Quote:
KenH said:
"Meanwhile Porsche North America has not provided any advice whatsoever or direction to its dealers re winter tires"
This is not quite accurate.
I have a leaflet that I picked up from my dealer called "Tires Porsche Approved Original Equipment Fall/Winter 2004-2005".
It lists the approved summer and winter tires for all current models including the 997 and even the 987.
The actual problem seems to me that some of the recommended tires are not currently available in North America (just like the retrofit phone module is not currently available). Whilst annoying and frustrating, the availability of specific tires produced by third-party companies does not appear to me to be the legal responsibility of PCNA.
I asked my dealer only yesterday and they said they had not yet received any info from PNA! Parts and Service are five feet from each other and folks in both said 'No'. Are ANY of the 997S winter tire options on the list currently available in the US? Is it the same European list posted on this site, I wonder. Neither of those tires were available - one at all, the other (the Conti 810) in the 997s size.
KenH, I do think PNA has a responsibility to ensure that an adequate supply of proper snow tires are available or they should have their dealers warn prospective customers that there is no current provision for using their cars in the winter. I specifically told my dealer my intention and requirement to drive my 997S year round before ordering it.
What practically speaking is going to happen in the North East and Mountain regions over the next three months? Will PNA suspend sales of 997's? How should a customer take delivery: on a flat-bed directly to their garage?
Driving such a car with summer tires, even off the dealer lot, could be lethal for car and driver both. I say this without any personal experience driving a Porsche in the snow with summer tires, but have read others' experiences here and had plenty with my M5 when I was caught in an early snow storm last year.
I do believe PNA has a duty to its customers to ensure the availability of suitable tires for the environmental conditions under which they are selling their cars.
Unlike the issue with the phone which is merely inconvenient, the issue with tires can kill.
PS: I just went on Tire Rack's web site. They now specifically list the Pirelli SottoZeros as the only recommended winter tires for the 997S. And less than one week after starting to ship these tires, they say in large red letters: SOLD OUT FOR THE SEASON!
So now I am left to gloat that I am one of the lucky few that can drive my new car this winter - which is quite useful since I don't have another car on hand, and I am also left to worry that not being N rated might possibly compomise its handling - something my dealer only told me post facto yesterday when handing me back my car!