Porsche 997: High-Performance Tire Reviews

This article applies to the Porsche 911 (997) (2005-2012).

So you've done a few auto-crosses and maybe a track day, but you want to go faster. The best modification you can do, short of the "driver mod" (seat time), is utilize better tires. As unglamorous as it may seem, tires are best way to make your car faster. You can have all the power in the world with that turbo kit, but if you can't put the power down, then you're going nowhere. These days, there are high-quality street tires that offer near-race tire performance, with the accessibility of a D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) legal tire. So, this comparison doesn't feature any Hoosiers or BFG R1 race tires, but these four are about as close as your can get with a D.O.T. rating on the sidewall.

If you're getting serious about track performance, then you may decide on a dedicated set of track wheels. Most racers with Porsche 997's are running either 18" or 19" wheels with a 235 or 245 section width front tire, and a 305 or 315 section width rear tire. For the sake of this comparison, we elected to use the commonly sized 235/35R19 front tire and 305/30R19 rear tire, or the GT3 OEM tire sizes, which are popular with the 997 crowd.

High-Performance Track Tires

Yokohama Advan AD08R

Price – $1,300

Sizes – 235/35R19 (F), 305/30R19 (R)

Treadwear Rating – 180AAA

Best Suited For – Street/Autocross/Track

The AD08R is the all-rounder of this comparison. It may not be quite as aggressive as the other three in terms of outright lap times (it's close), but this one is a true street tire, unlike the others, in that you could actually expect fair wear and mileage from these tires, given their level of performance. The AD08R will be the best bet in terms of wet weather performance. Also, unlike the others, these tires offer a broader temperature range in which they work, which means they work better than the others when cold, which is useful if you plan on hitting the occasional back road or autocross where you don't have a warm up lap at your disposal. Recommended for those who want the most street-friendly solution at the best price.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

Price – $1,950

Sizes – 235/35R19 (F), 305/30R19 (R)

Treadwear Rating – 180AAA

Best Suited For – Track

This is the most expensive tire compared here by a large margin. Michelin introduced the Pilot Sport Cup 2 as their street-able track tire. It is the original equipment tire for the GT3 and many other high-performance vehicles. This tire has the same treadwear rating as the AD08R, but realistically, this is a much softer, more track-focused tire and is less likely to last as long as the Yokohama. Due to the design of the tread inner tread blocks, the Michelin is able to perform adequately in the wet, if not being driven hard. The asymmetrical tread design prioritizes dry grip in the outer half of the tire, which means that under hard cornering, the footprint of the tire more closely resembles a race tire. This tire's high price tag is matched only by its prestige. Of the three more track-focused tires reviewed here, these ones will last the longest. You will have to do a cost-benefit analysis to see if the up front cost difference is worth it for you. Recommended for those who want to experience Porsche's idea of the best tire for their 911 sports car.

Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo-R

Price – $1,500

Sizes – 235/35R19 (F), 305/30R19 (R)

Treadwear Rating – 60AAA

Best Suited For – Track

This is the most aggressive tire of this comparison. Can it be street driven? Of course, but unless you like wasting a lot of money, we can only recommended those street miles be of the "driving to the track and back" variety. This is the fastest track tire of the four. Several users on Rennlist have indicated that they are good for several seconds a lap over the Michelin and are not too far behind the older Hoosier race tires. These are heavy-duty units. Despite being the newest tire in this review, the buzz is already out there in the forums. These tires requires a higher tire pressure and additional camber dialed into the vehicle's suspension to operate at their best. If your vehicle has aftermarket suspension with camber adjustment, you've just found your new tire of choice. Recommended for those who want the fastest tire and have their car set up to match.

Toyo Proxes R888

Price – $1,350

Sizes – 235/35R19 (F), 305/30R19 (R)

Treadwear Rating – 100AAA

Best Suited For – Track

The Toyo R888 has been out for a while and is the most controversial track tire on Rennlist. That sounds silly, but it's completely true (check the related links below). Opinion is fiercely divided on whether or not this is a good solution for the 911. Recommended for those who want a tire that can do it all, while being slightly more track-based than the Yokohama tire.

Toyo has publicly released specifications on how to set your car up to optimize the R888:

• Operating Temperature: 160°F to 220°F
• Hot Inflation Pressures: 32 to 38 (PSI)
• Camber: -1° to -3°
• Caster: As much positive as possible

Related Discussions and Site

• Track Tire Sizes - Rennlist.com
• Toyo R888 - Rennlist.com
• Toyo vs. Michelin - Rennlist.com
• Track Sizes 997 - Rennlist.com
• Pirelli vs. Michelin vs. Toyo - 6SpeedOnline.com