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Owners' resources

996 tyres and oil.

The 996 911, 1997 to 2005, covering the 996.1 and 996.2 Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Targa, Turbo, Turbo S, GT3, GT3 RS and GT2.

Shown: 996 911 GT3 in Carrara White

Which 996 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.

996.1 · 1997–2001

Carrera and Carrera 4

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

17-inch

Front2.5bar36 psiTyre205/50 ZR17
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre255/40 ZR17

18-inch

Front2.5bar36 psiTyre225/40 ZR18
Rear3.0bar44 psiTyre265/35 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.4 litre (996.1) or 3.6 litre (996.2) flat-six (M96)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing for all 996 engines
Oil and filter change
8.25–8.75 litres with filterPorsche has published both
Notes and sources

Oil

Porsche has published both approx. 8.25 litres (1997 technical data) and approx. 8.75 litres (1999 maintenance instructions) for an oil and filter change. Period data asked for ACEA oils meeting Porsche's requirements; Porsche now lists these engines under A40. On 996.2 cars the display shows the level with the engine warm and idling and the car level; min to max is about 1.5 litres.

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

996.1 · 1997–2001

GT3

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch
Front2.2bar32 psiTyre225/40 ZR18
Rear2.7bar39 psiTyre285/30 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.6 litre flat-six (Mezger)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing
Oil and filter change
Approx. 8.5 litres with filter
Notes and sources

Tyres

Model years 2000 and 2001. Same figures for summer and winter tyres. Porsche's 2021 certificate prints the rear as 40 psi and the 1999 workshop manual as 37 psi; 2.7 bar is 39 psi, so set the bar figure.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 67/20, Approved Tires and Wheels, 911 GT3 (996) MY2000 to 2001 (June 2021); also Porsche 911 (996) Technical Manual, Technical data GT3 (1999)

Oil

Model years 2000 and 2001. About 12.5 litres in total; approx. 8.3 litres without a filter change. Porsche's procedure drains both the crankcase and the oil container. Porsche notes that the handbook is definitive, so set the final level on the gauge or dipstick.

Source: Porsche 911 (996) Technical Manual, 0 Technical data GT3 and 03 Maintenance GT3 (1999); oil approval from Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025)

996.2 · 2002–2005

Carrera, Carrera 4 and Targa

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

17-inch

Front2.5bar36 psiTyre205/50 ZR17
Rear2.5bar36 psiTyre255/40 ZR17

18-inch

Front2.5bar36 psiTyre225/40 ZR18
Rear3.0bar44 psiTyre285/30 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.4 litre (996.1) or 3.6 litre (996.2) flat-six (M96)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing for all 996 engines
Oil and filter change
8.25–8.75 litres with filterPorsche has published both
Notes and sources

Oil

Porsche has published both approx. 8.25 litres (1997 technical data) and approx. 8.75 litres (1999 maintenance instructions) for an oil and filter change. Period data asked for ACEA oils meeting Porsche's requirements; Porsche now lists these engines under A40. On 996.2 cars the display shows the level with the engine warm and idling and the car level; min to max is about 1.5 litres.

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

996.2 · 2002–2005

Carrera 4S

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch
Front2.5bar36 psi
Rear3.0bar44 psi

18-inch

Engine oil

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

3.4 litre (996.1) or 3.6 litre (996.2) flat-six (M96)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing for all 996 engines
Oil and filter change
8.25–8.75 litres with filterPorsche has published both
Notes and sources

Tyres

Pressures from Porsche's handbook, which lists the Carrera 4S. Specialists quoting the handbook give 225/40 ZR18 front and 295/30 ZR18 rear; not yet confirmed from a Porsche document.

Source: Porsche 911 Carrera owner's manual (MY2003, US edition, WKD 996021 03), Tire Pressures for Cold Tires

Oil

Porsche has published both approx. 8.25 litres (1997 technical data) and approx. 8.75 litres (1999 maintenance instructions) for an oil and filter change. Period data asked for ACEA oils meeting Porsche's requirements; Porsche now lists these engines under A40. On 996.2 cars the display shows the level with the engine warm and idling and the car level; min to max is about 1.5 litres.

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

996.2 · 2002–2005

GT3 and GT3 RS

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch
Front2.2bar32 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.7bar39 psiTyre295/30 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.6 litre flat-six (Mezger)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing
Oil and filter change
Not published by Porscheadd it in stages and check the level
Notes and sources

Tyres

Model years 2004 and 2005, on 8.5J front and 11J rear wheels. Porsche's certificate prints the rear as 2.7 bar (40 psi); 2.7 bar is 39 psi, so set the bar figure.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 68/20, Approved Tires and Wheels, 911 GT3 (996) / 911 GT3 RS (996) MY2004 to 2005 (June 2021)

Oil

Model years 2004 and 2005. Dry sump with a separate oil tank. Porsche's figure for these cars was not found; the Mk1 GT3 takes approx. 8.5 litres with filter, so add oil in stages and check the level.

