Running Michelin Cup tires on a 987

[jeffurnes]

I would like to run the DOT Michelin Sport Cup tires on my 2008 RS60 Boxster for track days. What sizes (front and rear) works best?

[renzop]

Well, it depends on whether you want to run 19s or 18s. Personally I would go with 18s. Cheaper tires, cheaper wheels and lower unsprung mass.

For 19" - 235/35/19 front and 265/35/19 match stock front to rear width and height exactly. Price from TireRack is $333 F and $423R for a total not shipped or mounted of $1512

For 18" there is no exact matching set for fronts and rears but you could go with 235/40/18 Front and 285/30/28 Rear. This would give you more rear tire which should make the car a little more stable in the back - good for track days, bad for autocross. A set of 4 will cost you $1248

For wheels I like the Enkei NT03-M 18x8.5 front and 18x10 rear $1582 for all 4

Or for cheap the Moda MD1 in 18 or 19" sizes for less than $800 for all 4

Also for cheap are Sport Edition Cup 4 in 18 or 19 also under $800 per set

Pricier but not outrageous are the Volk TE37 in 18 or 19 $780 to $860 each

You might also want to give Complete Custom Wheels a shout. They have lots of Porsche track wheel fitment experience and seem really sharp. Speak to John http://www.ccwheel.com 1-888-577-0144

Hope that gets you started.

Regards,

Alan

[jeffurnes]

Well, it depends on whether you want to run 19s or 18s. Personally I would go with 18s. Cheaper tires, cheaper wheels and lower unsprung mass.

For 19" - 235/35/19 front and 265/35/19 match stock front to rear width and height exactly. Price from TireRack is $333 F and $423R for a total not shipped or mounted of $1512

For 18" there is no exact matching set for fronts and rears but you could go with 235/40/18 Front and 285/30/28 Rear. This would give you more rear tire which should make the car a little more stable in the back - good for track days, bad for autocross. A set of 4 will cost you $1248

For wheels I like the Enkei NT03-M 18x8.5 front and 18x10 rear $1582 for all 4

Or for cheap the Moda MD1 in 18 or 19" sizes for less than $800 for all 4

Also for cheap are Sport Edition Cup 4 in 18 or 19 also under $800 per set

Pricier but not outrageous are the Volk TE37 in 18 or 19 $780 to $860 each

You might also want to give Complete Custom Wheels a shout. They have lots of Porsche track wheel fitment experience and seem really sharp. Speak to John http://www.ccwheel.com 1-888-577-0144

Hope that gets you started.

Regards,

Alan

Thanks Alan. That should give plenty to contemplate

[berty987]

I went to a track day recently with a number of other boxster owners. A few of them ended up with engine management faults and plumes of smoke from the exhaust as a result of pulling high G in corners. There were also some mechanics on site from one of the Porsche tuners who commented this is a common problem with the m96 engine since it is not a true dry sump and the 10 odd litres of oil that slosh about can get up into the inlet. The boxster has a greater capacity for speed into corners than the 911 so maybe they are affected more. In fact they commented that sticky tyres for a 987 are a bad idea purely becuause of this issue. The problem is cured by driving off the circuit on a normal road for a few miles after which the faults clear and the exhaust smoke disappears.