I need tires on my 997.2 but just the rears?

UPDATE: Because of the age of the fronts, I decided to go with all 4. I went with the Michelin MSPN 10365 for the rear and MSPN 10221 for the front. Thanks all. I need tires on my 997.2 but just the rears? They are currently Michelin PS4S N0, and I will be going back with the same thing. Date code on the fronts are 4819 Rears are about down to the wear bars, and I now I have a nail in one as well. Front tires aren't even close to the wear bars I'm thinking of just doing the 2 on the back, replacing with the same thing so they will match the front. Any issues with this?

Nope, happens all the time, just make sure you are choose N-spec tires and though there's no requirement I'd make sure to get the same brand & model as the front.

I just updated the post, they are PS4S N0's, and they will be replaced with the same thing. HOWEVER, the fronts have a date code of 4819, so they're getting to the end of their life anyway.

@theblooms - I think you're just fine! I'd just replace the fronts. If you're not tracking, I'd just run those rears down and save the cash TBH. Some people hit the eject button at 6 years, but I'm fine closer to 10 * IF * you carefully check them over (no cracks, grippy rubber, no nothing). I also like matching the brand/tire tread if possible too. Put it this way -- those ones you saw me drive down on were way expired (14 years) but were sticky enough for the trip. YMMV and insert disclaimer here. Save me some Q from Farm Boys!!!

Replacing just rears with a same version as the fronts are routinely done by most of us. And I believe the 6 year old tire replacement recommendation is an overly cautious legal recommendation because of our very litigious society. I've used 10 years as my guide and even then my tires still look fine when I replace them.

It’s not as over cautious as you may believe on a Porsche . A couple years ago, mine walked out a little bit making a left-hand turn, the sensation was cool, but I quickly realized that the tires were toast and was glad that it happened on a simple from a stop left turn. Don’t screw with saving money delaying tires , just my two cents. My cousin had a similar occurrence in a 986 , no damage but loss of grip. Tires are life-saving insurance, my dad always believed that the best quality tires were imperative as a purchase, I have always stood on that same paradigm.

That 6 year thing seems to be misinterpreted. When I first read it it said "Do not mount tires older than 6 years" In other words; after 6 years the normal service life of the tires might be compromised. Guessing tires are good for 5 to 8 years, so 11 to 14 years total life.

I'm on my third Cayman and my experience has been replacing fronts twice for every once in rear. All - fronts - -all

With 2019 date codes the front tires are about 7 years old. Tire rubber hardens with age. Sun exposure hastens that, but it happens even in indoor storage. That means the tires are not as soft and don’t handle like new tires . Period. If you’re using the car just to commute and maybe some gentle open-road driving, no real problem. At least until the tires are about 10 years old IMO. I think a lot of us have replaced the rear tires at twice the rate of the fronts, and we’ve been fine. Fairly safe. But a dealer wouldn’t do that, and it’s not the “proper” thing (to have old and new tires mixed). If you can swing the cost, I’d suggest to replace all four tires .

I have a 997.2 , too, a 2011 Turbo S.... same issue, with even modest Autocross time and general road use the rears will wear out about twice as fast as the fronts, but I NEVER take either front or back tires down to the wear bars, generally down to 3 or 4/32's only... and your 2019 tires are definitely too old! Anything over six years from manufacture date should be replaced with no wear or full wear, the rubber is sensitive to hardening... especially under florescent lights...or sunlight. You will be amazed and the ride and control feel difference. I can tell I'm getting in that 4/32's range as the tires will start generating more road noise. Like oil changes and other maintenance items, yes rubber is expensive, tires are so much more expensive than losing a corner or the additional "feel" new tires provide. I get replacements at Discount Tire, I pull the wheels, and bring them in to the shop, to a guy I know.... I don't trust anyone, but maybe a dealer, around my PCCB rotors. I even purchased dollies so I can 'roll the wheel & tire onto the spindles, I match mark the wheels too, at the car's right height. The PCA club gets us 10% off at Discount Tire... plus Michelin has the $80/for 4 tires , but they will prorate me per tire due to their higher price, and that I mount them on the car. Also the DT I use has that $25-30K robotic tire machine, bead breaker & tire mounter.... I don't trust the human/manual bead breaker unless I know them!! Total bill with discounts, was about $1,500-$1,600 all in. If you use DT's credit card, it's another 5% off too, if I recall, I don't. I purchased the 3/4" 600 ft/lb torque wrench too... and another socket for the center mount nut... for about 1/2, or less than Porsche 's price, even FCP Euro's wrench is too expensive.

continued..... If you do the wheel mount/dismount yourself, you'll the a brake pedal depressor, and the moly lubricant for the center lock nut too. or have your helper/wife depress the brake pedal to loosen/tighten to 450 ft/lbs... I go thru a set of rears nearly every season.

As you are changing the tires , don't forget about the TPMS sensors , the batteries do go out. I replaced the rears on my 987 about every 2 years, and the fronts every 4 years (with the rears). Replacing all 4 tires for the second time, about 8 years, I replaced the TPMS units as well because the batteries were failing. Don't let a tire shop use generic sensors, make sure you get OEM. I had nothing but problems when Discount Tire installed generics. I had to take the car back and have all the sensors swapped out for OEM. I was able to see the TPMS sensor battery level on my Durametric scanner.

Yes... on TPMS sensors , per Bobp, regardless OEM or DT sensors they have to be tested before installation. "new" doesn't mean the non-replaceable battery in the TPMS sensor is "new". DT had a new unit that was "dead" on arrival, but if they sit on the shelf at the dealer, they can be dead too. I just had mine replaced on the last round of tires . They are 1/2 as expensive on FCP Euro, but DT won't warranty them if they install yours... in short DT is good about testing them... or at least my DT shop was.... DT had a lot of trouble on my Lexus LS460L w/the new TPMS sensors ...

I replaced mine on the now traded in 2011 Cayenne Turbo - with ones from Tire Rack . Totally painless, and worked exactly like the OE ones. About half the price of OE.

Don.... by the way, Discount Tire purchased Tire Rack .... so really it's left hand/right hand.... price differences are the differential between install fees/shipment costs/ and other add-ons.

Here is a reply by a local tire shop regarding replacing similar tires to your inquiry: For these sizes in the Porsche N2 spec, Michelin offer the PS2 tire instead of the MPS4S. Both street tires , but the PS2 is a little more sporting in nature and does not last as long. The 4S is available but without the Porsche specification attached to it. Attached is a quote the 4S. If you go with the N2 spec PS2 model, add about $455 to the total. Given the price difference, I thin the 4S is the way to go. Attached is the quote. I hope this helps.