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

Turbo and GT2 · 2000–2005

Turbo and Turbo S

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch
Front2.5bar36 psiTyre225/40 ZR18
Rear3.0bar44 psiTyre295/30 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.6 litre twin-turbo flat-six (Mezger)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing
Oil and filter change
Approx. 8.75 litres with filterPorsche technical data
Notes and sources

Oil

Dry sump with a separate tank, about 12.5 litres in all. Porsche's technical data gives approx. 8.75 litres for an oil and filter change, but its workshop procedure adds 7.8 litres, then sets the level on the instrument display with the engine idling warm and the car level. Porsche says the dipstick cannot be used for this check.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 12/25, Allocation of Approved Engine Oils Until MY 2020 (October 2025); Porsche 911 Turbo (996) Technical Manual, Filling capacities and 03 Maintenance

Turbo and GT2 · 2000–2005

GT2

Cold tyres · check the label in your door frame

Tyre pressures

18-inch
Front2.7bar40 psiTyre235/40 ZR18
Rear2.7bar40 psiTyre315/30 ZR18

Engine oil

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

3.6 litre twin-turbo flat-six (Mezger)

Porsche approval
Porsche A40Porsche's current listing
Oil and filter change
Not published by Porscheadd it in stages and check the level
Notes and sources

Tyres

From Porsche's 2021 tyre certificate for the GT2, for the tyres approved today; the original technical manual gave 2.2 bar (32 psi) front. Winter tyres: 2.2 bar (32 psi) front, 2.7 bar (40 psi) rear.

Source: Porsche Manufacturer's Certificate 66/20, Approved Tires and Wheels, 911 GT2 (996) MY2001 to 2005 (2021)

Oil

Dry sump with a separate oil tank. No Porsche oil capacity for the GT2 was found.

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

Questions

OilWhy does a Turbo, GT2 or GT3 hold more oil than a Carrera?

They use the Mezger engine with dry-sump lubrication and a separate oil tank, so Porsche's workshop procedures drain both the crankcase and the tank. Porsche's technical data gives about 12.5 litres in total for the Turbo and the first GT3, against about 10.25 litres in its original data for the Carrera, whose M96 engine has an integrated dry sump with no external tank. The amount that goes in at an oil and filter change is far closer between them than those totals suggest.

Source: Porsche 911 (996) Technical Manual, Technical Data (1997) and Technical data GT3 (1999); Porsche 911 Turbo (996) Technical Manual, Filling capacities.

OilCan I use 0W-40 in my 996?

Yes, if it carries Porsche A40 approval. Porsche's current oil allocation lists every 996, including the Turbo, GT2 and GT3, under A40, which covers SAE 0W-40, 5W-40 and 5W-50. For cars of this age Porsche also recommends its own Porsche Classic Motoroil 5W-50, developed for the 996 and 986.

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

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 996 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 Carrera, Carrera 4 and Targa came on 17-inch wheels with 205/50 ZR17 front and 255/40 ZR17 rear tyres. The optional 18-inch wheels took 225/40 ZR18 front with 265/35 ZR18 rear up to the 2001 model year, and 285/30 ZR18 rear from 2002 when the rear tyre grew wider. The wide-bodied Turbo and Carrera 4S run 225/40 ZR18 front and 295/30 ZR18 rear. The GT3 and GT2 have their own sizes and pressures, so match your exact car in the table.

Porsche tests tyres for each model and marks the ones it approves with an N code on the sidewall, next to the tyre name: N0, N1, N2 and so on. The number changes when a tyre is revised and approved again. Porsche asks for tyres of the same make, type, speed index and N code on the car, and its workshop manual tells fitters to check the N code carefully when replacing summer tyres.

Most of the tyres a 996 wore when new have long gone, so look for a current tyre that carries an N code in your exact size. Porsche Classic's recommended summer tyre list (September 2021) still shows N-coded tyres for every factory 996 size, from the 17-inch Carrera to the GT2, but ranges change, so check stock before you order. Porsche also advises replacing any tyre more than six years old.

Every 996, side by sideAll the pressures and oils on one page, with their notes

Tyre pressures

Cold pressures (about 20°C) as Porsche lists them for summer tyres. Porsche gives one figure for all loads. Check the label on your car.

Engine oil

Porsche now lists every 996, including the Turbo, GT2 and GT3, under its A40 oil approval and also recommends its own Porsche Classic Motoroil 5W-50. Always set the final level on the gauge or dipstick.

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