Tires??? 2000 996

I have been using the conti's on my 2000 996 and not very happy. They are reasonably priced, but don't seem to last more than 10K miles (I know...that is fairly typically). However, my biggest compliant is that they are rough and terrible in the rain. Any recommendations??? Thanks.

10K is pretty quick... I usually get 15k+ on my rears, and that's NYC driving. I have Pilot Sports on now and I'm really feeling the love. ymmv, Rob

I just installed a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3s on my 1999 C2 yesterday. While I realize that this doesn't really qualify me to recommend these, they are by far the best tire I have ever used in the rain (it rained the whole way home on my 120 kilometer drive). Also, on the odd patch of dry road, they appear to be very quiet. Beyond this, this tire won the recent Car & Driver comparo on summer tires for sports cars, and is ranked VERY highly by Tire Rack (the only tire above it has miniscule reported mileage, compared to over 10,000,000 miles reported for the Goodyear). Good Luck.

Did you guys see that Dunlop released a new tire, the SP Sport Maxx? Hmmm. Choices choices. I saw it over on Tire Rack.

That Dunlop you mention is the one that I was talking about in my last post. I couldn't rely on the 144,700 miles reported that make it #1, against the 11,558,664 miles that make the GS D3 #2. That many miles, with positive feedback, it CAN'T be bad. Here's a link to the survey results: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...ay.jsp?type=MP

It's a good point, jjker. But, I'll be keeping my eyes on it for the next 3-5k miles that I have left on my awful Contis. Argh. Else, I'm likely going Goodyear like you did or the PS2.

I think the PS2 Michelins are likely a no brainer as well. I like the tread design of the Goodyear better, and the Michelins are way more money.

michelin ps2's are quiet, no problem other than them being a little too tall/oversized, but in nyc, any rim protection helps!

I've had the Eagle F1 GS D3s on for over 10K miles. Very little discernable tread wear. I love these tires for their grip, wet and dry, and for the quiet ride in highway cruising. I did a lot of research before I bought them, and the Tire Rack comments swayed me, also. I do not track my car, but use it as a daily driver and for long trips.

mounted Eagle F1 DS D3 a month ago, put 2k miles on them, love them, quiet, grip and more fun than 295 Yokos (too much grip)....

Hey Rob, tell us how you really feel that love

I've got a couple thousand miles on a set of Bridgestone RE750s. They've been great on wet and dry, including 1 track day. I was pleasantly surprised when we had some unusually cold whether in NorCal recently. With temps in low 30s and wet conditions, I did not notice any lack of grip (though I was not pushing it). With my former P-Zero Assymetricos, grip decreased dramatically when temps dipped below low 40s. Perhaps the firmer compound of the RE750s is less sensitive to temp changes.

Anyone want to through out reasonable price for full set of tires??? I have paid $600 for the rears twice...contis...I would expect all 4 to be around a grand...mounted and balanced. Reasoanble? And, appears the concensus is with the goodyears...

$1,000 to $1,200 is generally about what you can expect to pay for all four tires, depending on the tire purchased.

Tim - What tires are you running? Thanks. Kevin

I just paid Tire Rack $880 for all 4 (not mounted or balanced - I had to have my own shop do this since I live no where near a Tire Rack location). Anyway, that's for: 225/40ZR18 front @ $182 ea. 265/35ZR18 rears @ $258 ea.

I have yokohama AVS sports... They are a little loud, but I do like them and would purchase again

Just bought a pair for the rear of my 996, $375 mounted. nice and quiet....softer than the avid H, which I ran for about 15k miles, they started to get noisy....I will burn them up playing with the SC'd shark......

Just put on the BFG KD2. Cool tread design. A little loud(but not as much as my bald asymetricos). Bought them because i drive 70-80 miles highway daily, and the pirelli's just wasted away. The BFG have treadwear of 300. The were great in the rain and a little light snow this AM. They are softer than the asymetricos and do not feel as sharp when cornering. However, i have yet to track the car and will soon adjust to the different feel. Price was very reaonable. 850 shipped from tire rack, 100 for local install. The two rear pir were600 +alone.

maybe it's my 19s that are loud then... wait, does that make sense?

Kevin - about 13 months ago, when I got the car, it had 6,500 miles on it. It had the original Pirelli P-Zeros. To make a long story short I replaced the rears tires twice with P-Zeros. I love the way the P-Zeros handled and rode but they just wore out too quickly. Then at 23,000 miles I got 4 new Bridgestone RE750 tires. They have a higher tread wear rating 340 versus the P-Zeros of 220. The RE750 tires are NOT "N" rated tires, but I don't track the car so I am not worried about that part of it. I just wanted to be able to get 15,000 to 18,000 miles out of the rears.

