2009 C4S on Snow Tires/Wheels. Victor Zehn 18"/Pirelli Sottozero N2's
12-18-2009, 10:00 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
2009 C4S on Snow Tires/Wheels. Victor Zehn 18"/Pirelli Sottozero N2's
Bit of a hassle to put this package together as no one place had everything I wanted.
Decided to setup a winter wheel/tire package to make swap easy, quick, and a garage affair.
Couldn't assemble what I wanted in 19", and 18" offers a tad more sidewall for protection, so I went 18"
I have PCCB and there is NO clearance problems (not even close).
Porsche TPMS sensors/valve stem kits from Tire Rack ~$103 x 4
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II N2. This is the very latest version and Porsche approved (N rating). Good gawd look at the sipes on that tread! Those are going to be some grippy beotches. Tire Rack ~$215 x 2. ~$295 x 2.
"Winter 240 Sottozero tires are Pirelli's "dual-season" Performance Winter tires that were developed to be effective as temperatures approach freezing and below from mid-autumn until early spring by offering hot performance compared to summer tires when driven on dry, wet or icy cold surfaces. Winter Sottozero tires are for the drivers of high performance sport cars, coupes and sedans who don't let their enthusiasm for driving cool off in winter"
"All Winter Sottozero Performance Winter tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol."
Victor Equipment wheels-18". Black finish. Porsche specific, hub centric, strong, good looking, cheap! Won't cry if I scuff them. Discount Tire (local store) ~$280 x 4.
Performance report after some snow/ice miles. I have no doubt ground clearance will be my only issue.
Pics:
Decided to setup a winter wheel/tire package to make swap easy, quick, and a garage affair.
Couldn't assemble what I wanted in 19", and 18" offers a tad more sidewall for protection, so I went 18"
I have PCCB and there is NO clearance problems (not even close).
Porsche TPMS sensors/valve stem kits from Tire Rack ~$103 x 4
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II N2. This is the very latest version and Porsche approved (N rating). Good gawd look at the sipes on that tread! Those are going to be some grippy beotches. Tire Rack ~$215 x 2. ~$295 x 2.
"Winter 240 Sottozero tires are Pirelli's "dual-season" Performance Winter tires that were developed to be effective as temperatures approach freezing and below from mid-autumn until early spring by offering hot performance compared to summer tires when driven on dry, wet or icy cold surfaces. Winter Sottozero tires are for the drivers of high performance sport cars, coupes and sedans who don't let their enthusiasm for driving cool off in winter"
"All Winter Sottozero Performance Winter tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol."
Victor Equipment wheels-18". Black finish. Porsche specific, hub centric, strong, good looking, cheap! Won't cry if I scuff them. Discount Tire (local store) ~$280 x 4.
Performance report after some snow/ice miles. I have no doubt ground clearance will be my only issue.
Pics:
12-18-2009, 11:59 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thank you sir!
A poster in another thread commented that he put on winter tires so that he could get the hell out of the way from the wayward idiots. Commented that he had a car coming at him, sliding, and he had no traction to manuever.
That struck a chord and I don't want to be in that situation.
Two weeks ago we had 5-6 days of 0-10 degree temps and that really deserves winter rubber even if no snow/ice/rain (softer compound).
And I don't want to park my car (that is AWD!) from Dec-April due to cold temps and icy spots on the road. One of the ski resorts at N Tahoe has some great sushi, and I like driving the Carrera through the mountains! Ergo- winter tires
A poster in another thread commented that he put on winter tires so that he could get the hell out of the way from the wayward idiots. Commented that he had a car coming at him, sliding, and he had no traction to manuever.
That struck a chord and I don't want to be in that situation.
Two weeks ago we had 5-6 days of 0-10 degree temps and that really deserves winter rubber even if no snow/ice/rain (softer compound).
And I don't want to park my car (that is AWD!) from Dec-April due to cold temps and icy spots on the road. One of the ski resorts at N Tahoe has some great sushi, and I like driving the Carrera through the mountains! Ergo- winter tires
12-20-2009, 02:32 PM
#6
You guys are some serious risk-takers! I am hoping you guys have incident-free winters enjoying your Porsches. I may follow suit next year, but I live in the land of "my last car was a donkey".
12-24-2009, 11:50 AM
#7
Drifting
Thread Starter
Got in some snow/slush/wet driving yesterday.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
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12-24-2009, 01:57 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Got in some snow/slush/wet driving yesterday.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
12-24-2009, 02:20 PM
#9
Poseur
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Now go get your lug nuts (bolts) powder coated! They look like really sticky tires. Today's snow tires are NOTHING like the ones from decades ago.
12-24-2009, 02:49 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
Got in some snow/slush/wet driving yesterday.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
These Pirelli Sottozero tires are fantastic. Driving on the snow was no problem at all. It was awesome fun to power slide around when I wanted to, but I really had to get on it to break the tires loose. Very progressive loss of traction and so easy and fun to play with it.
The previous summer tires traction characteristics were on/off quality and much less forgiving.
Traction was superb. No ice experience yet. So far very very happy with how these tires work in snow/slush. The 18" also ride soooo much better than the 19" with summer rubber. Much less harsh.
After this experience, I will gladly change rubber when the season changes and the temps go down. If you will be driving in <40 degree temps, I urge you to get some dedicated winter rubber. It is not a compromise, it is so much more confidence inspiring and much more safe.
I wan't wait to try them in snow...
12-24-2009, 07:47 PM
#12
Drifting
Thread Starter
Damn instigator...
Glad you brought it up!
I had the same lugs with my AMT Tech 1-109 matte black and I kind of like the contrast between the black wheels and silver lugs and center caps. Either would look good I think and a personal preference thing
Awesome! You know, Victor is about out of the Zehn style wheels? Some silver still in stock last I saw.
You know the stock Porsche caps just push right out and pop right in the new hubs? Super easy! And the Porsche caps are plastic! Can be bought online for about $15 I think. Post a review when you get some bad weather experience?
PS- My C4S set-up handles wayyyy better than my Cayenne on the 18" Nitto All-Terrain Nitto Terra Grapplers in the snow and mucky stuff. The C4S feels totally planted and connected while the Cayenne feels a bit skittish at times.
Glad you brought it up!
I had the same lugs with my AMT Tech 1-109 matte black and I kind of like the contrast between the black wheels and silver lugs and center caps. Either would look good I think and a personal preference thing
You know the stock Porsche caps just push right out and pop right in the new hubs? Super easy! And the Porsche caps are plastic! Can be bought online for about $15 I think. Post a review when you get some bad weather experience?
PS- My C4S set-up handles wayyyy better than my Cayenne on the 18" Nitto All-Terrain Nitto Terra Grapplers in the snow and mucky stuff. The C4S feels totally planted and connected while the Cayenne feels a bit skittish at times.
12-24-2009, 09:21 PM
#13
Big Zehn shipment from ?Australia to US arrived last week. Delivered FedEx to Discount Tire Naperville, IL last night at 5 pm. Excellent service. Out the door shortly after 6 and they were busy. This store services many of the Porsche Financial cars out of Lisle, IL. Reportedly they prefer 295 in back so that's what I ordered. Slick ice and slush last night. Grip less than Blizzaks on an Audi. This is likely more a function of tire width than AWD system. I really enjoy driving in the snow. In retrospect I should have sought a width and compound allowing more aggressive snow/ice driving. If you see lots of snow I'd consider 265 rear and a compound that might sacrifice some dry grip in favor of ice adhesion. These are early impressions based on fewer than 50 stops and 10 turns on ice/snow.