Tyres again

Mine are finally due for a change (well at little over due). I've currently got Michelin Pilot Sport N1 all round. I think the fronts are original so at 34,000 miles and 5.5 years they've not done bad. The rears I've been getting about 8,000 out of and these new ones will be my third set It seems the N1 rears are now hard to obtain so in line with Porsche's tyre policy I'll be changing all four to the new N3 version. My local tyre fitters price inc VAT and fitting Front 225/40 ZR 18 Michelin Pilot Sport N3 £145 each Rear 285/30 ZR 18 Michelin Pilot Sport N3 £265 each So £820 all in [ ] Ouch!! (Black Circles wanted £945) Has anyone got a better price? (I'm happy on the Pilot Sports)

Have you got a Costco in your area (and a membership card)? They only do Michelin, and sometimes have some good deals.

Just be aware that the walls on the N3 are quite different to those of the N1's. I recently had to do exactly the same as you and almost paid up for the N3's until I saw them on another car - IMO it would have made my car look 'unbalanced' as there's hardly any curb-protection bead running around the walls on the N3's. So I was then on a mission to get some N1's - it's not impossible! If aesthetics aren't an issue for you then I wouldn't worry. Have you tried ATS? They're owned by Michelin and are doing 15% off two Michelin tyres (or 30% off four). If your local ATS doesn't have any N1's I would ring around all the ATS stores in the UK as you're bound to find some at one of their units. I live in south Wales and found some in Portsmouth which they would have gladly put on a truck to go to my local ATS for free. I found them very helpful. I actually ended up buying mine from OPC but that's another whole bag of snakes.........[ ] Adrian. EDIT: Sorry, I thought you were just renewing the rears. If it's all four then I'd definitely give ATS a go..!

I got 225/40/ZR 18 £143.75 incl Vat and fitting 295/30/ZR 18 (rears) £235.00 incl Vat and fitting Bridgestone S-02a from Dartford tyres 01322 274498 I think they are great tyres and wear very well.

I've now been on the phone to ATS and unfortunately the 30% offer off 4 tyres is only up to 17" tyres so I wouldn't get it [ ] (I even rang another branch to double check) He managed to track down a set of the N1s but quoted £941 for the four. Strangely he was told by Michelin that they couldn't currently supply the N3s. (I am having to wait till next Wednesday for the front N3s to come in where my order currently is, that's why I've got a little time to shop around)

Unfortunately there's no Costco in Peterborough the closest is Milton Keynes (about 1 hour and a bit away) I gave them a ring and their inc VAT and fitting price for the N3 (no N1 available) was Front £154 and Rear £304 So £916 + £20 Membership and fuel getting there and back [ ]

Recently got N1 Pilots from Micheldever Tyres (about £240 per rear if I remember right)

About £795 for MPS N0 from www.event-tyres.co.uk including fitting, VAT etc etc. They come to you and fit the tyres...

Micheldever can now only do N3 and wanted Front £147 & Rear £285 so £864[ ] Unfortunately Event Tyres don't quite come to my post code. They will come within about 20 miles so only a little drive out. They also now only do the N3 and wanted Front £151 & Rear £265 so £832. It's looking increasingly like my first local quote is going to be the best. Also although I like the large protection strip on the N1 I don't think it's going to be worth the extra £120 to get the N1 and I'd only be causing problems for later on when the rears are worn out in a year or so and I definitely can't get new N1. I'd end up having to also change only lightly worn N1 fronts to the N3 version. I'll try taking some photos when they are changed next week so we can all see the difference between N1 and N3.

are the tread patterns the same on N1, N3 MPS tyres ? the Michelin website doesnt give any information on them at all, only saying they are Porsche approved

Well, I had them fitted today and they look ok to me. The protection strip is not as big but the tyre still protrudes over the rim so I don't think it will be any easier to damage the rim. The N3 has a less pronounced shoulder (see the photos) but doesn't look too bad. In the end my local tyre fitters were the best price I could find. If your not too far from Peterborough they are well worth the call Apex Tyres , Mancetter Square, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE4 6BX Tel. 01733 575930 First a comparison of the edges Now the tread pattern. The grooves running around the tyre are wider on the N3 The shoulder is more rounded on the N3 Here's one of just the N3 rear

Blimey, N3s look like full wets compared to N1s, by the time we get to N7s there will be no tread at all!

Thanks Andy, the N3s look exctly like the tread pattern on our BMW, run flats

And there was me thinking they were the same as the Carrera GT [ ] (some photos I took at the Festival in 2005 with the new N3 inset)

I've just been looking at tyres online as my rears are going to need doing soon, and I don't quite understand what the different N<insertnumberhere> designations are. Also, what is the difference between P Zero Assimetricos and P Zero Rosso Assimetricos which cost the same? Being of Italian extraction, the only difference to me seems to be one has the word "red" in its name....[8|] Cheers, Marco

No wonder Porsche say you should not mix N-ratings on the car! I had no idea they were so different - so thanks for posting the photos, Andy.

PZero Assimetricos and PZero Rosso have different tread patterns. I think you will find that Rosso Assimetrico is a misnomer. Porsche N rate tyres that are approved for their cars. When a particular model of tyre is released, it is given a N0 designation. When the design of this tyre is revised, it is given an N1 designation, and for each revision the N number increases.

ah, thanks, that makes sense

my rears are almost ready for replacing. I have the N1s all round at the moment but my front tyres are still more or less as new. Is it going to be hard to find some N1s? I really son't fancy having to change all 4 again [ ]

That's right, Rob - unless you're lucky enough to find a supplier with old stock you'll end up with a mix. Michelin seemed to think it's not a problem, but Porsche do! Obviously mixing Ns on a given axle would be worse.

rob, I got N1s from North Eastern Tyre and Exhaust who have several branches and are a tyre distributor so often a bit cheaper. Theyre also listed as a PCGB partner in porschefile quarterly supplement, the contact is Shane Stanway on 0500223111 though I've always just called in at the Middlesbrough branch. hope this helps as when I replaced my rears my fronts were virtually unworn so like you didn't want to change all 4.

Thanks. Was hoping to hang on for another couple of months - they are still at 4mm. Waiting could prove a false economy if the N1s are now obsolete!