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A question about Performance Tyres? Ask the Michelin Expert!

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A question about Performance Tyres? Ask the Michelin Expert

For the next month SEPTEMBER 2015 through to the end of OCTOBER 2015 , Michelin have agreed to return to be available to answer any question that you might have on Tyres.

2_465x952_104.jpg


911uk are pleased to announce, that we have the services of Jamie McWhir, Michelin UK Technical Manager, as our "Ask The Expert" on tyres.

So if it's a question, on tyre sizes, tyre pressures, N rated tyres, tyre choice, tyre wear, mixing tyres, brands, Super sports, Cup 2's or just anything or everything on Tyres please post your question on this thread and it will answered by the expert within a short space of time :)

Questions will be answered by Mr Jamie McWhir, Michelin UK Technical Manager

Profile: Jamie McWhir, Michelin UK Technical Manager

Career Highlights:

- Worked in the Michelin motorsport team with the BTCC and Vauxhall 888 from 1997 to 2000
- F1 Race Engineer for Michelin, France with the Renault F1 team, working with Alonso, Button, Fisichella, Trulli, McNish & Webber
- Masters Degree in Motorsport Engineering at Cranfield
- Tyre Support Engineer, Red Bull Racing in 2007-2009
- Now Michelin Technical Manager, UK , responsible for Car, Van & 4x4 tyres

JamieMcWhirMichelin400.jpg

"Ask the Expert" starts on 15 September 2015 ...

FYI the previous Ask the expert series from April 2014, can be found here.
 

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Funnily enough, just ordered 2 rear N3 Pilot Sports for my C4S to replace some PZeros which had become very noisy. Not had them before, so will be interested to see how they get on but was advised by the Porsche indy that they were a better bet.

I've just had the geo done, plus new suspension bits.

Also need to replace the front PZeros at some point, but lots of wear left in 'em...

Presumably it'll be OK to mix them til then?

Relatively leisurely road use only...
 
Thanks Michelin for coming back ! :) :thumb:

So I'll add this question. High street tyres garages promote nitrogen filling for tyres, does this have any benefit for Porsche Performance Tyres ?
 
Robertb said:
Funnily enough, just ordered 2 rear N3 Pilot Sports for my C4S to replace some PZeros which had become very noisy. Not had them before, so will be interested to see how they get on but was advised by the Porsche indy that they were a better bet.

I've just had the geo done, plus new suspension bits.

Also need to replace the front PZeros at some point, but lots of wear left in 'em...

Presumably it'll be OK to mix them til then?

Relatively leisurely road use only...

We always say (no difference between a Porsche and a Fiesta..) you are always running a more "optimal" fitment with 4 identical brand tyres on the car, especially 4wd cars

However, suffice to the Michelin's being the appropriate "N" fitment, it's perfectly normal and understandable to mix them as long as they are in axle sets.

Did you see the Pirelli's that came off? If they went noisy, likelyhood they had some level of irregular wear, so might be worth looking at the camber/toe settings if you haven't recently, as it would wear the PS2's out similarly through time
 
Hi Jamie,

Thanks for doing this. :thumb:

The uneven wear of rear tyres on a 911 seems to be a fact of life which means that many people keep them on until the inside edge is only just legal (or beyond).

Are there any issues associated with that part of the tyre being run so low on tread?
 
911UK said:
Thanks Michelin for coming back ! :) :thumb:

So I'll add this question. High street tyres garages promote nitrogen filling for tyres, does this have any benefit for Porsche Performance Tyres ?

The big benefit with Nitrogen over normal compressed air is it tends to be drier. When Michelin did F1, we used ultra dry air.

Nitrogen will diffuse slower through a carcass and there is some research looking at how it may reduce oxidation, but again it's small effects
In an ideal world, Nitrogen is a good inflation gas, but remember Air is ~75% Nitrogen :roll:

I'd say its more important to have a good accurate pressure gauge (as the one's on the average garage forecourt aren't that great)
 
Michelin Tyres said:
Robertb said:
Funnily enough, just ordered 2 rear N3 Pilot Sports for my C4S to replace some PZeros which had become very noisy. Not had them before, so will be interested to see how they get on but was advised by the Porsche indy that they were a better bet.

I've just had the geo done, plus new suspension bits.

Also need to replace the front PZeros at some point, but lots of wear left in 'em...