Tim- How do you like these RE750s? I have yet to change my rears (currently fitted with RE750s) so I have no other references in terms of handling/wear. I have another Q: my fronts are RE750 as well but still have plenty of tread. Can I replace my rears with something other than RE750s? Will it affect how the car handles? Edit: just saw another post addressing my f&r mismatch Q. JM

JM - the RE750 are pretty good. They don't grip or corner quite like the P-Zeros probably because they are not a sticky and the side wall may not be a firm. When going over highway expansion joints, I "feel" and "hear" much more of a harsh THUD sound in the rear tires of the RE750s than I did with the P-Zeros. This is probably due to the harder, more durable rubber in the RE750s. I bought these for the additional wear capabilities, and I have about 800 miles on them now, so it is too early to tell about tread wear.

Having put 2000 miles on a set of Mastercraft Avengers I'm very happy. I know that these are not a normal choice for a P car, and not N rated, but I had to get something in a hurry and that's all I could find locally at a shop I trusted with the car. Rain, snow and shine I find them great.. and they LOOK so bad ***.. the tread is just awesome ;-) http://www.vulcantire.com/avenger_zhp_t.htm I bought them just going into winter knowing that while I don't make a habit out of driving in snow here, it was a possibility, and we do have afternoon rain in the summer. They were so cheap that I knew that if I didn't really like them I could keep them just for winter, but have enjoyed them in all weather. Very quiet, NO tramlining.. compared to the Pirellis they are heaven. Keith

I spoke with Tire rack at length, because I'm getting close to buying tires foor my C4S. I learned a few interesting things. 1. Tread wear ratings are not absolute numbers. They cannot be compared across brands. So a 200 from Conti cannot be compared to a 200 from Michelin. This really surprised me! 2. The new Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position Max Performance Summer has not been fully reviewed yet, because its new. The review should be done soon. However, the initial impression from a quick test makes them think it will compare well with the Goodyear F1 GS-D3. However, it has the benefit of not being directional. For those that track their car with street tires, this means that you can at least swap wheels it from left to right, thereby extending it's life. As a result, I'm going to wait to check the test results.

Hey fellow drivers, Re: Tires, My 996 came from PO with Toyo Proxes T1-S? Anyone have any feedback on them? They seem ok to me? My Boxster came OEM with Potenza's. But I am not too hard on either car and I don't track (yet ). Any opinions would be appreciated

I switched to pzero Russo's. They are N4 Porsche rated , much quieter, better grip than previous pzero generation, Pilot Sports and Conti's. I like them alot and would them buy again.

I had T1-S's on my previous car (Audi A4). I liked them very much. I used them on the road and a few times on the track. I also had a few sets of Toyo RA1 track tires. I liked those as well.

Keith- I don't want to burst your bubble but you should check the following NHTSA recall note to see if it applies to you: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...rintVersion=NO

Thanks for the heads up.. I'll definitely follow up but this recall is specifically for 19 and 20" tires, and mine are 18s. Worth a look at though. Best Keith

As far as in the rain driving. I'm in Orlando we get more than our share of wet weather and I have used my street tires on the track on wet days. Pole Position SO-3 prior to these I have run the SO-2 these have much better grip wet and dry. I have driven the car at speed on the track with very good results on rainy days...actually scarry how little differnece we to dry with grip....but don't get sloppy. Getting like 15-18K on the rears (They are cooked when I replace them) and twice that much in the front.

Just put the Michelin Pilot Sport ribs on today. So far, the ride is great and they seem to handle well. I was told the Yokohama's and Bridgestones don't last as long as the Michelin's, so we will see... I must admit though Yokohama's do have the nicest tread pattern and I thougth long and hard about putting them on. Thanks for all of the feedback!!!

Eagle F1 GS D3s on my C2. I've had Pilot Sport PS2s and Cont-2s, and the Eagles really are the best. Pilot Sports would be my second choice, but man these Eagles are just unbelievable. I am amazed at the grip both wet and dry. I didn't think street tires could be this good!

After having my P for 1 week...got a 5 inch screw in the left tire....so I kind of had to change both..because they weren't new....I asked around and decided to put Michelin's...front still have Pirelli's..but don't like those much..love the Michelin's...now I kind of want to go to 19"..... another pricey mod!!

www.edgeracing.com has some really good buys, but you have to arrange for your own mounting, balancing etc. From time to time they have sales that are just unbelievable, right now the spring bling sale. Np connection whatsoever, just a customer, but I have bought three sets of tires from them. None for either of my P cars, but only because I havn't needed any since I ran across the site. I've also sent at least 5 people there who bought tires and/or wheels. It is worth checking out

bridgestone S03 Pole Position and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 seem to be a consensus choice.

I would have to disagree. S03 is NOT a consensus choice around here (but the PS2 is). Remember the S03 is NOT a N rated tire either. If you want to go with bridgestone, the S02 and S02A are great tires (and N rated).

Wow, Dell, you're nearing 5k posts!

What happens then?

Maybe you win a new car from Rennlist or something. It's gotta be big though. Or maybe you go from 'Addict' to 'Jedi Master'. That would be cool.

Once you reach 5,000 posts, you HAVE to buy a GT3!