Porsche Spec tires

[tonyg]

I visited my dealer and was told what no boxster wants to hear - I have about 2k left on my tires. OK, so I began to research tires, and am buried in information and advice, and totally confused. Tire Rack tells me that there is no downside to putting non-spec tires on the car, but to check with my dealer. The dealer says that the car is setup for OEM tires and that I should continue with either Michelin, Pirelli, or Continentals. That's fine, but there are many other excellently rated (Goodyear F1 Eagles, etc.) available that are much less expensive. I could sure use some advice ..............

[EPIQTodd]

Originally Posted by tonyg

I visited my dealer and was told what no boxster wants to hear - I have about 2k left on my tires. OK, so I began to research tires, and am buried in information and advice, and totally confused. Tire Rack tells me that there is no downside to putting non-spec tires on the car, but to check with my dealer. The dealer says that the car is setup for OEM tires and that I should continue with either Michelin, Pirelli, or Continentals. That's fine, but there are many other excellently rated (Goodyear F1 Eagles, etc.) available that are much less expensive. I could sure use some advice ..............

I've had both types of tires, and lived to tell the tale. Non N-rated tires won't kill you, or your car, they just aren't approved by Porsche, which is to say Porsche doesn't get the $20 kickback per tire from the tire manufacturer for pushing that type of tire. Anyway, if you don't want N-rated, get something else. Porsche can't test every single X-through-Z rated tire out there and give approval of it, so go based on what reviews you've heard. I've tried Kumho ECSTA 712's and they worked just fine - super cheap, too. I've also done the unthinkable and put S-02A's on my car instead of the Porsche-approved (and identical) S-03's. Dealers are supposed to tell you to get Porsche approved tires, what would you expect them to say?

[tonyg]

Originally Posted by EPIQTodd

I've had both types of tires, and lived to tell the tale. Non N-rated tires won't kill you, or your car, they just aren't approved by Porsche, which is to say Porsche doesn't get the $20 kickback per tire from the tire manufacturer for pushing that type of tire. Anyway, if you don't want N-rated, get something else. Porsche can't test every single X-through-Z rated tire out there and give approval of it, so go based on what reviews you've heard. I've tried Kumho ECSTA 712's and they worked just fine - super cheap, too. I've also done the unthinkable and put S-02A's on my car instead of the Porsche-approved (and identical) S-03's. Dealers are supposed to tell you to get Porsche approved tires, what would you expect them to say?

I've read some good reviews on Yokohama ES-100's - I'm seriously thinking of trying them - TireRack likes them - excellent traction wet and dry and decent tread life. Thanks for the comments.

[just_me]

Originally Posted by tonyg

I've read some good reviews on Yokohama ES-100's - I'm seriously thinking of trying them - TireRack likes them - excellent traction wet and dry and decent tread life. Thanks for the comments.

Bottom line is I would never buy them again except maybe as a track tire.

Grant

[kabel]

Originally Posted by just_me

Bottom line is I would never buy them again except maybe as a track tire.

++ Or for drifting.
I have a set of ES100 on my miata for "daily use," but i do not think I would by another set. The ES100 has been the same for the last few years with out any update, “old technology” if you will. Better tires in the same price point exist out there now.

[insite]

just get good tires and you're fine. the N rated tires will run nicely at factory tire pressures, alignment, etc. with non-N rated tires, you may need to play w/ tire pressures a bit, but no problems.

i'm a big fan of the BFG KDW2's. they give a weird rumble at the limit, but they stick like glue (nearly 1.2G on my M030 RoW) and the sidewalls are very stiff. they're good in the rain and fairly quiet in normal driving conditions. in terms of bang for the buck, i've liked them best. i've tried:

yoko AVS100
- nice, but had a tendency to follow road ruts. noisy on some surfaces, a bit more flex in the sidewall than i like

pirelli p-zero assimmetrico
- a bit soft on sidewalls, but not bad. very sticky, very $$$.

bridgestone potenza re750
- GREAT tire, not as sticky as some, but lasted a long time. excellent road feel.

bridgestone potenza re950
- GREAT all-season tire (but an all-season tire); lasted longest of group. ALMOST as sticky as the re750.