Presumably it'll be OK to mix them til then?

Relatively leisurely road use only...

We always say (no difference between a Porsche and a Fiesta..) you are always running a more "optimal" fitment with 4 identical brand tyres on the car, especially 4wd cars

However, suffice to the Michelin's being the appropriate "N" fitment, it's perfectly normal and understandable to mix them as long as they are in axle sets.

Did you see the Pirelli's that came off? If they went noisy, likelyhood they had some level of irregular wear, so might be worth looking at the camber/toe settings if you haven't recently, as it would wear the PS2's out similarly through time

Thanks for the feedback- I will be switching the fronts to PSs once the dust has settled.

I had a full 4 wheel geo done, inc camber, and as a result a few suspension bits were replaced. Some wear on the inside is inevitable as 996 4Ss seem to have quite pronounced rear camber, but the current tyres have not so much worn on the inside as pulled the tread blocks up at the leading edge, giving them a stepped/serrated feel if you run your hands over the inside edge. This makes for a very peculiar road noise, almost like driving over a lightly ridged surface, which in effect it is.

The technician reported that the geo was well out, particularly the rear camber.

Hopefully the geo and new parts will make for a longer and happier life for the Michelins!
 
Any chance of getting my M4 up a steep hill in the snow with Winter tyres on?

Reason I ask is that I asked the tech who was a M specialist about purchasing Winter tyres, and he said he wouldn't drive a M4 in the snow no matter what?? (Which I thought was surprisingly honest as i might have bought a set from them)

Tbh I wouldn't risk my Turbo S either.... :?:
 
When are you releasing a new tyre for the 996 GT3. Had to go out the 'box' and went with PSS's in slightly to bigger size this time round.
 
s2000db said:
Any chance of getting my M4 up a steep hill in the snow with Winter tyres on?

Reason I ask is that I asked the tech who was a M specialist about purchasing Winter tyres, and he said he wouldn't drive a M4 in the snow no matter what?? (Which I thought was surprisingly honest as i might have bought a set from them)

Tbh I wouldn't risk my Turbo S either.... :?:

With a proper winter tyre and a nice gentle driving style, no reason at all why not. Yes the pile of power will mean it's not the easiest winter car, but If we can run 911 Turbo's on a winter tyre launch in Riga a few years ago, no reason why the M4 will be an issue

If you look on the door shut, there will be a tyre pressure sticker, showing what the appropriate winter/m&s fitment is. If there is one approved, then BMW M will have tested the car in proper winter conditions.
 
kingston said:
When are you releasing a new tyre for the 996 GT3. Had to go out the 'box' and went with PSS's in slightly to bigger size this time round.

What size rears are you looking for?? And I will give you a more detailed answer 8)
 
Hi Jamie

Is there an "expiry date" on tyres ?
I know the DOT code is date of manufacture

Plenty of low mileage cars out there with say 10 year old tyres, but not much wear
Also see "new" tyres for sale that are actually made 2012

:?:
 
Michelin Tyres said:
kingston said:
When are you releasing a new tyre for the 996 GT3. Had to go out the 'box' and went with PSS's in slightly to bigger size this time round.

What size rears are you looking for?? And I will give you a more detailed answer 8)

295/30/18.

Went up to 295/35/18 PSS, no real main issues apart from they can rub on some troughs
 
askgeez said:
Hi Jamie

Is there an "expiry date" on tyres ?
I know the DOT code is date of manufacture

Plenty of low mileage cars out there with say 10 year old tyres, but not much wear
Also see "new" tyres for sale that are actually made 2012

:?:
Ok
Michelin recommend changing tyres if they get to 10years old (and inspect them annually after 5 years old but this is normal at an MOT) as you'll naturally see some drop in compound grip as the tyre ages, but it's not massive. Age effects are much more rapid with a tyre once it's fitted and run
A new tyre with a production date that's a couple of years old is not even remotely a worry. We (and I know most other manufacturers are the same) have very defined storage procedures where the tyres aren't exposed to sunlight and warehouse temps are kept stable
With many niche sizes as some Porsches are we don't make tyres every week so it's often the case that ages aren't very recent
So if you follow these guidelines you'll be fine.
Would a set that's 10years old be "off".. No.. But chances are that tyre will have been replaced with a newer better tyre so for improved safety grip and performance especially with a high performance car replacing them is sensible idea
Hope this helps
 
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