Quick...Tire help....anyone?

Here is my dilemna... I just got home from a 9,000 mile venture around the country. 2 of 4 tires need to be replaced, but im opting to replace all 4 to avoid headaches down the road....Based on reviews, speaking to other owners, etc....the Michi PS 2 were my tire of choice. After speaking with a tirerack salesman he mentioned that this tire, in my specific size was not N-rated. Dealership says absolutely do not use non n-rated tires on the vehicle. I've heard of other owners neglecting this, but this has come back to bite me the last go-around buying tires. My dealership states that the best option for my vehicle is the Bridgestone Potenza S-02a? I'm thinking that going with their recommendation is probably the best idea even though i know of owners getting good results with the Michi's... Any thoughts? I need to get these ordered asap before the dealer starts charging me for the loaner car!!!!! 2002 C4 Cab f-225/40/18 R-265/35/18

The PS2's are not a great tire IMO, but whatever tire you choose, the "N" rating means nothing as far as quality or the best tire for your car. Ignore it. Look at the Bridgestones.

Run the PS2s here. I took it to the dealership to get some warranty work done (not related to tires), and they said that because I didnt have N rated tires, that I had voided my warranty... so they couldnt help me. I was pissed... but then realized I was dreaming. Ross

I have the S02-A's and they are a fantastic tire... Hey 1999.... what is it about the PS2 that you don't like... would you choose the PS "RIB" over the PS2's...?? curious for your opinion... P.

I didn't like the traction of the PS2's. I prefer the Bridgestones. However, I have more choices than some since I run the stock 18" size. Ran a set of larger (295/30's) and had less traction than with my smaller Bridgestone. This was a few years ago and maybe the PS2 has been improved. RIB is a plus to me.

Thanks guys..i went ahead and ordered the so2- a's. I've had some weird "aligment problems" that became more evident on my roadtrip. About two months ago the vehicle had 4 new tires, a month later I got a screw in the sidewall of the front right tire. My first dealership said that it was OK to replace the damaged tire and leave the rest. Automatically I noticed a change in performance, a floating feeling, and wobble between 80-90mph and a substantial pull to the right....the vehicle went back a day later and a "four wheel" alignment was performed...I picked up the vehicle and the problem still persists. Two weeks later, I took the vehicle to dealer #2 and dealer #2 states that the aligmnent was off. The second aligment was complete, picked up the vehicle and the problem still exists. This was on a Saturday and there was now way in hell i was missing my 3rd vacation this summer because of my car. The dealer said to let the aligment and tires "break-in" to the new specs and it was OK to drive....I proceeded to go on my cross-country road trip and the problem was evident the entire way. I stopped in spokane, wa to attempt to get another opinion, but was unable to get a reasonable appointment at short notice. I returned from my trip, approx 8,000 miles later, immediately brought the vehicle back to dealer #2 to show them the uneven wear on the inside of the 2 rear tires and to explain that the car was still pulling to the right and had vibration between 80-90mph. I was told that uneven wear on the inside of the rears are "normal" for a porsche considering that the tires had 10k miles on them....does this make sense? As a result, dealer #2 recommended replacing all four and this should correct what appeared to be an aligment issue and would hopefully correct the instability in the vehicle at speed. Does this make any sense??? Can a slight difference in tire wear from left to right cause so many problems? The right side was the new side, wouldnt it make sense that the vehicle would want to pull to the left and not the right? Damn....other than a fantastic trip listening to howard stern the whole way, i can't get a friggin break with this car!

The uneven wear on the inside of the rear tires is NORMAL. The rear tires typically last 10, 12,000 miles. This is a result of the PROPER alligment, specifically, negative camber on the rear wheels. Wear is faster at highway driving. You can have some of the negative camber dialed out and get sunbtantial more tire life. The cost is slightly less cornering ability, but unless you track your car, it is not needed. Make sure you run 36/44 psi. If you are going with the 265/35/18 size, look at the RE-750. Best traction of them all.

Thank you..I suspected that the inside wear cound be normal, but was looking for another opinion. Any thoughts on the other weirdness? Vehicle pulling to the right, instability at higher speed?

Since you're changing tires anyway, switch front left with right and see if the pull follows the tire. That would eliminate allignment problems.

is 36/44 psi normal for 18" rim.... I have 17" and find 36/36 works best.. I mean that is what porsche states under the front bonnet for 17" tire size... I'm wondering why the 36/44 works better for 18"... could it be the lower profile of the rear than the front?? wouldn't increasing front / decreasing rear tire pressure get rid of that built in understeer? ditto on the RE-750... lots of 911 run them and they are good priced.. good traction but don't have quite the lateral grip of the the more espensiv tires... good tires nonethe less... especially for price...

Why would anyone run Michelin after the USGP fiasco?? Bridestone for life!

correct me if I'm wrong but the point of the "fiasco" was to save some lives... no?

SO2's are awful tires...I took mine off after 1000 miles...went to PS2s and they were way better....recently went to MPSC and they are the bomb.

It was all in lightheartedness! Michelin are great tires. I am just partial to my S-O3s

Big michelin PS2 fan here... Hate the Pirellis.

SO3's? Why did you choose them over the SO2 or SO2A?

curious...what was so awful about them? did you have the S02-A or the regular S02? MPSC is a different class of tire and yes they are awesome but I don't know about their longevity... curious as to your experience with S02-A??

Well to be honest with you, i dont think that the SO2 was even out when i purchased the SO3's back in 7/04... The SO3's may wear a little bit faster, but I dont put enough miles on the car to worry about that sort of issue. I have never had a tire stick like an SO3 in both the wet and dry... BTW SO3s are on closeout at tirerack and you can pick up a whole set for around $500!! -Keith

That might be why they aren't N rated. FYI....I have bought 2 sets of S02's for my 996 and they were bought before 7/04. But at that price of $500 for an entire set, you can't go wrong! Great deal.

I had S03's and hated them... the S02 is a *much* better tire IMO. there is probably a reason why tire rack is closing them out...

I perhaps should provide some background. I was riding on Yoko 008s in my older P-car. They were unbelievable! When I got my new TT with the Bridgestone S02-A I was appalled at the traction (BTW, I do not care about longevity), stability, noise and all around handling. I went to PS2s and they were way better...then of course I did the next upgrade...MPSC and they are close to the Yokos.

that makes more sense... the 008s and MPSC are in the same class.... regular tires last 10-12k on the rear... how many miles should one expect from MPSC tires?