The real difference between NO and N1 Bridgestone Potenza 050A's

[500]

According to Bridgestone, there are two additonal belts in the NO tire vs. the N1 (hence the difference in price). Don't let anyone tell you they are the same, or "the N1 is just a newer version of the NO" etc etc. Bridgestone and the technical dept at the Tire Rack both say never to mix and match N0's and N1's. Since I was orginally ill advised by a sales person at tirerack they are switching out the N1's for NO's...I did notice my car did not behave as it should when I was running the new N1's in the rear as the car was wandering quite a bit on the interstate. Should have the new and correct rear NO's on this week.

[Loren]

From the Porsche Tires Brochure (Feb 2006) - you can download it here.

"Use only tire types tested by Porsche. Only tires with the same manufacturer and with the same specification code (e.g. "N0", "N1"” …) should be mounted on the vehicle. Tires should be replaced no less than in pairs on one axle at a time. Only tires of the same tire make and type must be used. Since many Porsche vehicles are fitted with different sized tires on their front and rear axles, this requires matching the tire brand, tire name and N-specification front to rear."

[500]

From the Porsche Tires Brochure (Feb 2006) - you can download it here.

"Use only tire types tested by Porsche. Only tires with the same manufacturer and with the same specification code (e.g. "N0", "N1"” …) should be mounted on the vehicle. Tires should be replaced no less than in pairs on one axle at a time. Only tires of the same tire make and type must be used. Since many Porsche vehicles are fitted with different sized tires on their front and rear axles, this requires matching the tire brand, tire name and N-specification front to rear."

Thanks for the reinforcement.

[Westcoaster]

From the Porsche Tires Brochure (Feb 2006) - you can download it here.

"Use only tire types tested by Porsche. Only tires with the same manufacturer and with the same specification code (e.g. "N0", "N1"” …) should be mounted on the vehicle. Tires should be replaced no less than in pairs on one axle at a time. Only tires of the same tire make and type must be used. Since many Porsche vehicles are fitted with different sized tires on their front and rear axles, this requires matching the tire brand, tire name and N-specification front to rear."

Yes, very interesting, knowing the Porsche has specific designations for tires they approved makes that part easy, also good to know if you have a catastrophic failure on one tire (ie. sidewall puncture), that you need a 'matched replacement' to what the car is currently riding on.

I wonder based on 500's comment how many times mismatched tires on other vehicles go undiagnosed because the replacement tire is the same brand, model and size? I would have to think that changes in tire production gives rise to changes in the internal structure when a tire is manufactured over the period of a number of years?

[Deanski]

Wait, the N0's has two additional belts? So what does N1 have in changes between N0 and N1 to be specific? N1's deleted the two additional belts? What do they gain from N0's?

I have new N0's on my car and love these tires! Sure a whole lot cheaper than PS/2's and still perform very well.

Deanski

[summoboy]

I have the n1 bridgestones on the rear now - seem fine. Car is DD, but I still feel the PS/2s were better.

[jtsmith18]

I have NO RE050's with 22,000 kms.(13,600 miles) on them, one DE event and the rest highway travel. They measure less than half worn so I will be looking for NO's again, wonder why they removed two belts and what the difference is.