'm also not convinced about N rated tyres guaranteeing rolling circumference ratios between front and back, as they aren't model specific. You can get N rated tyres for anything from the fronts of a 986 17" wheeled boxster to a 20" wheeled 991.2 Turbo?

I'll still fall back on the science (or lack thereof). It would be very easy to demonstrate that an N (or other OEM rated tyre) outperforms a non-rated tyre of the same make, type and size. I've never seen one, so I'll take that as there's no discernible difference until shown otherwise! :thumb:

Well as I am in Cyprus the prices have nothing in common with what you get there! I was quoted 400 euros for the fronts only. And this was on a max discount relative kind of pricing But i can order those online from Germany for almost 3/5 of the price! What make me question the N ratings especially now on a 996, is that the car is 20 years old. So most probably tyre technology is much better nowadays. Am sure Porsche did not actually test a 996 with N4 spec tyres etc. And N0 to N4 will have some big deviation in their specs! Also i noticed that now you have M rated (Mercedes) A rated (Audi) tyres etc, of the same model. So i wonder now if this means that the non rated tyres are not fit for their described use based on speed / load specs of the tyre? All this makes me believe that this is more of a gimmick,

I fitted non N rated PS4 in the standard factory dimensions to my C4 recently. I could have paid more for an older tyre design with an N rating but it didn't make much sense to me based on the tiny amount I read about the rating. It perhaps made sense 20 years ago when more tyres weren't capable of dealing with 1500kg and 300bhp but nowadays that's about the average power and weight of a hot hatch.

I only have a lowly C2 Tip Cab but found this thread useful. The old tyres were continental N2 tyres and the only ones I can currently get hold of were N2 continentals. After much reading I replaced my fronts with Michelin PS4S and we'll see. They had the best wet grip rating and were 1db quieter on tests. And saved 70 quid over the N2 conti's. Cheers Spart

N ratings were devised when our cars were new so they are pretty old fashioned rubber now. Sadly, but not surprisingly, Porsche don't update their recommendations on a regular basis so we have to decide for ourselves. PS4s for instance are highly recommended as being superior to PS2s but they don't come in 285/30/18 - do we go for 275s or tick to PS2s for the 996.2?

For RWD cars I would not be to concerned with the N rating, just go for good modern rubber eg MPS4/MPS4s. I would try to keep the rolling radius similar but alter the width/profile to achieve the balance I wanted. For AWD it is more tricky as there is far less wiggle room and the circumference delta between front and rear needs to be maintained. For these cars it may be easier to stick to recommended N sets. As a note the N4 is not better than than N3 they may have just been approved for different cars. eg N3 295/30/18 rear 996 C4s, N4 for GT3.

I also have a C4S. I think Drac, that the issue is that there are not N rated matching front and rear sets available for the C4S any longer. Conti still make Sport contact 2 (N2) for the rear 295/30/18, but no front. Mich seem to make PS2 (N3) for rear, not front. Bridgestone Potenza make Rear N3, but no matching front. I currently have Conti Sport Contact 2 ( N2's) front and rear. I need to fit new fronts. I think my best option is Conti S/C 5's (no N raating). The only other alternative is to change the rears as well, and fit non matching Mich PS2 rears and PS3/4 fronts. Would appreciate any useful advice. Paul