996 Turbo Tyres

So I'm running standard sized Bridgestone N-rated tyres on my 996 Turbo. I bought some new for the fronts not so long ago (2000km) and I need to replace the rears - problem is that you can't get them any more it would seem :? My options are N-rated Michelin PS2 tyres, but would have N4 rear and N3 front. They're an old technology tyre, but people still rate them. However, Michelin have just released the PS4S (not N-rated) in 996 Turbo sizes (225/40R18 and 295/30R18): https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tyres/michelin-pilot-sport-4-s The problem is I can't find them for sale anywhere in Europe? Any idea when they will be available? There is also the Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, but I saw it's not so good in the wet and they're expensive too.

There are a few sellers on eBay at the moment (uk). Less than £400 for a new pair of Bridgestone S02 rear tyres.

P4S worth waiting for. Its a real step up from the old n rated tyres even if its not n rated. Nice to hear its now available albeit on back order already as I thought you could not buy this tyre for 996 or previous gens too like 993 etc.

Any joy finding someone in uk with these tyres? I'm after a set of rears myself

Seems like you're overly concerned about brands and N rating rather than finding the right tyre for your style of driving, IMO? You're asking for recommendations, but have told us nothing about how you use the car?! For example, the Pilot Sport Cups you mention are road legal track day tyres. These type of tyres are designed to give as much grip as possible in the dry whilst having the minimum amount of tread to remain road legal (think as close to racing slicks as legally possible). The grip comes at the expense of poor wet performance, poor longevity and often additional road noise. If you're not doing mainly track days in the car I would rule them out immediately. As for N rated tyres, I'm convinced this is a marketing gimmick - how can a tyre be specifically made for a car, if it's approved fitment for all cars in that entire brand that happen to fit that tyre size, be it a front or rear tyre, mid, rear or front engined, etc etc, in a modern day car or one from 20 years ago? On top of that, a modern day top end tyre simply must be better than an N rated tyre design from 20 years ago. So, what do you use the car and what is important to you in a tyre - dry grip, wet grip, longevity, road noise, price?

What are the N rated options out there. Continental contact 2 Fronts 225/40/18 don't seem to available in N rated anymore. Continental Rears 295/30/18 are still available in N rated @ 286.00 a pop :evil:

Again, why are you bothered about N rated tyres? Take your Conti 5 N rated front tyres for example, they're recommended size for the front tyre on a 1999 2.5L Boxster too. Do you really think that tyre is optimised for both a 420bhp rear-engined 911 Turbo Coupe and a 200 bhp mid-engined Boxster convertible? And how old is that tyre design and material technology - at least 10 years, surely? Do you think tyre technology hasn't moved on in 10 years?

It's a fair bit more than a marketing gimmick. See --> http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=53470&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

With all due respect, there's nothing in those posts beyond marketing spiel, e.g: "Porsche did all this testing for performance reasons, to ensure your car handled the way the factory intended, there are good guidelines here to follow. If you change sizes at all, you (are on your own and) need to be aware of the change in the ratio of front to rear rolling diameters, because a significant change will adjust the ABS and/or the 4WD." "Production tyres that have passed all of the tests and received Porsche's engineering department's release can be branded with an N-specification. " There's no specific data, only wishy washy wording which basically amounts to "N rated tyres are better for your Porsche, trust us" . My examples above prove the falsehood of these claims - how can a front tyre be optimised for both a 2.5L 986 and a 996T coupe? The mere suggestion is a nonsense! As is the idea that a tyre put together with decades old tech and an N rating will be an all round better choice than a modern top end tyre. There are well respected tyre brands that didn't even exist when N ratings were started! Not to mention, that it would be extremely simple for Porsche and/or Michelin to prove that N rated tyres are better (in any specific criteria) with a straight-forward back to back test between N rated and non-N rated tyres on the same car, same track, same day. The fact that they will spend £millions on marketing, but won't do this (or won't publish the results of them having done this in private ) speaks volumes. When it comes to car modifications for performance, 20 years of testing have led to me seek out test data before believing any marketing claim, especially from the same people who sell the expensive parts. There are a huge number of snake oil salesmen out there, including the sports car manufacturers!

I have got a brand new pair of rear bridgestones in my garage never fitted 295/30/18 so2 n rated Could sell them if needed

This seems a bit more than marketing spiel to me.

Again, where's the data? Or even telling us what tests they run? Why will they clearly spend time answering questions with vagaries, but won't provide any specifics? We're just supposed to trust the people with a vested interested in selling us very expensive tyres to tell us the truth and that just happens to be that their tyres are better than others? Despite the evidence, right in front of our faces, that one tyre cannot possibly be "optimised" for both a 986 2.5 and 996T?! And it's naive to assume that car manufacturers don't lie. Audi have lied about a car's power output and Ferrari have lied about the 456's performance, both for marketing reasons, both despite independent testing proving they were lying. Not top mention industry wide fraud under DieselGate.

Thanks for the comments. I have decided to wait for the PS4S. Michelin say they don't know why they are not in stock in Luxembourg. With regards to my driving style, I am often between 2 styles - the one with the kids in the back and the one where I am alone ;-) I do the odd track day here and there, but mainly drive the country roads with the local unofficial Porsche club. Of course, there is the odd trip on the autobahn too where all speeds are legal outside the limited areas

You find me a full matching set in the UK of fronts at 225/40/18 and a rears at 295/30/18 in a premium brand that live up to your newer technology requirements and I'm all ears.

