981 Spyder tire upgrade
01-20-2018, 09:35 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
981 Spyder tire upgrade
so I’m not thrilled with the pzeros and am thinking of upgrading tires on my stock rims. This is for fun fast canyon driving, not track. Planning to do it on the stock rims and was thinking stock sizes too. What’s available and what do you like? Trofeo R or bite the bullet and upsize the widths to the GT4 Cup2 setup?
01-20-2018, 09:50 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
so I’m not thrilled with the pzeros and am thinking of upgrading tires on my stock rims. This is for fun fast canyon driving, not track. Planning to do it on the stock rims and was thinking stock sizes too. What’s available and what do you like? Trofeo R or bite the bullet and upsize the widths to the GT4 Cup2 setup?
01-20-2018, 10:04 PM
#3
I love Cup 2s, which are on my other car. The best option in OEM sizes are the Mich Pilot Sport 4S. I'm a long way from needing new tires for my 981 Spyder. In the interim I'll make the P Zeros do. Maybe by the time I need new tires there will be some more options. It's good not caring anything about the Pirellis so I can thrash them a bit.
That said the Pirellis that came with the Spyder are certainly decent imho. But the road noise is a bit too much I think. Definitely have to get them warmed up a bit before I start hooning in the twisties so the understeer gets neutralized. But once they are hot they grip quite hard! Routinely see 1.3g and above with those tires! I have 8k miles on the Pirellis and a couple of track days and they are definitely wearing nicely so I don't need to swap right away. I am also considering the 4S and am hoping they would also help with reducing some tire noise. Pirellis seem quite loud to me. Also the 4S is supposed to have more grip than any other tire in its class and Porsche already has an N spec version of the 4S I believe.
01-20-2018, 10:37 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
This is amusing because I totally forgot that I purposely got the 4s for my 991 and I have to say I love them! The reason I didn’t suggest them here is because the spyder is solely a fair weather dry road car so I was thinking I could get even more performance out of a Cup2 or a Trofeo R. Between the 4S and the Cup2 there is a difference IMO as it felt to me like the sidewall of the Cup2 is stiffer
01-21-2018, 06:52 AM
#6
Advanced
I’ve had both Cup2 and RE71. Both are a step up on the Zeros.
i do a bit of track work and they hold up well there, but are also good for general driving. I don’t drive in the cold, very rare I’m anywere it’s freezing, nor do I do heavy rain - do get that here, but I tend to avoid the Spyder if it’s heavy rain and standing water.
Both these tyres can see 1.4 on the g meter in spirited driving, 1.7 at the track.
the Cup2s were close to stock size (front was 245), the RE71s I tried 295/30R20 rear.
id recommend either, depending on price and availability (re71s can be hard to get)
i do a bit of track work and they hold up well there, but are also good for general driving. I don’t drive in the cold, very rare I’m anywere it’s freezing, nor do I do heavy rain - do get that here, but I tend to avoid the Spyder if it’s heavy rain and standing water.
Both these tyres can see 1.4 on the g meter in spirited driving, 1.7 at the track.
the Cup2s were close to stock size (front was 245), the RE71s I tried 295/30R20 rear.
id recommend either, depending on price and availability (re71s can be hard to get)
01-21-2018, 03:17 PM
#7
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When the time comes, I'm sticking with Zeros. Couldn't be happier with how the car handles and how they have worn. Feeling no need to experiment or "upgrade."
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01-21-2018, 11:20 PM
#9
Three Wheelin'
I would dump PZeros as soon as I could as well. I will go with either Cup 2 or Trofeo R. But, if the Spyder sees rainy days or road trips, then I will go with Pilot Sport 4S. As others have pointed out, it's a great all around tire. I run them on S2000; work great. Awesome performance in dry and wet. Even in low temps (around 25 F), the grip level is pretty decent, though you are already pretty cautious. One thing I would be curious to know is the weight difference between these tires, for the same sizes. Probably not enough to make a tangible difference on the streets.
01-22-2018, 12:03 AM
#10
Burning Brakes
When I upgraded tires on my 2008 RS60, I opted for Bridgestone RE-11s. Coming from Mich PS2s, the RE-11 had appreciably more grip. Loved them. I'm sure the RE-71 is great too, although many still preferred the RE-11. I do love an extreme performance tire, and I generally only drive my Spyder in the dry. I would gladly opt for the RE-71 but I would prefer OEM sizes.
01-22-2018, 09:17 AM
#11
I’ve had both Cup2 and RE71. Both are a step up on the Zeros.
i do a bit of track work and they hold up well there, but are also good for general driving. I don’t drive in the cold, very rare I’m anywere it’s freezing, nor do I do heavy rain - do get that here, but I tend to avoid the Spyder if it’s heavy rain and standing water.
Both these tyres can see 1.4 on the g meter in spirited driving, 1.7 at the track.
the Cup2s were close to stock size (front was 245), the RE71s I tried 295/30R20 rear.
id recommend either, depending on price and availability (re71s can be hard to get)
i do a bit of track work and they hold up well there, but are also good for general driving. I don’t drive in the cold, very rare I’m anywere it’s freezing, nor do I do heavy rain - do get that here, but I tend to avoid the Spyder if it’s heavy rain and standing water.
Both these tyres can see 1.4 on the g meter in spirited driving, 1.7 at the track.
the Cup2s were close to stock size (front was 245), the RE71s I tried 295/30R20 rear.
id recommend either, depending on price and availability (re71s can be hard to get)
01-22-2018, 04:58 PM
#13
I would not recommend a cup 2 tire for this car (especially in a canyon) - they need some work to get warmed up and on a public road - I just don't see many people having a good time with it, especially if you've no experience with the tire.
The re71r would be a good choice, or the Pilot 4s or even the MPSS. I would stray far from a Cup 2 for what this car was intended for and only really use it for track use.
The re71r would be a good choice, or the Pilot 4s or even the MPSS. I would stray far from a Cup 2 for what this car was intended for and only really use it for track use.
01-23-2018, 11:59 AM
#15
Banned
If your staying with stock size I would go with PS4S. I would not use Trofeo R, the depth is only 6/32, their not that good in standing water and you cannot go fast enough on the street to use their full potential . If your going to look at GT4 sizing I would look at RE-71 but they are very hard to come by. It seems a lot of the GT4 owners that track prefer the RE-71 over Cup 2 etc.