then switched to Michelin tires. The price difference was inconsequential. Often a $100 or so (per set of 4) and once or twice the Michelin tires were a few dollars less than other brands.
The word I got from various trusted sources was the Michelin tires were better tires than other comparable brands of tires.
Based on my experience, I would have to agree. Not oodles better but at the same price or nearly the same price I'd choose Michelin over any other brand.
Now I have to mention I've never ventured to use non N-rated tires on my Porsches. I've tended to discount the reports of those that have used non N-rated tires on their cars and had nothing but praise for their selection. What else would they say?
OTOH, I have come across enough reports from those who found the non N-rated tires less than satisfactory that convinces me that my choice to stay with N-rated tires is the right choice for me.
Up to you of course, what you do. I'm not looking to start a N-rated vs. non N-rated tire debate.
But comparing apples to apples, N-rated tire to N-rated tire, barring some unacceptable price premium for the Michelin tire, I'd go with Michelin over Pirelli.
Have to say though the Pirelli tires have not been bad. The only negative from my experience with them is they get noisy as they wear and age and harden from the heat cycles. But they deliver good road feel, grip, and tread life. The other tire brands though do the same. While I had a bit of apprehension when getting the car back with Pirelli tires the car exhibited no signs of any negative issues from having gone from Michelin to Pirelli tires and after just a few minutes of driving I put the fact that the car now had Pirelli tires instead of Michelin tires mounted out of my mind.
BTW, the 996 has only had Continental and Bridgestone tires. My experience with these two brands is they are good tires, too.
What it boils down to if you had a number of sets of different brands of tires: Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, or Pirelli; from new to nearly worn out and swapped these sets between test drives, I'm not sure I could tell you which brand of tire was on the car. I would hazard a guess of the sets of worn tires the set of tires that made the most noise, or at least I believed to be the noisiest, that the tires were Pirelli tires, but whether I'd be right or not who knows?
Thus based on my experience when it comes to tire selection for either of my Porsches, while my 1st choice would be Michelin (assuming the cost is on par compared to the cost of the other tires) I would not give it a second thought to have Pirelli or Bridgestone or Continental tires mounted. All N-rated, of course. I'll leave the non N-rated tires to the experimenters.