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Owners' resources

981 tyres and oil.

The 981 Boxster and Cayman, 2012 to 2016, including the S, GTS, Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4.

Shown: 981 Cayman GT4 in Racing Yellow

Which 981 is yours?

Choose your car for its tyre pressures, tyre sizes and oil on one sheet.

Choose your car above. Its pressures, tyre sizes and oil appear here, on one sheet.

981 · 2012–2016

Boxster and Cayman

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre235/45 ZR18
Rear2.0bar29 psiTyre265/45 ZR18

19-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre235/40 ZR19
Rear2.1bar30 psiTyre265/40 ZR19

20-inch

Front2.3bar33 psiTyre235/35 ZR20
Rear2.3bar33 psiTyre265/35 ZR20

Winter tyres

Front2.2bar31 psiTyre235/45 R18
Rear2.2bar31 psiTyre265/45 R18

(M+S)

Engine oil

Grade0W-40, 5W-40 or 5W-50

2.7 litre (Boxster, Cayman) or 3.4 litre (S, GTS) flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Approx. 7.5 litres with filter
Notes and sources

18-inch

Standard pressure. Porsche lists 18-inch summer tyres only for the 2.7-litre Boxster and Cayman; the S and GTS may use 18-inch wheels with winter tyres only.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

20-inch

Standard pressure. Comfort pressure, only on cars with tyre pressure monitoring and a Comfort pressure option in the menu (country-dependent), for up to 270 km/h (165 mph): 2.1 bar (30 psi) front and rear.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Winter tyres

Same pressure on 19-inch winter tyres: 235/40 R19 front, 265/40 R19 rear (M+S). 2.2 bar is 31.9 psi; the Cayman handbook prints it as 32 psi.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Oil

Porsche's current approved-oil list (October 2025) still gives A40 for all 981s. The difference between minimum and maximum on the oil level display is approx. 1.7 litres.

Source: Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition, WKD 981 00 21 15), Filling capacities and Topping up engine oil; approval confirmed in Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of approved engine oils

981 · 2012–2016

Boxster S, Cayman S and GTS

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

19-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre235/40 ZR19
Rear2.1bar30 psiTyre265/40 ZR19

20-inch

Front2.3bar33 psiTyre235/35 ZR20
Rear2.3bar33 psiTyre265/35 ZR20

Winter tyres

Front2.2bar31 psiTyre235/45 R18
Rear2.2bar31 psiTyre265/45 R18

(M+S)

Engine oil

Grade0W-40, 5W-40 or 5W-50

2.7 litre (Boxster, Cayman) or 3.4 litre (S, GTS) flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Approx. 7.5 litres with filter
Notes and sources

20-inch

Standard pressure. Comfort pressure, only on cars with tyre pressure monitoring and a Comfort pressure option in the menu (country-dependent), for up to 270 km/h (165 mph): 2.1 bar (30 psi) front and rear.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Winter tyres

Same pressure on 19-inch winter tyres: 235/40 R19 front, 265/40 R19 rear (M+S). 2.2 bar is 31.9 psi; the Cayman handbook prints it as 32 psi.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Oil

Porsche's current approved-oil list (October 2025) still gives A40 for all 981s. The difference between minimum and maximum on the oil level display is approx. 1.7 litres.

Source: Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition, WKD 981 00 21 15), Filling capacities and Topping up engine oil; approval confirmed in Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of approved engine oils

981 · 2012–2016

Boxster Spyder

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

20-inch

Front2.3bar33 psiTyre235/35 ZR20
Rear2.3bar33 psiTyre265/35 ZR20

Winter tyres

Front2.2bar31 psiTyre235/45 R18
Rear2.2bar31 psiTyre265/45 R18

(M+S)

Engine oil

Grade0W-40, 5W-40 or 5W-50

3.8 litre flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
About 7.5 litres with filteras the GT4's 3.8 engine
Notes and sources

20-inch

Standard pressure. Comfort pressure, only on cars with tyre pressure monitoring and a Comfort pressure option in the menu (country-dependent), for up to 270 km/h (165 mph): 2.1 bar (30 psi) front and rear.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Winter tyres

Same pressure on 19-inch winter tyres: 235/40 R19 front, 265/40 R19 rear (M+S). 2.2 bar is 31.9 psi; the Cayman handbook prints it as 32 psi.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981 (approval status Sept 2022), Tyre pressure; matches Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Tire pressure for cold tires

Oil

Porsche's approved-oil list gives A40 for all 981 Boxsters. The Spyder handbook was not found, so its refill quantity is not confirmed.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of approved engine oils until MY2020 (October 2025)

981 · 2012–2016

Cayman GT4

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

20-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre245/35 ZR20
Rear2.3bar33 psiTyre295/30 ZR20

Winter tyres

Front2.5bar36 psiTyre245/35 R20
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre295/30 R20

(M+S)

Engine oil

Grade0W-40, 5W-40 or 5W-50

3.8 litre flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Approx. 7.5 litres with filter
Notes and sources

20-inch

Standard pressure. Porsche gives no comfort pressure for the GT4.

