I'm running a mismatch because of exactly what you're saying. I burn through rears much quicker than fronts, right now I'm running my old Pirelli's up front and Conti's on the rear. I was really reluctant to do it at first, but you really can't tell, they're rubber band tires and the tread patterns are similar. The other alternative was Michelin, at 2K for 4, pass.

 

I have 245's on a 20" rim, look and fit is perfect. Diameter difference for the 19 is 2.5" you're within the 3" limit, but I wouldn't recommend it.

 

315 is too thin for 12" width, you will have more rim than rubber. I have 325 and it's perfectly flushed.

There isn't a lot of choice for 20"s, you have Conti's, Michelin PS2, and some other brand I can't remember.

 

That's the issue, my dealer could only get the Cont's or Michelin's. Michelin was 600/tire, Conti was 220. Unfortunate part about the Conti's is no matching front.

 

Just replaced Pirellis P0's with Hankook v12s all around. After about 350 miles and some hard driving on the kooks, some notes:

first impressions are the kooks are much quieter, smoother riding, etc. You would expect that from changing to new tires from old ones-- old tread and not as even wear and aged rubber, etc.

kooks definetely not as sharp or precise as the pirellis-- due to side wall softness (I'm told the N rating for Porsche specifies sidewall stiffness). Turn in and steering is not as sharp-- even felt a bit vague and the car felt kinda unsettled and nervous. Kooks MUCH quieter.

A note on tire pressue-- even though I am **** and check tire pressure religiously, I sometimes ran my front P0's 2-3 lbs less than stock suggested 37 lbs. Then I had to replace both fronts due to extreme inside cupping-- after only 10K miles! I only have 21k miles on the car and the front toe alignment was out 3.5 millimeters on both sides--
i have never hit anything or abused the care in any respect. Shocks are fine. After the alignment, my mechanic said he recommends at least 40 lbs pressue in the front tires for all 911's.

After running the kooks with 37 up front and 42 in the back, they seemed so soft I could almost not tell the difference between standard and "sport" suspension settings. I am going to experience with pressure in the kooks, but the major point here is they are good tires for daily driving and cheap but not the best for performance and precision.

 

My car came with a set of new Bridgestone RE050, I like the tire, but they are extremely noisy, to the point that I will change them when they wear out; probably to what is quieter at the time, perhaps Michelin, Hankook or a different Bridgestone if they have a quieter model at the time. I had Sumitomo's on my old 2004 C4S and they where great and a lot quieter. I don't think they make tires that fit the 997tt.

 

I agree with your assessment. I have 1k on my Evo's. Like the ride, but a little soft on hard performance.....but QUIET!!!

I'm using nitrogen in my tires and pressure stays right on. I use recommend pressures though. Can't play around with pressures since I don't have a bottle in the garage.

 

I picked up a set of Conti Extreme's 325/25/20 at Tire Rack for a great price. $224 per tire. I can live with the fronts for now. I have been pounding around the net and it seems like there are a few pairs of 245/30/20's out there. I have found a pair of 245/35/20's. I think that would be a good match. Maybe better than the 245/30/20's. I hope everthing fits.

 

I just switched from Michelin PS2's to Michelin Super Sports for my DD and have driven it about 200 miles. My initial impressions:

Pro's:

-Quieter. I recently moved from Houston to the SF Bay Area. HW880 has a very nosy road surface. As much as I like the sounds of driving, every once in a while I do have to take a call in the car :-)

-Much better in rainy conditions

Con's:

-"Bouncier". Don't know how else to say it. With the PS2's I felt glued to the road, and with PASM off it was a teeth-jarring experience speeding on the Hardy Toll Road (which was fun). The Super Sports are much bouncier at same recommended stock psi's. I have to turn PASM off to get a similar experience as with the PS's with PASM on. I'll be experimenting with different PSI's.

-About 1mpg lower gas mileage.

All in all, too early to tell, but the PS2's had a higher "fun" factor.

 

I also put Michelin PSS on to replace the worn out PS2's. Quieter, more grip, higher limits. On a stretch of road I know quite well, they felt more confident with higher corner speeds (G's) and hung on longer on the tighter radius turns. Just my 0.2c.

 

It's unfortunate you are on 20's. Hankook R-S3's are probably the best performing street tires right now.