Porsche "N" rated tyres

[Rotty]

Picked up a puncture today ( in a 6mm tread tyre ) , firstly brought home the perils of no spare as no one near had any tyres

anyway finally tracked one down and the tyre depot sent their driver to fetch it, when it arrived it was a N2 tyre even though they said it was a N1 on phone

further phoning round and there isn't a N1 to be found anywhere

rang Porsche centre for advice and they said swap all 4 tyres

new tyre looks identical in every way to old one, as I understand it the N rating is some sort of testing standard

had no choice but to go with the N2, this was one of the fronts, the rears are nearly shot so will replace them with N2s soon but this leaves 1 near new N1 on the front and I don't want to replace it if I don't want to

for piece of mind I also called my insurer who said it was fine as long as they were legal

any thoughts ?

 

[Maz]

I think the word 'finicky' suits this thread!

I wouldn't worry about unless you plan on racing Hamilton at Brands Hatch.

And when you need to renew your tyres renew with the same as what you have just bought.

 

[Rotty]

my thoughts exactly

 

[Fr0dders]

is this N1 and N2 business not just a way of stating its been approved using a new system instead of an old one ?

Sounds like an excellent cash generator for me, for what is presumably exactly the same tyre.

"Sorry sir all 4 tyres need replacing. THey are N1 tyres, porsche recommends you fit the newer N2 tyres"

"but theres nothing wrong with them"

"ah yes sir, but the N1 ones are no longer approved by porsche so you will need to buy a whole new set of N2"

etc..

That is assuming they are the same brand and model yes ? just different "ratings' ?

 

[Rotty]

yes both were PS2s , the tyre bloke checked every marking on them and all were identical

 

[Fr0dders]

Wouldnt worry then.

Its still a porsche approved Pilot Sport 2, albeit one with a very minutely different tread pattern at the worst, "identical but different letter on the side in cynical money making exercise" at the best

 

[MikeHiow]

What was the puncture? Not repairable?

 

[Rotty]

What was the puncture? Not repairable?

internal damage due to driving on it ( few hundred yards ) , looks like a nial or similar as there was an hole but whatever it was had come out

tbh I am not keen on puncture repairs anyway

 

[Rotty]

Wouldnt worry then.

Its still a porsche approved Pilot Sport 2, albeit one with a very minutely different tread pattern at the worst, "identical but different letter on the side in cynical money making exercise" at the best

tread pattern looked identical too

 

[Fr0dders]

why is that not surprising

 

[MikeHiow]

internal damage due to driving on it ( few hundred yards ) , looks like a nial or similar as there was an hole but whatever it was had come out

tbh I am not keen on puncture repairs anyway

If done properly there should be no issue with a puncture repair. I've had them on a 3.5T van as well as my VXR and my ST (Got a screw through my tyre just a few hours after having 4 new ones fitted), and I've never even had to adjust my pressures, let alone any issues, and my cars do get some stick on our poor roads, especially when I'm feeling abusive

 

[Rotty]

If done properly there should be no issue with a puncture repair. I've had them on a 3.5T van as well as my VXR and my ST (Got a screw through my tyre just a few hours after having 4 new ones fitted), and I've never even had to adjust my pressures, let alone any issues, and my cars do get some stick on our poor roads, especially when I'm feeling abusive

I agree and maybe I would have had a repair givien the choice, not sure really

 

[flexo786]

out of interest can i ask why would you ring the insurance company about changing the tyres?

 

[Puppetmaster]

out of interest can i ask why would you ring the insurance company about changing the tyres?

incase he had to claim and for some odd reason, mismatched tyres affected his insurance. Or atleast thats what id imagine.

 

[Rotty]

incase he had to claim and for some odd reason, mismatched tyres affected his insurance. Or atleast thats what id imagine.

the Porsche centre said it might be an issue, I thought it unlikely but best to check

 

[Fr0dders]

usual scare mongering by the OPC then

 

[Rotty]

usual scare mongering by the OPC then

OPC in taking the **** shocker

 

[Will Gill]

rang Porsche centre for advice and they said swap all 4 tyres

sorry to hear about your problems matey

but i have to say i lol'd at the OPC comment!

personally just be happy with your new replacement and dont give a toss about the remaining 3 soldiers you have they are still completely capable and wont fail just because a slightly newer variant has appeared on the scene

 

[SoliD]

I read something in one of my dad's Porsche mag's the other week about Porsche/Benz specifically rated tyres, and they commented about them being the same tyres whereby the N ratings are the same but also cost the same so there is no point skimping on them, they gave no justifiable reason why you couldn't use the same tyre without the rating as one that had one.

 

[Scania]

I can understand OPC saying swap all tyres if the rears were shot, but why they would say new front's too defeats me.

Silly question perhaps Rotty, but is yours some fancy 4x4 setup? - I don't think so! - Thats the only time in the past when I have come across 4 tyres needing replacement when only one was damaged.

I'm sure if it were a 4x4 configuration, Porsche would have a system that can cope with different tread depths, unlike Vauxhall on the old Calibra et al......

As for puncture repair, as long as its done professionally, I would not worry about it imo.