Tires: Any better options than Michelin PS2 for my 2006 Boxster S?

Hi Sandy, welcome to the Forum!

I have the 19" PS2's and love them. I have just over 17,000 miles on them, and plan to replace the rears early this summer. Righ after a few early Spring drives. I think the fronts might last me one more summer.

I have thought about other tires too, but after driving the Tail of the Dragon, in rain and dry, I am truly convinced these are great tires. Not cheap.

To me it is not worth the potential "risk" to try new tires that I may or may not like better.

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Hi Sandy, welcome to the Forum!

I have the 19" PS2's and love them. I have just over 17,000 miles on them, and plan to replace the rears early this summer. Righ after a few early Spring drives. I think the fronts might last me one more summer.

I have thought about other tires too, but after driving the Tail of the Dragon, in rain and dry, I am truly convinced these are great tires. Not cheap.

To me it is not worth the potential "risk" to try new tires that I may or may not like better.

Thanks for the welcome!

What do you think about the Continental Sport Contact 2's? I have them on my other car and they perform fairly well. Howeer, I have never compared them back to back with PS2s.

[Sammy]

Goodyear F1's are a great tire and cheaper than the PS2's. I have used them for a few autocrosses and were much better than the old Pilot Sports I replaced them with (could be because the PS's were at the end of their life so don't take this as a definitive claim that they are not as good as the F1's). I think my F1's end up being a couple hundred dollars less than the PS2's and I am extremely happy with them. I have used them for a few autocrosses (before I invested in dedicated track tires) and drove the Tail of the Dragon in both wet and dry.

[racer_d]

What is it about the PS2s you didn't like? The mileage you got out of them? Performance characteristics?

I believe Porsche certifies more than one brand as OEM. Perhaps Continental or Pirelli? Maybe even Yokohama?

Going 10mm wider would like not be noticable if you find a brand that doesn't come in the OEM Porsche sizes.

I wouldn't casually overlook wet weather performance either, nothing worse then getting caught out in a suprise rain storm, or on a trip, and wish you hadn't skimped out.

[kyle986driver]

I hear the PS2s are great tires, although ive never used them. I have used Kumho ecstaMXs and now hankook ventus rs2's for autocross..both were very good tires

[Topless]

Tires are always a compromise and no tire does everything well. Think about how you plan to use the car next year and use that as a basis to make your tire choice. All tires get pretty lousy at end of life so it's not useful to compare a new tire with one that has been on the car for 2 years.

Here is my 2cents from the cars I have driven. Currently on PS2's:

PS2's- Very good wet or dry, quiet, low rolling resistance (better gas mileage), lousy in snow and ice, very good track tire in street stock class, wear quickly, big$$.

Bridgestone Potensa RE050 Pole Position- nice tire. very similar all around to PS2's, moderate$$.

Bridgestone RE01R- Great s/s track tire, very good wet or dry, useless in snow and ice, a little stiff and noisy around town, wears quickly, moderate$$.

Falken Azenis 615- very good dry, less predictable wet, useless in snow and ice , very good S/S track tire but a little greasy on a hot day, noisy around town, wear quickly, low$$.

Yokohama Advan Neova- Great S/S track tire, great wet or dry, lousy in snow, a little stickier than PS2's but a little noisier also, wear quickly big big $$.

Toyo RA-1- Great spec class track tire (944,986), great dry, good wet, useless in snow, kinda stiff and loud around town, wear quickly, moderate $$.

Those are the ones I know. There are 100's of others. If you are willing to give up a little dry performance there are a handful of all season tires that will work much better in ice and snow and last twice as long. good hunting!

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by Topless

Falken Azenis- very good dry, less predictable wet, useless in snow and ice , very good S/S track tire but a little greasy on a hot day, noisy around town, wear quickly, low$$.

Which model Azenis,ST-115 or RT-615?

[Topless]

RT-615. They were mounted on a friends 82 911sc. I think he is on Bridgestones now.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Sammy

Goodyear F1's are a great tire and cheaper than the PS2's.

Yep...BEST wet performance I have ever experienced, which for me is the #1 quality. On dry surfaces all these tires are marginaly the same. The lower price for American rubber seals the deal.

[cerberus]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have no complaints whatsoever about the PS2s from a performance perspective. However, mine are heat cycled and need replacement. The only complaint I have of PS2's are the replacement cost. If I can find a comparable dry performer at a lower price point that would be great.

[BOXZING]

Originally Posted by cerberus

Thanks for the welcome!

What do you think about the Continental Sport Contact 2's? I have them on my other car and they perform fairly well. Howeer, I have never compared them back to back with PS2s.

Sandy, my Boxster came new with Sport Contact 2s and I loved them. I got 22,850 out of them. When it came time to swap out, I went cheap, Sumitomo HTRZII. They are a bit iffy in the rain and have very square profiles. The sidewall doesn't buldge out too far and they look too narrow.

[CBAD-986]

So I am interested in the Nexens, Which version of the tire is making everyone so happy?

Thanks

[NickCats]

N3000 :

https://www.tiresavings.com/tireShop.php?action=findMan2&manufacturer=Nexen&tirename=N3000&season=

I have 225/40ZR18 front and 265/35RR18 rear so about $400 for a set.

Nick

[saaber]

Mine are N3000 also.

Last week I drove on the Freeway through the Cascades and the last 50 miles there was standing water everywhere. It was raining so hard I almost could not see. I expected the tires to hydroplane horribly but they really did amazingly well on standing water at 70 mph. Had zero hydroplaning in the rear and the front hydroplaning was minimal compared to what I was expecting.

[FTD]

I also have the N3000.