[Certified718]

Just curious more than anything.


Havent seen certain tyres id consider for replacing current ones (like Michelin PS4's) getting an N rating just yet, if i did change to those does it cause issues with warranty does anyone know? google seems to have a mixture of opinions.

 

[Porsche2018]

Just curious more than anything.


Havent seen certain tyres id consider for replacing current ones (like Michelin PS4's) getting an N rating just yet, if i did change to those does it cause issues with warranty does anyone know? google seems to have a mixture of opinions.

I would speak directly with your dealership and also include the next level manager in that discussion.

 

[RGM718]

Agree......on checking with dealer I have had tire/wheel coverage and when replaced it was using N spec tires.

 

[Tailwagger]

My understanding is that as long as a tire meets the load specification of the original tires, the warranty, at least in the US, can not be voided. The N-spec thing has been around forever, its never been clear that theres anything at all different about a given tire that available in standard and N-spec versions. I've never in all my years bought the N-spec version... I tend to think its marketing/profit center, something like Porsche gets a little kick back on N-spec tires sold. So personally, I wouldn't worry in the least about it.

 

[RGM718]

There are as many opinions about using, not using N Spec tyres as there are about how to break in an engine. I probably am fortunate as my Porsche dealer is competitive with Tire Rack pricing so I stick with N Spec.But if there is no issue for warranty in the U.S. go for it.

 

[Viffermike]

There are as many opinions about using, not using N Spec tyres as there are about how to break in an engine. I probably am fortunate as my Porsche dealer is competitive with Tire Rack pricing so I stick with N Spec.But if there is no issue for warranty in the U.S. go for it.

Definitely fortunate. My dealer is nowhere near competitive ...

... so I just had new Tire Rack-sourced, non N-spec rubber put on my 718 by an indie that happened to have the following in its garage:
- Two 1970s 911 Turbos
- Two 1960s 911 Targas
- 968
- 928
- Three 356s
- A late-model Bentley
- A restored 1980s Rolls Royce
- Several hopped-up BMWs, Mercs
and the gem:
- V-12 Jaguar E-Type with original paint, wheels, and trim

(Yes, this indie knows what it's doing.)

... and all that's beside the fact that what are regarded as the two best tires in the Max Performance Summer category (Michelin MSPS, Continental EC Sport) aren't available as N-spec in the 19-inch and (I believe) 18-inch diameters.

Antitrust laws prevent Porsche from requiring N-spec rubber on its cars. The warranty issues are its way to do its best to circumvent that, and that's why load rating has become the determinant. As I understand it, that was mandated by law in a case that involved another manufacturer.

This has been mentioned before: N spec is an elixir that has snake oil as its biggest ingredient. The only verified difference I've been able to dig up are slight tread adjustments to increase wet-weather traction, primarily done for home-market Autobahn safety. So unless you plan to do triple-digit speeds on wet pavement regularly, I wouldn't sweat N spec.

 

[autobahn]

N-rating can actually be a bad thing: in the cases where a tire has been updated, sometimes the N-rated tire runs an older compound or design until the rating gets updated.

It's by no means a requirement.

Just ensure the tire meets all parameters and it will be fine.

 

[CDH]

This was in my local dealer during the 70th anniversary "Open day":

 

[Hontors]

I'm want to install Michelin 4S on my 718 Base but I'm concerned about them potentially avoiding manufacturer's warranty and CPO warranty since they arent n spec.

 

[MarkYorks]

It’s interesting that the NO rated Michelin Pilot Sport 4S has a worse fuel efficiency and wet rating than the none N rated tyre

 

[Scrounger]

More than likely to do with the Porsche specific compound mix and added reinforcement required for high speed driving resulting in a slightly heavier tyre which, in turn, give it a lower fuel efficiency.

From the Michelin website

'Design elements that impact wet grip:

• Groove ratio: The more/larger grooves a tire has, the better the tire pumps out water.
• Shape and layout: The shape of the tread patterns (symmetrical, directional, asymmetrical) contributes to how quickly water is drained.
• Sipes: These are thin slits in the rubber surface of the tread. They improve traction in wet or icy conditions. Acting like windshield wipers, sipes help the edges and grooves of a tire to drain away water.

