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Owners' resources

987 tyres and oil.

The 987 Boxster and Cayman, 2005 to 2012, covering the 987.1 and the 987.2 with its direct-injection 3.4, including the Boxster Spyder and Cayman R.

Shown: 987 Boxster Spyder in Guards Red

Which 987 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.

987.1 · 2005–2008

Boxster and Cayman

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

17-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre205/55 ZR17
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre235/50 ZR17

18-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre265/40 ZR18

19-inch

Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/35 ZR19
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

2.7, 3.2 or 3.4 litre flat-six (M96 or M97)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Approx. 7.75 litres with filter
Notes and sources

18-inch

Model years 2005 to 2008. One figure for all loads, summer and winter tyres. 18-inch is the smallest size the handbooks list for the S models.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2006 and MY2007, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2007, US edition), Technical data; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 67/21, Approved Summer Tires, Boxster/Cayman (987) MY2005 to 2008

Oil

A40 is Porsche's current listing; the handbooks of the time asked for oil approved by Porsche. Approx. 7.5 litres without the filter. The handbooks give 0W-40 for all temperatures and allow 5W-40 or 5W-50 above minus 25 °C.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2006 and MY2007, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2007, US edition), Capacities and Engine oil recommendation; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025)

987.1 · 2005–2008

Boxster S and Cayman S

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch

Front2.0bar29 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre265/40 ZR18

19-inch

Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/35 ZR19
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

2.7, 3.2 or 3.4 litre flat-six (M96 or M97)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Approx. 7.75 litres with filter
Notes and sources

18-inch

Model years 2005 to 2008. One figure for all loads, summer and winter tyres. 18-inch is the smallest size the handbooks list for the S models.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2006 and MY2007, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2007, US edition), Technical data; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 67/21, Approved Summer Tires, Boxster/Cayman (987) MY2005 to 2008

Oil

A40 is Porsche's current listing; the handbooks of the time asked for oil approved by Porsche. Approx. 7.5 litres without the filter. The handbooks give 0W-40 for all temperatures and allow 5W-40 or 5W-50 above minus 25 °C.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2006 and MY2007, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2007, US edition), Capacities and Engine oil recommendation; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025)

987.2 · 2009–2012

Boxster and Cayman

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

17-inch

Front2.0bar30 psiTyre205/55 ZR17
Rear2.1bar31 psiTyre235/50 ZR17

18-inch

Front2.0bar30 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.1bar31 psiTyre265/40 ZR18

19-inch

Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/35 ZR19
Rear2.3bar34 psiTyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

2.9 litre flat-six, or 3.4 litre direct-injection flat-six (S models)

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

17-inch

Model years 2009 to 2012. One figure for all loads, summer and winter tyres. The psi figures are as the handbook prints them; Porsche's approval list prints 29 and 30 psi for the same bar values.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2009 and MY2010, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2009, US edition), Technical data; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 65/21, Approved Summer Tires, Cayman (987) MY2009 on

18-inch

Model years 2009 to 2012. One figure for all loads, summer and winter tyres. 18-inch is the smallest size the handbook lists for the Boxster S.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2009 and MY2010, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2009, US edition), Technical data; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 65/21, Approved Summer Tires, Cayman (987) MY2009 on

Oil

The handbook gives 0W-40 for all temperatures and 5W-40 or 5W-50 above minus 25 °C. Check the level on the on-board computer with the car stationary and level, the engine at operating temperature and idling; min to max is about 1.25 litres. Add at most 0.5 litre at a time.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2009 and MY2010, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2009, US edition), Capacities and Engine oil recommendation

987.2 · 2009–2012

Boxster S and Cayman S

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch

Front2.0bar30 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.1bar31 psiTyre265/40 ZR18

19-inch

Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/35 ZR19
Rear2.3bar34 psiTyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

2.9 litre flat-six, or 3.4 litre direct-injection flat-six (S models)

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

18-inch

Model years 2009 to 2012. One figure for all loads, summer and winter tyres. 18-inch is the smallest size the handbook lists for the Boxster S.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2009 and MY2010, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2009, US edition), Technical data; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 65/21, Approved Summer Tires, Cayman (987) MY2009 on

Oil

The handbook gives 0W-40 for all temperatures and 5W-40 or 5W-50 above minus 25 °C. Check the level on the on-board computer with the car stationary and level, the engine at operating temperature and idling; min to max is about 1.25 litres. Add at most 0.5 litre at a time.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2009 and MY2010, US edition) and Cayman owner's manual (MY2009, US edition), Capacities and Engine oil recommendation

987.2 · 2009–2012

Boxster Spyder

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

19-inch

Porsche has not published pressures for this car that we could find. Use the label in your driver's door frame.

