Tire: Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec
Category: Performance Winter / Snow
UTQG (treadwear): Not rated
If you are a Porsche driver looking for a winter tire that will suit the needs of your performance habits and give you excellent snow traction, then this might be the tire for you. The Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec was developed by Michelin specifically for drivers of Porsche vehicles -not that this tire couldn't be fitted to other vehicles. So as you can imagine, being a car-specific tire, that it is very technologically advanced. In fact this tire is of the low rolling resistance variety, meaning that you will see better fuel economy versus other similar tires in the segment. Furthermore, the tread was developed using a sunflower oil Helio Compound that allows the tire to be very flexible in cold temperatures. The Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec also happen to meet the industry standard for severe snow service, no small feat for a tire that will also give you some great traction in warmer weather (not really advertised). Michelin recommends that you only install these tires in sets of four due to their exceptional traction capabilities.
Even in severe ice and snow conditions, these tires should perform very well. Drivers have noted that even on steep grades under adverse winter conditions, the tire will remain in contact with the road. The directional tread pattern also plays a role here, which is why these tires are geared more towards performance cars. I've had drivers of muscle cars tell me that this is actually their winter tire of choice. It's a little hard to say how many miles you'll get out of a set since I'm writing this review within the last two years of the tire being released. That being said, those that have driven on them have not noted unusual wear and I would hazard a guess that these will get you at least 30,000 miles..which is my typical passenger vehicle winter tire minimum.
