Can someone tell me a manufacture date of this tire (pic included)

[DreamSign]

I'm

not sure where to find the date code (when these were made) on this tire..

Can someone please educate me?

It seems to me that the code as I read it is unlikely to be true (17 years old) so maybe I'm not reading it correctly

[DreamSign]

Also, I have not been able to identify exactly which pilot sport this is...

205/50/Zr17

Does anyone have a link that shows which exact Michelin tire model this tread pattern is?

[hotdawwgman]

46th week of 2005. That is super old and needs to be replaced

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by hotdawwgman

46th week of 2005. That is super old and needs to be replaced

I thought the date code said 2005, but I thought that couldn't be right since the sidewalls don't look old.

Thank you for the info. I'll schedule to get new tires this week.
I just bought 2 new 255 40 17 Firestone Indy 500s for the rears so I will buy
205/50/17s for the front to match

[986 Boxster]

If I were you I would get 225/45r17 for the front to get rid of the understeer that these cars have.
I lot of people on here go with a wider tire at the front for that reason.

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

If I were you I would get 225/45r17 for the front to get rid of the understeer that these cars have.
I lot of people on here go with a wider tire at the front for that reason.

I tend to use the right pedal to reduce the understeer

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

I tend to use the right pedal to reduce the understeer

are you implying that you are able to generate throttle oversteer in a stock boxster or that you let off the throttle when the car starts to push

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

are you implying that you are able to generate throttle oversteer in a stock boxster or that you let off the throttle when the car starts to push

My statement was, and I quote "I tend to use the right pedal to reduce the understeer"

The fastest way around a corner is usually the smoothest, so sometimes a little patience with the throttle is the fastest way. Sometimes you have to lift a little to maximize overall speed through the corners. Finesse is faster than wrestling with understeer. A little trail braking can help.

So my answer to your question is: no, not completely, but can come close to throttle induced neutrality.
On offramps where it is easy to test the car at its limits (at least for right hand turns), it showed, as you already know, understeer, a little throttle modulation allows one to transition to neutralish.
The modest 200 hp is plenty under these conditions. The trick is to use most or all of what is available power and grip most or all of the time.
The stock car I find handles close to neutral, it appears the engineers intentionally kept it in the safer understeer range to save idiot drivers from themselves. I think the engineers did an excellent job designing this car.

If one wants, they can change the set up to be more neutral or even some oversteer I suppose...

[DreamSign]

I found this tutorial helpful:

https://driver61.com/uni/understeer/

[Quadcammer]

I have significant track experience, so yes, I'm familiar with understeer.

I was more so questioning anyone who thinks a stock boxster will induce throttle oversteer on a dry road with a decent set of tires.

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

I have significant track experience, so yes, I'm familiar with understeer.

I was more so questioning anyone who thinks a stock boxster will induce throttle oversteer on a dry road with a decent set of tires.

I see. :-) I think my post set off your B.S. proximity alarm haha

So do you agree that my follow-up statement was factually accurate?

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

My statement was, and I quote "I tend to use the right pedal to reduce the understeer"

The fastest way around a corner is usually the smoothest, so sometimes a little patience with the throttle is the fastest way. Sometimes you have to lift a little to maximize overall speed through the corners. Finesse is faster than wrestling with understeer. A little trail braking can help.

So my answer to your question is: no, not completely, but can come close to throttle induced neutrality.
On offramps where it is easy to test the car at its limits (at least for right hand turns), it showed, as you already know, understeer, a little throttle modulation allows one to transition to neutralish.
The modest 200 hp is plenty under these conditions. The trick is to use most or all of what is available power and grip most or all of the time.
The stock car I find handles close to neutral, it appears the engineers intentionally kept it in the safer understeer range to save idiot drivers from themselves. I think the engineers did an excellent job designing this car.

If one wants, they can change the set up to be more neutral or even some oversteer I suppose...

I get what your saying, and I agree, but wouldn`t it be nice not to worry about the car understeering in the first place?
I prefer a car that oversteers than a car that understeers.

I`m no engineer or expert, and I`m sure Porsche engineers designed the car to understeer for a reason, but you would be surprised how much of a difference a 225 tire makes at the front vs a 205 on these cars. I can take turns a lot faster with a 225 vs a 205 without trail braking. I like fast in fast out
Even my Cayman had understeer, and a lot more than the Boxster, and changing the front tires from 235 to 245 made a HUGE difference.

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

I get what your saying, and I agree, but wouldn`t it be nice not to worry about the car understeering in the first place?
I prefer a car that oversteers than a car that understeers.

I`m no engineer or expert, and I`m sure Porsche engineers designed the car to understeer for a reason, but you would be surprised how much of a difference a 225 tire makes at the front vs a 205 on these cars. I can take turns a lot faster with a 225 vs a 205 without trail braking. I like fast in fast out
Even my Cayman had understeer, and a lot more than the Boxster, and changing the front tires from 235 to 245 made a HUGE difference.

Hmmm, I'm surprised it makes a big difference. Good thing for me my local Firestone was busy until next week. I'll switch it to a 225 50 17 instead

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

Hmmm, I'm surprised it makes a big difference. Good thing for me my local Firestone was busy until next week. I'll switch it to a 225 50 17 instead

Go with 225/45r17 if you have 255/40r17 at the rear. It will be a better match.

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

Go with 225/45r17 if you have 255/40r17 at the rear. It will be a better match.

I know it may sound crazy, but I prefer a little more shock absorption by the taller sidewall. 112 mm vs 101mm sidewall

It raises the very important WAF (wife acceptance factor)

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

I know it may sound crazy, but I prefer a little more shock absorption by the taller sidewall. 112 mm vs 101mm sidewall

It raises the very important WAF (wife acceptance factor)

I understand , but you are going to be almost an inch higher at the front vs the rear.

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

I understand , but you are going to be almost an inch higher at the front vs the rear.

* update Somehow my calcs are wrong, Firestone is reporting the 255s at 25" and the 225 at 25.9"

Sooo yeah, almost 1 inch difference.

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

255 x.4= 102
225 x.5= 112.5

10.5mm to inches is .41 inches. Close enough for me.

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

[DreamSign]

Originally Posted by 986 Boxster

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

Thank you for that, I was busy doing it on my calculator.

Yeah, the 45 series is better. It would probably look weird .9" higher.

[986 Boxster]

Originally Posted by DreamSign

Thank you for that, I was busy doing it on my calculator.

Yeah, the 45 series is better. It would probably look weird .9" higher.

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