After two years with my 2008 997 Turbo, I took delivery yesterday of a brand new Carrara White GT3. (Pics to follow). I live in Seattle and have been concerned about driving around in the rain on the factory supplied Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires. The car is not a daily driver but I will put on 8k miles per year using it.


I told my friend Brian that I was thinking of changing the SC’s to a better everyday tire and he sent me the e-mail pasted below that I found kind of amusing and informative, so I thought I would share it on 6Speed.


Would anyone here change out the Michelin SC’s living in a place like Seattle? Are they really as dangerous as I’ve heard when it comes to standing water and hydroplaning?


I was really leaning towards another Turbo but decided to see what the GT3 experience is all about. Many friends lobbied me against getting another Turbo and Brian was also especially vocal against the Turbo. Also attached is a second message he sent me about his feelings on the Turbo that I thought would be interesting to share here.


I will write a more detailed GT3 review later as I’ve only put 20 miles on the car coming home from the dealer. My initial comments are that the Sports Exhaust sounds flat out amazing. The rear wing will also take some getting used to. The angle of the blade blocks out the headlamps of any car behind you so when you go over a bump or up and down and down a slope at night, you see a “flicker” of the headlamps and its kind of distracting.


Not being used to the wing, it initially makes me feel I have a bigger blind spot when I turn right and look back through the rear window. I can also feel the impact of having 118 ft. lbs. less torque on tap going up hills, but again I’m making this comparison while keeping the GT3 below the recommended 4,250 rpm’s for break in.


I am hoping I won’t miss the Turbo’s power too much. Initially, I felt I wanted to experience all of the new advances on the 997.2 Turbo (PDK, DFI, Torque Vectoring, etc) but was I swayed to the GT3! Time will tell! Thanks – Brad

 

hey brad take it from me you really don't want to be driving the Pilot Sport Cups in the rain and that's what you have a lot of up there. Those tires really don't do well in the rain and with the suspension/physics of the GT3/RS it's not a great combo. I'd say at least the P Zero Corsa System tend to work somewhat better in the rain. But a lot of folks have used PS2s etc... So you'll be fine with better rain tires if you are intending to drive it in those conditions.

 

Sharky knows of what he speaks. Cups on a dry track are great, in the rain you might meet Mr. Guardrail.

 

Thanks Alex, I'm leaning towards trading them out for something with a little better wet performance. I've also been reading your 3.9 threads....very tempting! Your work and reputation is amazing. Thanks - Brad

 

Larry, Mr Guardrail is the last person I want to meet up with in the new year! I think I'll be ordering a new set of rubber very quickly.

 

Two things:
1. throw on some PS2s (they are a great all around DD tire)
2. tell Brian to put a sock in it

 

I'll see the sock and raise you the other half-pair. The raving from this guy is not completely wrong, but it's missing the point. His point is that the Cup tires make it a great (or greater car). He doesn't comment on their inherent risk of those tires in the wet (bad) or the cold (badder) or the cold and wet (very very bad).
Yes, the Sport's will slightly lessen the experience in peak conditions. But in bad conditions, the Cups will put you and your car at risk. Too bad he left out that point.

 

another seattle gt3 checking in (I did not read the emails as they have been deleted by mod)... ps2 for sure

mpsc are crap in the rain and picture yourself hitting just a bit of standing water on any of our "wonderful" local highways...

trust your instincts...

put the mpsc on some rims and drive that new gt3 to the track... you will not miss that turbo :-)

congratulations and I hope to meet you and check out the new ride!

 

PJ has it down. I was going to say post this up on the local forum if you have not already. Plenty of local knowledge there about tires.

 

oh yeah, was it 2002 when you decided to drive in OPPOSITE direction than the rest of us?yeah, that was you.....


in seattle, i wouldn't run cups. run PS2.
PS 2 is faster on street anyways. mpsc will never warm up at street speed.

 

btw, cup tires sucks on track as well.
hoosiers is the way to go.

 

The Corsa systems are the best street tires for the 997GT3 IMO. They are quieter, stickier and better wear than the PS2. Yet warm up faster and is better in the wet than the Cups on the track. I agree with Mooty, Cups sucks big time on the track as well.
That said, you are crazy to drive around here with the cups.

 

+1, the MPSC's are scarry in the wet, I have a set that will only see the car in the warm dry weather. This wet cold winter weather is only going to be a recipe for disaster.

Enjoy the new car.

 

I heard yesterday, but is not verified, that Porsche is replacing MPSC's with one of the new Bridgestone tires as a factory tire for GT cars. Recently read, I think in Excellence, that the Bridgestone is an excellent tire. Another option for you to consider, I have Corsa's, great tire so far.

 

My 2010 just came in with Corsas. It is stored until spring, but I may swap to PS2s when it comes out from hibernation. I have heard good things about the Corsas but would not expect near the mileage of the PS2s.