Source: Porsche Cayman GT4 owner's manual (MY2016, North American edition, WKD 981 08 21 16), Tire pressure for cold tires

Winter tyres

Also for the other approved 20-inch winter size: 235/35 R20 front, 275/30 R20 rear on 8.5J and 10J wheels (M+S).

Source: Porsche Cayman GT4 owner's manual (MY2016, North American edition, WKD 981 08 21 16), Wheels, tires and Tire pressure for cold tires

Oil

The difference between minimum and maximum on the oil level display is approx. 1.7 litres.

Source: Porsche Cayman GT4 owner's manual (MY2016, North American edition, WKD 981 08 21 16), Filling capacities

Questions

OilHow do I check the oil level on a 981? There is no dipstick.

The level is read on the instrument display. Park on level ground with the engine at operating temperature, switch it off, wait about a minute, then choose Vehicle, then Oil measurement. Top up only with the engine warm, because if the rear lid is opened on a cold engine the display cannot show a level for a while. The gap between minimum and maximum on the display is about 1.7 litres, and Porsche says never to add more than is needed to reach maximum.

Source: Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition), Display and measurement of the engine oil level; Engine oil.

TyresWhat is the comfort tyre pressure on a 981, and can I use it?

Porsche lists a comfort pressure of 2.1 bar (30 psi) all round for the Boxster, Cayman, S, GTS and Boxster Spyder on 20-inch summer tyres, for speeds up to 270 km/h (165 mph). It applies only to cars with tyre pressure monitoring that offer a Comfort pressure option in the display menu, which depends on the country the car was built for. If your car does not offer it, use the standard 2.3 bar (33 psi). Porsche gives no comfort figure for 18 or 19-inch wheels or for the Cayman GT4.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 52/22, Approved wheels, tyres and spacers, 981, Tyre pressure; Porsche Cayman owner's manual (MY2015, North American edition).

TyresWhere do I find the correct tyre pressures for my car?

On the tyre pressure label on the car itself, in the driver's door frame, and in the owner's handbook. The figures are for cold tyres, so check them before a drive rather than after one.

TyresWhy do some rows give more than one pressure?

Many of these cars have two sets of figures: part load, for up to two people and a little luggage, and full load. Where Porsche gives both, the main figures here are the full-load ones and the note under the row gives part load, and the Comfort pressure where the car has one. Use the figure that matches how the car is loaded, and check again when that changes.

OilWhy does the oil depend on which model I have?

Because the engine does. Most generations were built with more than one engine, and each has its own oil grade, Porsche approval and capacity. Two cars from the same year that look alike can need different oil, so look for your exact model in the oil section, not just the generation.

OilIs the oil grade all I need to check?

No. The viscosity grade (for example 0W-40 or 5W-40) is only half of it. The oil also needs the Porsche approval listed for your engine (A40, C40 or C40 GT, for example), which is printed on the bottle. Two oils with the same grade can carry different approvals.

OilHow often should the oil be changed?

Follow the service schedule in your handbook or service booklet. Many owners change it more often when the car is used on track, or does lots of short journeys that never let the oil get fully up to temperature.

GeneralWhere do the figures on this 981 page come from?

From Porsche's own documents, named and linked under each figure. Where Porsche's documents disagree, or no Porsche figure could be found, the page says To be confirmed rather than guess. If a figure here ever disagrees with the label on your car or your handbook, the car and the handbook are right.

Choosing tyresSizes, the Porsche N mark and what to ask for

The 981 runs staggered tyres, wider at the rear than the front. Porsche's approved summer sizes are 235/45 ZR18 front with 265/45 ZR18 rear, 235/40 ZR19 with 265/40 ZR19, and 235/35 ZR20 with 265/35 ZR20. The 18-inch summer size is listed only for the 2.7-litre Boxster and Cayman; the S and GTS take 19 or 20-inch summer tyres, and the Boxster Spyder 20-inch. The Cayman GT4 has its own wider 20-inch sizes, 245/35 ZR20 front and 295/30 ZR20 rear, so its tyres are not shared with other 981s.

Porsche approves tyres by make, type and a specification code moulded on the sidewall next to the tyre name: N0, N1, N2 and so on. Porsche says to fit tyres of the same make, type, speed index and N code on the car, and the load index and speed letter in the size, such as 92Y, are minimums. Porsche also advises replacing tyres that are more than six years old, and a new tyre should not differ in tread depth from the other tyre on the same axle by more than 30 per cent.

If your car is on 18-inch wheels, check what is available before you need tyres: Porsche's 981 approval bulletin dated September 2022 no longer lists an approved 18-inch summer tyre, although the May 2021 edition did. A Porsche Centre can tell you what is currently approved for your sizes. Winter tyres are approved in 18 and 19-inch sizes for every 981 except the GT4, and they run at 2.2 bar all round.

Every 981, side by sideAll the pressures and oils on one page, with their notes

Tyre pressures

Cold pressures for summer tyres unless stated, from Porsche's published figures; check the label on your car's door shut.

Engine oil

Porsche A40 oil for every 981; the level is read on the instrument display with the engine warm, not with a dipstick.

Other ownersWhat a 981 service costs Other ownersTyre, oil and parts offers for the 981