GTS J1.2 with or without active ride?

[911GP]

Hi,
I have had a j1.1 GTS and a J1.1 4s before this. I am now ordering a j1.2 GTS but am not sure whether to order Active Ride or the Dynamics Pack (which is active ride plus Summer Performance Tyres).

My j1.1 GTS has been great. Mostly used in the standard mode for regular driving or range mode on the motorway.

Two questions please:
1) is active ride worth having? It is expensive at £7k
2) if so, is it better to have the dynamics pack with the summer performance tyres or just have the active tide alone with the normal summer tyres.

thanks

Sponsored

 

[bn8959]

Ive not experienced Active Ride, but I currently have a J1.1 GTS with PDCC and RAS and i've just ordered a new TTS with Active Ride (as part of the Dynamic Pack). From every review, it appears to be amazing - if its affordable to you, I would absolutely spec it.
I was wondering if I should have not selected the Dynamic pack, and just done AR on its own - especially as I am buying through company, so it bumps up the RRP and therefore my BIK tax ever so slightly - but hey, I'm happy to have performance tyres on a new TTS!

 

[trycan]

This has been answered many times before. Yes, to active ride -- don't even think twice.

I don't know what the summer tires get you unless you plan to track the car? All season tires are necessary for me and work fine. But I guess if you live in a climate where it never gets cold, then sure, get the summer tires.

 

[JenniATL]

I don’t have experience with a Taycan without PAR or the perf pack so I can’t speak to a comparison, but I have PAR on my 4S with 21-inch wheels, and I really love it. Sometimes in Normal mode, it feels like I’m sailing down the road. I do a lot of driving—a mix of highways and urban roads littered with potholes, patched pavement and speed bumps, in all kinds of weather—and I have no complaints about ride comfort or tire grip. I also think it helps passengers who are prone to motion sickness, because I don’t get nearly as many complaints as I used to.

In Sport mode, the car definitely changes character and feels firmer and more connected. There are obviously several variables at play when switching drive modes, so I can’t say exactly how much of that is attributable to PAR, but it still feels very composed and controlled.

If you value feeling the road, body movement, and weight transfer, you might skip it. But if you want that mix of comfort and control and still like the idea of switching into Sport mode when the mood hits, Active Ride is great. And the comfort-entry height is a really nice bonus!

 

[Irish Guy]

Congrats on ordering the new car! The J1.2 is a real step onward.

I have relevant experience for you:

I had a 2023 Taycan GTS for three years, but upgraded to a 2025 Turbo S with AR two months ago. Active ride is an absolute must. I know it’s a lot of money. Just write the cheque and don’t look back. It’s astonishingly capable suspension technology. Don’t expect it to eliminate bumps and jolts that hit the tyres - that’s not how it works. Instead it smooths everything out, letting you glide down the road with total body control. Every time I open the door and the car leaps upward, I chuckle to myself. It’s mad stuff. I love it.

I’d order the summer performance tyres, especially with the sports-oriented GTS trim. The grip level difference is night and day, most importantly in turn in and outright grip in the bends, but also in putting the power down. Everyone’s needs are distinct, of course, and driven sedately with the occasional straight line overtake rush or in moderate cornering, then the all season and eco summer options are fine. But they don’t work for me at all, and I don’t think they match with the GTS trim, in particular.

My new Turbo S came with narrow eco 21 inch wheels (245 front, 285 rear) and Hankook Ion Evo rubber. The efficiency is out of this world. I’ve been regularly getting over 350 miles’ motorway range this summer - even with AC on in eco mode. It’s a radical leap in range relative to my first gen GTS with 21” RS Spyders and Goodyear summers. That was typically ~ 220 miles in the same conditions. If you’re after range, this the way to go.

For all that, I literally bought new wheels and tyres this morning. The eco wheel and tire set is, in my view, a more mission-appropriate choice for the base Taycan or 4S, for which range may be ascendant relative to performance, depending the driver’s specific use case.

On the Turbo S, the eco set isn’t remotely up to the job. There’s vastly more power on tap than those tyres can handle. Forget launch control. Even in default power setting (i.e., without push-to-pass activated), I spin all four wheels when I punch it in sports mode at 25 mph, even on the hottest day with plenty of temp in the tyres. It’s maddening. Worse - and this may be more relevant to your inbound GTS - the handling, despite the trick suspension, isn’t close to my old GTS, which had far better grip in the corners, more feel through the steering wheel, and better braking.

Even though the TS has a whole lot more, the new GTS still makes real power - especially with push-to-pass activated - and you may find the relative lack of traction compared to what you’re used to frustrating (assuming you currently have summer performance tyres). I especially worry about turn in and grip levels for you in corners coming out of the last GTS.

This morning, I bought the Turbo GT lightweight forged wheels and Pirelli P Zero Rs (the default rubber on the Turbo GT). The package I got will also come with Pirelli Trofeo RS tires, which I’ll keep and try out next summer, but as semi-slicks they may be overkill for family driving duties this coming autumn, especially in wet weather.

I made this investment because I care about the driving experience more than range. I suspect (but of course can’t know) that you’re likewise inclined. If so, do yourself a favour and order the summer performance tyres with your new build. If you live in a place with cold winters, then buy a dedicated set of winter tyres. Then you’ll definitely have the right tool for the job.

Congrats again. I felt compared to share given the coincidental timing and rationale for my new wheel and tire set purchase! I plan to write a review of the new TS after I get to spend some time with the new wheels and tyres. It’s going to be fascinating to learn how significant a difference they make to the driving experience. I’m excited, and sure that’s what Porsches are all about.

 

[Tango22]

I had a 2026 GTS as a loaner car whilst my 2024 J1.1 GTS was in the OPC having an issue rectified.

My GTS has PDCC but the 2026 loaner had Active Ride. I was absolutely astonished at the increased dynamics the car had compared to mine. It literally does not pitch/roll at all through corners. It just sits there totally level, it's akin to driving a car in a console game like Forza!!!

If I move to a J1.2, I'll definitely be having active ride on it.

 

[SoccerMan94043]

Hi,
I have had a j1.1 GTS and a J1.1 4s before this. I am now ordering a j1.2 GTS but am not sure whether to order Active Ride or the Dynamics Pack (which is active ride plus Summer Performance Tyres).

My j1.1 GTS has been great. Mostly used in the standard mode for regular driving or range mode on the motorway.

Two questions please:
1) is active ride worth having? It is expensive at £7k
2) if so, is it better to have the dynamics pack with the summer performance tyres or just have the active tide alone with the normal summer tyres.

thanks

I have PAR and the Dynamics package on my 2025 GTS. I don't have much (really any) experience without those, but I did test drive all sorts of specs before I landed on this one. I think PAR is required for a car this expensive and wouldn't consider getting one without it.

The tires in the Dynamics package is a bit different. I'm not sure I push the car hard enough to know the difference, but the tires that come with it (Pirelli PZero R) have been reviewed as pretty much the best non track tire you can use that can also be tracked.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre-Tests/The-BEST-Performance-Summer-Tyres-for-2026-Tested.htm

 

[prj]

PAR is even more insane on the CT variants. With PAR they have less lean than a J1.1 GTS.

Either way, if you can afford it, it's the single best option on the facelift car, completely transforms the suspension. A generational leap in vehicle dynamics.

You do not have to get the Dynamics pack - you can also just take the Active Ride separately as an option and skip the more sporty (and stiffer / noisier) tyres, works out a little cheaper as well.

Sponsored