Front tyre235/35 ZR19Rear tyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

3.4 litre direct-injection flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Not published by Porschethe 987.2 S takes approx. 7.5 litres
Notes and sources

Tyres

Sizes from Porsche's Boxster Spyder brochure. We could not find Porsche's pressure figures for the Spyder; use the label in the driver's door aperture.

Source: Porsche Boxster Spyder brochure (2010, UK edition), Technical data

Oil

Porsche's oil allocation lists A40 for all 987 models, and A40 covers these three grades. We could not find a Porsche capacity figure for these two models.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025)

987.2 · 2009–2012

Cayman R

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

19-inch
Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/35 ZR19
Rear2.2bar32 psiTyre265/35 ZR19

Engine oil

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

3.4 litre direct-injection flat-six

Porsche approval
Porsche A40
Oil and filter change
Not published by Porschethe 987.2 S takes approx. 7.5 litres
Notes and sources

Tyres

Standard wheels. On 18-inch wheels (235/40 ZR18 front, 265/40 ZR18 rear) Porsche gives 2.0 bar (29 psi) front and 2.1 bar (30 psi) rear.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 65/21, Approved Summer Tires, Wheels and Spacers, Cayman/Cayman S/Cayman R (987) MY2009 on (September 2021), Tire Pressure; Porsche Cayman R brochure (2010), Technical data

Oil

Porsche's oil allocation lists A40 for all 987 models, and A40 covers these three grades. We could not find a Porsche capacity figure for these two models.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025)

Questions

TyresDo the 987.1 and 987.2 use the same tyre pressures?

No, even though the tyre sizes are the same. Porsche's handbooks give 2.0 bar front and 2.5 bar rear on 17 and 18-inch wheels for 2005 to 2008 cars (2.2 bar front on 19-inch), but 2.0 bar front and 2.1 bar rear for 2009 to 2012 cars (2.2 and 2.3 bar on 19-inch). Set the figures for your car's model year and check the label in the driver's door aperture.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2006 and MY2010, US edition), Tire pressure for cold tires.

OilCan I use 5W-50 in my 987?

Yes, if the oil carries Porsche A40 approval. Porsche's handbooks list 0W-40 for all temperatures and 5W-40 or 5W-50 for temperatures above minus 25 °C, and Porsche's current oil allocation names A40 for every 987.

Source: Porsche Boxster owner's manual (MY2010, US edition), Engine oil recommendation; Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020.

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 987 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

Every 987 runs staggered tyres, narrower at the front than the rear. Porsche lists 205/55 ZR17 front and 235/50 ZR17 rear on the 17-inch wheels of the Boxster and Cayman, 235/40 ZR18 front and 265/40 ZR18 rear on 18-inch wheels, and 235/35 ZR19 front and 265/35 ZR19 rear on 19-inch wheels, which are standard on the Boxster Spyder and Cayman R. The sizes are the same for the 987.1 and 987.2, but the recommended pressures are not, so use the figures for your car's model year.

Porsche tests tyres for each model and marks the ones it approves with an N code, such as N0, N1 or N2, moulded on the sidewall next to the tyre's name. Porsche's approval lists for the 987 say to fit tyres of the same make, type, speed index and N code across the car, and its handbook pressures apply only to approved tyres.

When you buy, check that the full N code is on every tyre and matches, and that the load and speed markings are at least those in the handbook, for example 91Y front and 96Y rear on 17-inch wheels. Porsche's lists also say to replace tyres that are more than six years old, whatever the tread depth. A Porsche Centre can check the current approval list for your size and model year.

Every 987, side by sideAll the pressures and oils on one page, with their notes

Tyre pressures

Cold pressures (about 20 °C) for Porsche-approved summer and winter tyres. The 987.2 figures are lower than the 987.1 ones. Check the label on your car.

Engine oil

Porsche lists every 987 engine under its A40 oil approval. Capacities are for an oil and filter change.

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