Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Need a pair of 225/50 16 tyres for the rear of the 944 S2 only to be told by ATS Euromaster that there are no tyres to be had

Spoken with Black Circles and they confirm all the tyre wholesalers are waiting delivery from the manufacturer for N1 rated tyres

ATS have ordered a pair - delivery end of March!

You don't neccasarily need N1's for the S2.

W's will cover it speed rated to 168mph, I use Bridgestone Turanza E300 £146 a pair for the rears.

Thanks Sean

I realise I don't really need N1's but the problem is I have N1's on the front and both ATS Euromaster and a client (in the tyre game) have advised not to mix the tyre ratings. ATS have Pirelli N2 and I think Bridgestone N3 tyres but are not keen to fit them unless I change the fronts as well.

I'm gonna take a look at the tread on the fronts when I get home - if they're on the low side I'll go for a complete set of Pirelli's but if they're still good I'll wait for the N1's to turn up...........


...... and drive the shark in the meantime

According to my tyre dealer who I trust. If the manufacturer does an N rated tyre in their range then he MUST fit them. If they don't then providing speed rating etc. is OK then he can fit them.
Bit of a grey area on 944's because N rating didn't start until 1990 & no way is a current N rated tyre tested on a 944!
As for mixing tyres I wouldn't worry too much, I've run a huge variation on mine & not really noticed the difference.

couldn't you wait 'til the BMTR visit and see what they can do, might be worth a phone call

have the same with the 245 45 16s for the sc, can never get the buggers

A client has got me a pair

Just my understanding of the tyre markings. This is not a recommendation, nor is it advice.

N1, N2 etc is not a manufacturer 'rating'. It is a Porsche rating which simply means that they are Porsche tested and approved. A quote from Porsche's national tyre expert, who works at Chester - "it means that we know that you can take your car, thrash it around on a track day, and then go back onto public highways and be safe". He went on to say that by 'being safe' Porsche simply mean that the tyre walls won't weaken if the tyres are used for track days. So generally, for those of us who don't do track days, the fact that the speed rating is correct is more important than the tyre having an 'N' mark.

He also told me that he recommends customers to run their tyres a couple of psi below the book figure because, and again a quote - "The book figures are fine for the billiard table smooth German roads, but running them with a lower pressure in the UK will give you a better ride and make your tyres last longer"

I have four x Michelin Pilot SX on mine, they have the N2 mark on them, and they cost me £300 all inclusive from Costco on one of their deals. They run at 34psi instead of 36psi and have been on the car for 20000 miles so far.

Hope this is useful to somebody!