New Pirelli tyre...N4?

Any tyre with an "N" designation is a specific Porsche fitment. So you will find these not only on Pirelli, but also Bridgestone, Continental, Yokohama and Michelin that are approved by the Porsche factory for use on their vehicles. When the "N" programme started some years ago, it was just "N" but now after some years it's N0, N1 N2 N3 N4 and N5 on some Cayenne fitments. The N designation you are referring to from Pirelli applies to some P-Zero fitments in either a Giallo or Rosso but not a Nero.

Ferrari also have dedicated tyres or "bespoke" fitments for their cars but are more subtle about it. For example, the approved front tyre by Pirelli for the 355 is a P-Zero Giallo 88Y. But that size is also available in a 91 Y Asimmetrico. The 91 Y fitment has a different sidewall construction. In the Pirelli pricelist, they carry specific Ferrari fitments prefixed by the letter FE and these are the approved Ferrari fitments. In the case if the 355 tyre, it is a Direzionale not an Asimmetrico. Approved factory fitments began in the 1960's for Ferrari.

Manufacturers like Porsche and Ferrari work very closely in association with tyre suppliers to develop a tyre for their vehicles. Millions of dollars are spent on the project and it always amuses me to see Ferrari and Porsche fitted with incorrect tyres.

Happy driving,

Carl.

 

whoops, the I meant to add the size for that 355 tyre is a 225/40-18.