bridgestone potenza s-03 pole position
- my favorite all-around tire; excellent road feel, VERY sticky, but very $$$

sumitomo HTR-Z
- HORRIBLE. removed and threw away after 48 hours. very soft, squishy sidewall that would flex on turn-in and then snap-back and oscillate. trammelled a lot, noisy, and scary. these tires absolutely suck; i wouldn't wish them on my enemies. they put the boxster's handling on par with a geo metro. (people have had luck w/ the HTR-Z II, but my experience w/ the HTR-Z I steers me FAR away)

BF Goodrich KDW 2
- best all-around tire for the $$$. extremely sticky, bolted-to-the-road feel, great in the wet. the only thing people might find strange is the large tread blocks 'rumble' when you corner hard. you get used to it; you get so much in return. will not last as nearly as long as the 300 treadwear rating indicates, but for the $$$ difference, it's worth it. this is the only tire i've bought multiple times for the car.

[rodsnhawgs]

I just put on a set of Dunlop SP Sport Maxx - w/ about 1000 miles, so far they seem to be a great tire. They're N rated, handle very well and are quiet. The reviews on tirerack.com rate them very high... even got a $100 rebate.

[Pilot2519j]

My opinion for what is worth, maybe less than two pennies, is to stick with the tires that Porsche has listed as acceptable tires. These tires Porsche has tested and bring out the best performance in the Boxster. Remember what keeps you save is the grip of the tires I would rather spend my money on the tires they recommend, since I value my safety, as well as my passenger's , more than savings a few hundred dollars every so often.

[kabel]

...and just to make things difficult... tirerack is having a close out sale on the Bridgestone Potenza s-03 pole positions.

[Brucelee]

The Dunlop mentioned above is a fine tire, as is the Yokohama.

Being Porsche "approved" here is about the money for Porsche, not the tire.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by insite

just get good tires and you're fine. the N rated tires will run nicely at factory tire pressures, alignment, etc. with non-N rated tires, you may need to play w/ tire pressures a bit, but no problems.

i'm a big fan of the BFG KDW2's. they give a weird rumble at the limit, but they stick like glue (nearly 1.2G on my M030 RoW) and the sidewalls are very stiff. they're good in the rain and fairly quiet in normal driving conditions. in terms of bang for the buck, i've liked them best. i've tried:

yoko AVS100
- nice, but had a tendency to follow road ruts. noisy on some surfaces, a bit more flex in the sidewall than i like

pirelli p-zero assimmetrico
- a bit soft on sidewalls, but not bad. very sticky, very $$$.

bridgestone potenza re750
- GREAT tire, not as sticky as some, but lasted a long time. excellent road feel.

bridgestone potenza re950
- GREAT all-season tire (but an all-season tire); lasted longest of group. ALMOST as sticky as the re750.

bridgestone potenza s-03 pole position
- my favorite all-around tire; excellent road feel, VERY sticky, but very $$$

sumitomo HTR-Z
- HORRIBLE. removed and threw away after 48 hours. very soft, squishy sidewall that would flex on turn-in and then snap-back and oscillate. trammelled a lot, noisy, and scary. these tires absolutely suck; i wouldn't wish them on my enemies. they put the boxster's handling on par with a geo metro. (people have had luck w/ the HTR-Z II, but my experience w/ the HTR-Z I steers me FAR away)

BF Goodrich KDW 2
- best all-around tire for the $$$. extremely sticky, bolted-to-the-road feel, great in the wet. the only thing people might find strange is the large tread blocks 'rumble' when you corner hard. you get used to it; you get so much in return. will not last as nearly as long as the 300 treadwear rating indicates, but for the $$$ difference, it's worth it. this is the only tire i've bought multiple times for the car.

Re950 sounds like a good choice for this neck of the woods. I'm budgeting for snow tires in 18" too Got caught in a "rain turned to snow turned to blizzard" in a single drive home once. Never again.

[BuffaloBoxster]

Now's a good time to spring for Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions. They've come down a lot in price and the guy at Bridgestone seemed to think they were going to be shortly phased out.