Design elements that impact dry grip:

• The tire's profile (shape): A flat profile with square shoulders provides good support in turns.
• The amount of grooves: The smaller the percentage of grooves in the tread pattern, the more rubber there is in direct contact with the ground and the better the level of grip.
• Tread blocks: The larger the individual blocks of tread rubber in the design, the better the traction. But this can also generate more road noise.
• Self locking sipes: Tread blocks with many sipes will reduce the rigidity of the tread pattern. To counter this effect, we have introduced complex 3-dimensional sipes, which lock together under load.'

 

[Scrounger]

rears are cheaper on Blackcircles by £6 a tyre. Also phone your local Costco and see if they can do you a set. Also try your local dealer, they could be pretty competitive.

Black Circles have got an offer on at the min £15 off if you buy 2.

If you know a good tyre fitter, Camskill are doing PS4S for £219 each. Like I said you'll just need to find someone who will fit them.

 

[MarkYorks]

rears are cheaper on Blackcircles by £6 a tyre. Also phone your local Costco and see if they can do you a set. Also try your local dealer, they could be pretty competitive.

Black Circles have got an offer on at the min £15 off if you buy 2.

If you know a good tyre fitter, Camskill are doing PS4S for £219 each. Like I said you'll just need to find someone who will fit them.

I am only on 4,400 miles but am guessing that the rears will be done by 10,000 miles max. Will probably swap all 4 tyres to the Michelins before my car is 2 years old in December.

 

[gatorfast]

I'm want to install Michelin 4S on my 718 Base but I'm concerned about them potentially avoiding manufacturer's warranty and CPO warranty since they arent n spec.

What size wheels? At least in the 20" version they do make N spec PS4S tires.

Also, using a non-N spec tire will not void your warranty.

 

[Hontors]

What size wheels? At least in the 20" version they do make N spec PS4S tires.

Also, using a non-N spec tire will not void your warranty.

Hey thanks for the reply. I have 18 inch wheels. I agree it shouldn't void any warranty I just dont want to give them any reason to.

 

[DriveInHouston]

Hey thanks for the reply. I have 18 inch wheels. I agree it shouldn't void any warranty I just dont want to give them any reason to.

If still in doubt, ask your dealer (in writing, e-mail is good enough).

 

[sobiloff]

That's the odd thing about CPO roadside assistance, though: They explicitly say you aren't covered if you use aftermarket wheels or tires. Now, do they actually enforce that? Who knows! But that's the one area where I saw non-N spec tires potentially void part of the CPO package.

 

[DriveInHouston]

All I can tell you is that when my non-N-rated rear tire blew out, the tow truck arrived in 15 min. and there was not a peep about the tires.

I had mentioned it here before 9/19 that I felt that my car with Goodyears in the front and MPS4S in the rear had problems hydroplaning, even at 60 mph (all tires with plenty of tread, the rears nearly new). After the blowout I put MPS4S N0 on all 4 corners and have never had any indication about hydroplaning.

In a GTG we compared my N0 rears with non-N0 and the verdict was they were different. My N0-rated MPS4S had wider grooves than the non-N rated. To me, this says that Porsche identified the problem (hydroplaning) and specced the N0 tire accordingly.

I understand that the issue here is that there are no N-rated tires for 18" wheels. I am willing to provide tread groove measurements for comparison if someone can measure said grooves for an 18" rim.

Just let me know!

 

[Treemagnet]

All I can tell you is that when my non-N-rated rear tire blew out, the tow truck arrived in 15 min. and there was not a peep about the tires.

I had mentioned it here before 9/19 that I felt that my car with Goodyears in the front and MPS4S in the rear had problems hydroplaning, even at 60 mph (all tires with plenty of tread, the rears nearly new). After the blowout I put MPS4S N0 on all 4 corners and have never had any indication about hydroplaning.

In a GTG we compared my N0 rears with non-N0 and the verdict was they were different. My N0-rated MPS4S had wider grooves than the non-N rated. To me, this says that Porsche identified the problem (hydroplaning) and specced the N0 tire accordingly.

I understand that the issue here is that there are no N-rated tires for 18" wheels. I am willing to provide tread groove measurements for comparison if someone can measure said grooves for an 18" rim.

Just let me know!

Full disclosure...I met @DriveInHouston (along with @Viffermike & @chester7) at the GTG mentioned above (one fabulous day!). N vs. non-N rated tires was one of the most interesting and enlightening topics discussed.

The two tires are visibly quite different...N-rated have much larger sipes. Porsche & Michelin engineers wouldn’t have done that without good reason. Torrential downpours and extended “monsoons”are a way of life in Houston (did 16 years there during the 70’s and 80’s). Thus, N-rated tires would definitely top my list for a DD 718.