Open Today Sales: 9 AM-6 PM
Porsche Ann Arbor
There is a reason you own a Porsche. Uncompromising performance is a hallmark of Porsche’s engineering, and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of taking your “everyday driver” for a day at the track, then you’ve experienced that uncompromising nature for yourself. The only parts of your Porsche that actually come in contact the road however, are your tires, and because of the integral role that tires play in performance, Porsche integrates tire development right alongside the vehicle development process.
So when it comes time to replace your tires, you will want to stay with Porsche approved tires – to keep your Porsche performing like new. With a little information, Porsche Ann Arbor can highlight a few choices for your next set of Porsche tires – all approved for your specific Porsche. Complete the short form below and we’d be happy to e-mail or discuss your choices with you.
Original Equipment Porsche tires are commonly referred to as N-Spec tires because the sidewall of the tire will be branded with the markings N0, N1, N2 or N3 and so on. The “N” is the designation for Porsche approved tires and the corresponding number identifies the version, with the higher number assigned to newer generations of the tire.
It is recommended that only matching tires be used on Porsche vehicles. Since many Porsche vehicles are fitted with differently sized tires on their front and rear axles, this means matching the tire make, tire type and N-specification. If a vehicle was originally delivered with N-specification tires that have been discontinued and are no longer available, it is recommended to change all four tires to a higher numeric N-specification design appropriate for that vehicle.
It doesn’t need to be snowing for performance tires to lose their effectiveness. Performance tires are designed to stick to the road, and softer compounds help them achieve this grip. As the rubber gets colder, it gets harder and less sticky. As the temperature falls below 45 degrees, Porsche “summer” tires can lose traction and become ineffective – even on dry pavement.
For uncompromising performance throughout the Michigan winter, we recommend Porsche Winter tires for your vehicle unless you intend to “hibernate” your baby until the spring thaw. The Continental WinterContact, Michelin Alpin, and Pirelli Winter Sottozero are all excellent choices for confident handling in the cold and snow here in central Michigan. We stock a wide selection of Porsche winter wheel and tire sets and can advise you on the best choice for your Porsche. Complete the short form below and we’d be happy to e-mail or discuss your choices with you.
Drivers who also own an everyday passenger car may expect that their Porsche tires will also last 30,000 to 40,000 miles, but Porsche tires rarely last that long due to the handling characteristics they possess. Because many Porsche vehicles have different-sized tires on the front as on the rear, tire rotations are out of the question – meaning that on a Porsche 911, it’s not uncommon that the rear tires may wear twice as fast as the front tires.
To get the maximum life from your tires, we recommend keeping your tires inflated to the factory specified air pressure. Yes, lower pressures will improve grip, but it can also cause your tires to wear faster. Additionally, tires can lose a pound of pressure per month – so checking and properly inflating your tires at least once per month can increase your tires’ lifespan and save you money.
Lastly, because of the shorter lifespans of Porsche tires, we highly recommend running your performance tires only in the warm summer months and then switching to a second set of winter tires as the weather gets colder. With each set only on your car for half the year, and designed for the conditions – you’ll extend the life of both sets of tires over the life of your Porsche without sacrificing performance, which is why you bought a Porsche in the first place.