Why summer wheels and tyres are important

The Porsche guide to summer wheel and tyre sets

Find out about the benefits of Porsche summer wheel and tyre sets

February 4, 2025

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – 20-/21-inch Carrera Classic summer wheel-and-tyres

Discover how choosing summer wheel and tyre sets from Porsche can help improve your car’s performance and efficiency in the warmest months

To get the maximum enjoyment and benefits from driving your Porsche, the correct tyre choice is essential. The value of fitting summer wheel and tyre sets, which are designed to deal with warm ambient and road surface temperatures, is well known.

And summer wheel and tyre sets can also vastly improve the driving experience during the warmest months, when the longer daylight hours mean even more opportunity to hit the road and indulge in the pure pleasure of driving. Find out here what is different about summer wheels and tyres – and why you should fit them.

What are summer tyres?

Summer wheel and tyre sets from Porsche are specially developed to ensure maximum enjoyment for drivers in warmer conditions. They use a harder, stickier rubber compound than winter tyres and are designed to work well in high temperatures and are also useful for drivers in regions of the world where wintry conditions are uncommon.

Porsche Macan 4 Electric, 22-inch Macan exclusive design summer wheel and tyres — Summer wheel and tyre sets from Porsche are specifically designed to help your car maximise the benefits of driving in warm conditions Photo: Porsche

What is the difference between summer and winter tyres?

Summer tyres incorporate a shallower tread pattern than their winter counterparts. They grip particularly well on warm, dry surfaces, helping you secure a high degree of stability when cornering or braking in particular.

In comparison, winter tyres ensure a stronger bond with difficult road surfaces and in challenging weather – like snow, ice and rain – helping to shorten the braking distance in these conditions compared to summer tyres.

How can you tell what is a summer tyre?

If you look closely at the tyres on your car you will notice a series of letters, digits and symbols on the sidewall. These markings indicate what type of tyre it is – the tyre diameter, tyre width, aspect ratio (presented as the height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the tyre width) and tyre construction (usually R for radial, as most tyres are these days). Summer tyres, as a rule, have shallower grooves than winter or all-weather tyres.

Whether summer, winter or sports tyres, tyres developed specifically by leading manufacturers to Porsche specifications for use on its models are marked with an ‘N’ marking by Porsche. It indicates that the tyres are tested and approved by Porsche for their performance, handling and safety characteristics.

Porsche Macan electric fitted with Porsche summer wheels and tyres — There are many different combinations of summer tyre and wheel sets available from Porsche. Officially approved tyres can be identified by their unique ‘N’ marking on the sidewalls Photo: Porsche

When should I switch to summer wheel and tyre sets?

Summer tyres work best in temperatures above 7°C. Below this point, the tyre compound in summer wheel and tyre sets begin to harden, meaning that the tyre’s driving characteristics can deteriorate. In the Northern Hemisphere, for example, you should consider switching from winter to summer wheels and tyres between May and September.

Road surfaces can reach a temperature of up to 60°C (140°F) in the summer, so fitting wheels and tyres that have been specifically developed to maximise the unique challenge of driving in these conditions is highly recommended.

What are Porsche summer wheel and tyre sets?

Porsche summer wheel and tyre sets fit all Porsche models and are specifically designed to help you make the most of your car’s performance. They are made of a special rubber compound designed stability in high temperatures with a unique tread pattern optimised for summer road surfaces.

Every Porsche summer wheel and tyre set is made with outstanding agility, cornering ability, high levels of grip and safety in mind. Sporty in appearance, they are not just extremely capable on the road but further enhance the overall look of your car too.

Consumption and emission information

911 Carrera GTS (WLTP): Fuel consumption combined: 11.0 – 10.5 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 251 – 239 g/km; CO₂ class: G. Taycan GTS (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 20.7 – 18.1 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: A. Macan Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 19.8 – 17.0 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: A. Macan 4 Electric (WLTP): Electric energy consumption combined: 21.1 – 17.9 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO₂ class: A.

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