Michelin PS2 N1 orig equip tires no longer available. They have the upgraded to PS2 N2 at $625 each. Now with fronts lasting twice as long as rears most turbo owners have decent N1s on front with N2's on rear. Porsche doesn't like that, but I cannot see any problem. The want N2's at all 4-corners. Any comments out there??
One can buy four Michelin Super Sport tires (std on Ferrari) for our turbo for price of two N2's. Porsche doesn't recommend the super sport tire. Anyone out there have any experience with SS tires??

The SS's came on my 2007 TT. So far, they are great. I would not get too wrapped up in the N rating. I'm sure they will get the N rating but Porsche hasn't done it as of yet. Read an article on the SS's. Better technology, better traction (wet and dry) and longer life with a 300 tread rating up from 220. Oh, and less expensive. No reason not to get them.

Official Mich rep here informs the SS is NOT a Porsche tire and does NOT recommend fitting it to Porsche cars and states N series is a totally different compound altogether. Mich developed the N compound tire with Porsche specifically for their vehicles, tested to be the optimum compound tire for the car. He agreed SS can be fitted on a Porsche but Michelin would not recommend it as the SS is just a generic compound tire designed to be suitable for basically any car you can size it up to.

I honestly do not believe that you have to have a N spec tire on the car. There is such a huge variance, for example, between the grip of the N spec Pirelli P Zero assimetrico and the N spec PS2. I would MUCH rather have a non N spec tire such as the Continental DW, Bridgestone RE11, Pirelli PZero, etc than those P Zero assimetrico that are N rated. Having said that, my turbo (and also my last C2S) has the Bridgestone RE050 N spec and I think they are great tires for the money, especially when compared to the offerings by Michelin.

No offense intended M32911S but opinions really don't come into it where the facts are concerned. Both Michelin and Porsche have officially taken a clear stand with regard to the use of non N spec tires on Porsches. So, It becomes more of a "why do it" than "can you do it", or "should you do it". With a Porsche the car has been engineered right down to the tires. This is what you paid for in buying a Porsche. I guess what i'm saying here is if you can afford to buy a car like this then why on earth would you bother going against clear recommendations for the sake of saving a few $. It'd be little different to blowing the motor and then putting in a Toyota engine because the Toyota engine is half the $. But then again, to each is own .

Edit: If you look at the PSS vs PS2 decision logically, if the Tire manufacturer of the PSS (which in this case is Michelin) specifically advises against fitment of that tire to a Porsche, yet has absolutely nothing to financially lose or gain by giving that advice (as either choice results in a tire sale for them), then one has the answer what to do, and, what not to do. However, if the PSS was not made by Michelin, and Michelin was saying don't use this PSS tire because it is not N spec, then you may be able to sustain an argument on the basis Mich has a vested interest in swaying you away from not using the PSS. But that is clearly not the case here as they are the maker of both PSS and PS2 .

You can't be serious?

This thread has lots of LOLs.

It's got little to do with being serious. I'm only reporting what i was told by both manufacturers (Porsche and Michelin) when i made my investigations. If anyone has an issue with that then take it up with them. Anyway, its a free world so if you or anyone wish to scoff at it then fine by me. Use rubber bands as tires for all i care. It's your car.

I agree totally with speed21.

Porsche made the N0, N1 and N2 designations for a reason. Both Michelin AND Porsche states that one should use the above designated tires on Porsches.

If some members feel that their opinion holds more weight than Porsche, then by all means go with any tire you want.

But with all due respect, don't belittle Speed21 for taking the time to respond and help.

Michelin PSS on mine all around. I didn't even think twice about it.

It wouldn't surprise me if Nx rating was primarily for liability concerns.

Also a lucrative OEM deal between Porsche and Michelin could have involved a clause in the contract that stated Michelin could only ever encourage N-spec tires on a Porsche. Porsche of course in turn orders lots of N-spec tires at their factory and makes sure their dealers put N-Spec tires on the car where their customers pay a premium for them.

I hope the guys who inked that deal got a nice commission.

How is that for an argument? Not a conspiracy by any means, it's just business.

You'd really need an independent lab to perform a dissection and complete scientific analysis an N-Spec tire vs. non-N-Spec tire of the same make and size to determine if it truly is such a different and superior tire for the Porsche.

