go-C4S-injune

Please help this novice about winter tires. I'm a wet-eared owner of 2009 C4S and the dealer is recommending that I put on Pirelli Sottozero 240 tires starting from mid-Oct on when temperatures during commutes in the morning reach high 40s. Advice on whether this is the rite time (I live in NYC area where snow doesnt accumulate until Jan) and the rite brand. I always thot go w/ Michelin. Thank you very much y'all.

chuckla

Afew thoughts:

1. Buying tires from a dealer is the most expensive alternative.

2. Summer tires begin to be challenged when temps are around 40 and lower. I live in the DC area and have my snows put on in mid to late November.

3. I bought my snows and replica wheels from Tire Rack. Damon is a guy many here use, altho I used a different guy. I was extremely happy with the prices and service...not so happy with the assh*** UPS delivery guy who wanted to throw my wheels and tires off his truck rather than carry them off.

4. Tire Rack has a great web site and maintains a survey on, for example, all winter tires that would fit our cars. I relied on it to buy Blizzaks and have been very happy.

5. Good for you for not wanting to keep your P car imprisoned through the winter. Enjoy it in the snow, it is alot of fun.

CMOS

Your dealer is mostly right. A few points:

1) You need winter tires on the car when the temps get low. It's not just about snow accumulation. The tires the car shipped with are "summer" tires and they have really lousy grip in the cold. The PS2 tires just turn to rocks when it gets into the 40s. So you don't want to be driving on them in the winter, regardless of the snow or lack thereof.

2. You might want to consider "Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II" tires. I believe they are the updated version of the "Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero" tires. I have the IIs. Check the Pirelli site and with you dealer and see if you want the original or the II.

3. I don't think the Michelin Pilot Alpin tire got as good reviews on TireRack.com.

I have the Pirelli Sottozero 240 IIs on my 2007 C4S and the car was great in the snow. I took it out in some unplowed side streets last year and, with the snow tires, it really held up. It's kind of funny, as people don't expect to see a 911 chomping through snow piles.

CMOS

chuckla,
I see you are also "DC Metro" You've got Blizzaks? I didn't think that Blizzak's came in a fitment for the Porsche. Do you recall your sizes?
I got the TireRack branded replica wheels (the Sport Edition Cup 4).
I'll probably put them on in November as well.

chuckla

CMOS, I originally wanted the Dunlops but Dunlop was unable to ship because it neglected to put a DOT notice on its snows. So I went to my second choice, which were the Blizzaks. I bought the 18" Italian replica turbo twist wheels and tires three years ago when I had my '03 C4S 996 and used them on my 997 last winter. I used 20mm spacers on the 996 and on the 997 as well. Don't remember the sizes but Reggie Bourlier (who I used) or Damon at TR can set you straight. By the way, I changed the set up when I first had my 996, but then discovered Tire Van-they are terrific, come out to your house, balance the tires and do all the dirty work.

go-C4S-injune

Porsche peoples, my sincere gratitude for thotful replies. As a newbie, I am thinking P dealers would do the best job and I dont want to take chances w/ my new car, which I fancy v much. Am I just green?

Carrera GT

You don't need to dealer to do the work, but you should involve the dealer service manager in the decision to be sure he/she will take on any subsequent issues.

I'd strongly suggest you pursue Nokian tires and I believe they have an N-rated tire now. I have an '09 and I'll be looking for 18's (more sidewall to carry snow chains in the rare event, plus much smoother ride on rougher roads with basically no chance of pinching a tire against the rim hitting a freewall pothole at 90 ... I mean 65 ... mph ...)

go-C4S-injune

haha, thx for a great sounding suggestion on Nokian, mr CarreraGT.

Jake951

I agree with everything the others have said. I would only add that I ran Pirelli Sottozero 240 N1's on my Cayman in the winter and they worked very well, even down in super-frigid temperatures below 0 F. I limited my winter driving to days when the roads were free of snow and ice, but I did try them once in snow and the Cayman seemed to have as good snow traction as my Saab did with winter tires.

I just got a set of Sottozero 240 Serie II for winter driving in the GT3. Again I don't plan to drive in snow but do want to be able to go out in sub-freezing temperatures. I wanted Porsche OEM wheels to go with the winter tires, so I got the wheel/tire package from Wheel Enhancement. They have used OEM wheels at reasonable prices. They are also a first class outfit to do business with. (Disclaimer: no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

Carrera GT

I just emailed Nokian US for their Porsche availability. Perhaps they'll have new news. For the time being, here's some quick research. By the way, going to cheap 18's will save your expensive original factory 19's from the rigors of salt and snow and chains and mud and grit and aargh! (refinishing cost per wheel after chains scuff up the clear coat is about the same as the new purchase price of CCW or OZ Racing ... plus you have your snow wheels and tires mounted once and last several years ... I've had the some Nokians on a Cayenne Turbo for three ski seasons with 500 mile round trip to the snow at least 20-25 trips per season.

Here's what Tire Crack says is standard issue on the '09 C4S show the two OEM tires and their overall diameter and rotations per mile (stay in that range to avoid PSM/ABS issues when choosing snow tires in 18's or 19's.)

235/35ZR19 Rosso: 25.5" 820 PS2: 25.5" 817
305/30ZR19 Rosso: 26.1" 798 PS2: 26.3" 788

And here's the Nokian WR:
235/40R18 95V XL N0 : 25.4" 828
(Barely 1% oversize rpm won't worry the electronics. It's N-rated, so we know Mr Porsche approves fitment)
295/35R18 99V N0 : 26.1" 793
(Ideally between the Pirelli and Michelin summer tire diameters)

You could go with a 19" solution:
235/35R19 25.5" 816 (almost identical size)
295/30R19 26.0" 793 (well within 1%, though a 30 Series is marginal)

ref:

Nokian WR

(http://www.nokiantires.com/files/nokiantires/PDF/WR.pdf)

PS2

Rosso


(http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...R9SPORTPS2XLN1)

(http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...3D03YR90ARXLN1)

go-C4S-injune

tx kindly, C-GT.

BobbyB

Go-C4S-injune - I have Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero" tires. on my C4S. They drive well and handle in both the snow and cold. I typically change over tires in mid to late Nov. If you go with 18" you can save a few $$. I got a deal so I just stayed with 19". Good luck.

Chris from Cali

I couldn't bring myself to drive the C4S in the winter (snow). Too many idiots out there to risk getting my baby dinged up. The Sottozeros were what I was going to go with (on the 997.2 C4 wheels), but in the end I just bought a GTI.

brad@tirerack.com

Please give me a call at the office. I'll be glad to answer all the questions you have.

Phil G.

+1 I've found the Tire Rack folks to be incredibly knowlegeable and helpful when it comes to tire selection. Their prices are great and they'll ship them to your dealer for an install. I've used them many times for virtually all my tire purchases.