I have an '04 40th anniversary car. When in the dealership last week for installation of my X74 suspension, the service manager showed me a large "bubble" on the side of my right REAR tire. The car remains at the dealership, a couple hundred miles from where I live, and I need to know what size this Michelin is, and what the tire is on the car, in order to price and eventually order a replacement. If anyone else with an '04 C2 or 40th can help out, I'd really appreciate it. Also, is Tire Rack still pretty competitive on the Michelins? Anywhere else? Just need one, and want it to match the others still on the car.

 

if ur tire is for sure Michelin, here is what u need:

Michelin Pilot Sport Rib
285/30ZR18 N1

Tirerack is the best source in terms of price & service. board sponsor here as well u can find it on the right side. order the tire through here is helping 6speedonline.com too

 

Isnt that tire still under warranty?

 

Great point....can anyone help out here? Would a tire sidewall bubble be considered a warranty item? Even if pro-rated for the 6k miles on the car, that would be preferable to $300 for the replacement tire (Tire Rack's price). If so, does the dealer handle the warranty claim, or can any Michelin retailer? TIA!

 

Remember the wad of paperwork you got when you bought your car and stuffed it into your owners manual folder? Your Michelin warranty is there amoung that stuff. The "dealer" will not warranty the tire. Michelin does that, solely. Now if the dealer where your car is waiting just happens to also sell Michelins, then you are in luck, as he CAN handle that for you, not as a Porsche factory warranty item, or a dealership item, but soley from Michelin. And a sidewall bubble is a maufacturing problem, not a road hazard item. Unless you BECOME that road hazard.
You have 6k miles on your tires. What does Michelin expect from that tire on that car on that corner of the car? You may not get very much in the way of credit, so check that out. How many folks report here about getting as few at 5 or 6 thousand miles out of a set of rears. Driving style is a big variant.
Here is the biggest part - putting one new tire on the right rear may be cheap, but it is also VERY dangerous. Your Porsche owners manual will point out that tires should at the very LEAST be replaced in PAIRS. One well seasoned rear tire and one virgin rear tire on a rear engine rear wheel drive car is going to cause unruly handling, bad alignment characteristics, and, even worse, dangerous wet weather driving characteristics.
This three-old-one-new combination would not pass at a Driver's Ed tech inspection.
Even if your baby is largely a garage queen, she will have ugly manners on the road.
This is my experience, and everything I have read over the last four decades I have been driving these cars, and the last four 996's I have owned.
What is the deductible on your car for collision? Compare that to the price of TWO new rear tires. Weigh it VERY carefully.

 

Good luck dealing with Michelin
I had all 4 of my new Pilot Sport 2's get sidewall bubbles due to defect (not impact) and I am going on 2 months now waiting for my new set!! They are claiming the tires had too many miles on them... THEY HAD 200-300 MILES!!!!!
Its crazy, very disappointed with them.
Evan

 

I know this is stupid, but I always buy the road hazard warranty through a national chain called Just Tires. I have taken my car there for various problems, including a bubble in the sidewall and they have replaced it no problem. I know it is extra but it is worth it to me for the piece of mind. Even so you would still have the issue of one new and one older tire to deal with.

 

I just had my 2 rear tires replaced by the dealer. I called Tire Rack and was informed that Michelin was only releasing them PS N1's to Porsche dealers. Something about low inventory. Of course you pay more too. But my dealer gave me a good price.

 

...what was your dealer's price on the Michelins? I noticed on tire rack that they are out of stock until 11/1 and are priced at $300 a tire. Another question for anyone out there, if I decide to go ahead and get two new rear tires so they "match" does it make sense to stay with Michelins, or would two Bridgestone's on the back end and two Pilots on the front end compromise handling? I have prior experience with the Bridgestones, and like them, especially for the lower price...again, TIA!

 

...the OE Michelin Pilot Sport ribs are only available to dealers and only from the national supplier, Tire Rack. Unfortunately, they are on backorder from Michelin, and neither the dealer nor Tire Rack can estimate a date certain when they will be available. I'm in the que, behind potentially hundreds of other Porsche owners. Good thing I don't drive the car much in winter. I was told we could be several months before the tires are shipped Again, my question is, can I run a pair of Bridgestones on the rear and the OE Pilots on the front? Is anyone else surprised Michelin is not making more of these tires available to the US?