If I were buying new tyres now, I'd be looking to source a set of these: https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tyres/michelin-pilot-sport-4-s

The range of sizes for MPS4S has grown since I last looked. They are a good tyre on a wide range of cars, in my experience.

That's the problem though. The 295/30/18 size is not available anywhere at present. So despite the newer technology if you were to buy a full set of tyres for your 996 turbo on standard 18inch twists you can only get N rated Pirelli P Zero.

Well, we are still in a global pandemic with unprecedented supply chain issues. If you can wait a few months, I'd do so. If you can't, you don't have a choice, so what does it matter - just buy what's available.

Also been hunting for PS4 in 295 here - same luck as you PS2 are still available in 295 - it's what I'm running just now. Still a good tyre, albeit an older design. I hate Pirelli, always felt crap, but I live in Scotland where it tends to be colder - I don't think they do well when it's cold, but Michelin always do.

It's actually the lack of availability in the fronts that is the problem. Only available in P Zeros. Maybe it's just not viable to reproduce these sizes anymore ?

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Good to hear Michelin are at least advertising PS4S in a Turbo size now. So it's a waiting game to get a matching set of tyres. Need all 4 as previous owner has run these close to the limit and old rubber.

Without wishing to repeat myself. The only current available option for a full matching set is P Zeros. All 3 recommended N Rated tyres from Michelin , Continental and Pirelli are available in the larger sized staggered rear set up but only the P Zeros are available AFAIAA in the 225/40 size. Much as we may want to upgrade to PS4 technology at present it's not available in the larger rear tyre size anywhere in the UK or seemingly Europe.

Didnt sit well with me ordering mixed tyres, phoned Michelin who confirmed that they do no recommend mixing any with PS2 rears (as expected). They did however flag that they should has PS2 front available in 8-10 weeks. So I will simply grab some rears for now and await those 2+ Months.

Matching PS2 are available now. Front and rear manufacture date on tyre show 2021.

225 now in stock at Blackcircles, but not in Luxembourg where I live: https://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/michelin/pilot-sport-4-s/225/40/R18/Y/92/f?tyre=41395637 295 now in stock where I live, but not in UK: https://www.reifen.de/michelin-pilot-sport-4s-295-30-zr18-98y--2400298 What to do :dont know:

Good video on how OEM versions of tyres do differ from the aftermarket version. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=COA630Juf_U&t=703s

What's everyone using for matching front and rear tyres? I can only find the following 2 on blackcircles: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Continental Sport Contact 2 The next closest is a Michelin PS4S on the rear and PS4 which isn't exactly the same.

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Its worth mentioning sizes - I assume in your post you're referring to 225 40 F 295 30 R I think you can get 235 40 F in PS4S so if you're willing to go up a size this would give you a matching set of PS4S

Anyone tried Asda Tyres on the web. Took me an age to even look at their web site and now they are my first port of call after buying front and rear Pirelli N4 over past years

I took the chance last time and use MyTyres, the Dutch outfit, who duly did their trick of “in warehouse” on the website not matching reality. I wasn’t in a rush though, so within 4 weeks or so I managed to get a full set of PS4S! As to fitting a 235/40/18 on the front rather than a 225/40/18 - won’t that upset the speedo? Mine is solidly 10% over reading anyway mind you, does my head in!

I had 235 on the front and 295 on the rear for a couple of months (PS2's) and the PSM didn't like it at all, activating much earlier than usual. I wish PS4S was available in 225/40/18, I've only ever had PS2s

PS4S is quite different feeling from PS2 but not necessarily in a good way IMO

I'll probably end up going with a matching ps2 set.

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235 40 F is 996.2 gt3 sizing - and 295 30. So maybe someone senior at Michelin has one. Otherwise not very many PS4S in less than 19 if at all.

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That’s a shame given I managed to get 225/40/18 in them before - thankfully mine have enough tread to get this year out of them, maybe the situation will Improve again Shame the new continentals are not in our size either I won’t be too distressed if I have to go back to PS2 anyway, the edge of turn in is much sharper on them than the PS4S, albeit the 4S feels like it turns in more aggressively once it’s hooked up

I prefer PS4S to PS2, better ride. quieter, more progressive and more forgiving. Very good in the wet. I found that the PS2 really wanted great roads whereas the PS4S were less fussy. Re turn in, I can't say I noticed a difference. I tried to put new rears on with the old fronts as they still had 5-6mm of tread, all PS4S. PSM was very unhappy....I had to replace the fronts as well.

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Sorry my mistake I didn't think they were available in 225 40

Ah I didn't realise you could get ps4s in 225/40/18 either. So decision I need to make as I'll be needing a full set in the spring is 225/40/18 & 295/30/18 ps2 with n rating Or same sizes in ps4s but not n rated Or go back to what I've mainly run previously 235/40/18 & 315/30/18 ps2 n rated.

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Might not be anymore! Just searched my mail - Feb 2023 from Camskill, 700 on the nose for the set of four!

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Camskill appear to have 225/40/18 PS4S in stock, Camskill appear to have both fronts and rears in stock at the moment, BTW

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I've found the following in PS4S 285 30 - £280ish 295 30 - £320ish So gone up a bit

Has anyone tried the Pirellis?

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I have them fitted on the rear. Pirelli were on the car all round when i bought her back in 2016 so i never looked at any other tyres. Just used for road driving and found them to deal with all conditions and never put me in danger. Each to their own i suspect