Link that and maybe I'd believe N-spec are special. Good luck

The PSS was developed to replace the PS2 tire. It was tested by Porsche and will most likely be the OEM tire on new Porsche models in the near future.
I have never swayed from Porsche spec tires but did this year go with the PSS when I ordered new wheels after seeing comparison testing of the PSS and PS2 and the PSS being a better overall performer and with limited availability of the PS2. I have never been satisfied with Pireli's or Bridgestones so staying with Mich was my priority.
I'm sure once it is approved and N rated it will go up in cost by 30-40%. For now I couldnt be happier with the tire after using PS versions for years. If I was buying a tire for use on the track I no doubt would have stayed with an N rated tire. I drive aggressively but intelligently and this tire for me is the best I've used so far on 8 Porsche's. I made my choice with my eyes open and I believe wisely. That would be my advice.
JS

There really is no argument where Porsche and Michelin is concerned. As i said earlier Michelin makes both PS2 and PSS yet draw a clear line in the sand. Financially there is nothing for either to gain or lose. You can speculate all you like but the bottom line is if you can't back up your speculation in writing from either Porsche or Michelin then it's all just a figment of your own imagination.....a feel good if you will.....to justify the saving you advantaged. But thats the short and long of it. If you're happy with the saving then terrific but there's no point having a lend of yourself in the process that its all Kosher with either manufacturer because its not.

Again, pure unadulterated speculation Jersey. You speak as if you're on Porsches R and D team. It's funny how human nature will always bring about a sense of justification over ones purchases but in reality there is no need. There is nothing wrong with making a saving but please don't have a lend of yourself in the process. There's no need for that here on the 6. If and when Porsche uses the PSS tread pattern and assigns an N rating you can rest assured that the rubber compound will be different. Again, Michelin get paid on a tire sale whether it's for a non N or an N spec tire so i fail to see the (assumed) gain in misleading the general public. R and D costs money...end of story. If the compound is not changed or tweaked in Michelins and Porsches combined R and D processes to maximise the performance of the tire for the Porsche car then that would be an absolute miracle. The only thing i would agree with any of the speculation i've heard to date over the pss is that the car is so good you could pretty well put condoms on the wheels and most drivers will think they are a genius behind the tiller. So on that note i guess why not take the saving? Well the only problem with that thought is that this car (or any Porsche for that matter) was never designed by Porsche with compromise in mind. OK, it's generally accepted some owners choose to compromise for the sake of saving $, some don't. But compromise is usually based on $ so lets be honest here. And after being told in detail by the "them's in the official know", all i can say is: to each his own. But please leave the BS alone .

Nitto Invo's much better than Conti's, Pirelli's, and PS2s. Have had all of these and the Invo's are just way better for performance, as well as longevity. Oh and they are priced very nicely

By this argument, you're essentially saying "Porsche and Michelin made it perfect, so to use anything else is foolish". So if Porsche designed everything to work in harmony, why did you modify your car? Your car is now out of spec as far as Porsche is concerned, and you've destroyed the perfect balance that they've achieved. Are you saying you know the car better than the Porsche engineers that took millions of $ of R&D to design every single component of the car?

While I agree with some things you say, like how the tires and suspension were tuned to work together. If you go with a new set of tires, you may need to dial in your suspension for optimal grip, but the Michelin PS2 is still very much a tire that compromises performance for sound control and longevity. For someone who doesn't mind louder road noise or shorter tire life, there are better performing option out there, for example the Bridgestone RE-11s. I guarantee that those tires will outperform the Michelin PS2 around any track.

No offense taken. It is a matter of personal opinion. I for one do not believe everything that I read. I have had TONS of different tires on different cars over the years. My last C2S came with PZero assimetrico N spec tires and they were SCARY to drive in the rain. I switched over to RE050 N spec and they were MUCH better. So if N spec is such a huge deal why such a tremendous difference in two tires that are both N spec. If N spec is truly a "special" compund, why is it so different between different manufacturers? I highly doubt that if someone were to put on two tires that were exactly the same except one not being N spec, you would be hard pressed to find a difference in performance for most situations (for example PS2 vs PS2 N spec).