Porsche and Michelin have developed tires for wet racing tracks
Companies Porsche and Michelin have jointly developed new tires for track days, primarily intended for use on wet tracks and in cold weather. The new version of the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires is legal for public roads and is designed for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992).
According to Andreas Preuninger, head of the GT car division at Porsche, the joint project with Michelin was launched in response to a request from customers who wanted to spend more time on racing tracks in the spring and autumn, and "the new tires significantly expand the working window of the 911 GT3 RS".
The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 in the new version have the "N" marking, indicating that they were specifically designed for Porsche. Now, the automaker offers four options for Michelin tires for the 911 GT3 RS, including for the winter period. While the Michelin PSS5 is intended for wet and cold tracks, the semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R is available for dry surfaces and warm weather, and Porsche adds that the new tires will be optimal for everyday use in countries with a rainy climate.
The development of the new tires began in 2022 and included comprehensive testing at Michelin's scientific and technical center in Ladu (France). Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, who has been a factory driver for the automaker for many years, was involved in the creation of the tires, and the main goal of the developers was to improve handling on wet surfaces. To do this, the tread pattern was optimized with four large central grooves, the depth of which was increased to 7.4 mm, which accelerated water drainage.
A high proportion of silica was added to the rubber compound, which further enhances grip on wet surfaces and also helps the tires to heat up to operating temperature faster. The tires function most effectively at an ambient temperature of 4-16 °C, and in similar conditions, they can provide a level of grip that is unattainable for Porsche-approved tires for warm weather, which demonstrate their best properties at 16-30 °C.
"Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 heat up very quickly," Bergmeister noted. "On wet surfaces and at low ambient temperatures, they provide exceptional control and predictability during maneuvers".
The developers also refined the tire design and optimized the contact patch, both in turns and when driving in a straight line. Thanks to this, as Porsche says, the informativeness has been improved, and drivers will feel more confident when passing laps at high speeds. On the technically complex 2.7-kilometer Michelin track in Ladu, the lap time of the 911 GT3 RS on a wet surface was improved by more than 10 seconds compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 with the N0 marking.
Since the weather conditions in the spring and autumn can vary significantly in different regions, the new tires were also tested on dry pavement at the "Nürburgring" (Germany) and in Portimão (Portugal). The tires were tested at an air temperature of over 20 °C and confirmed that they have good driving qualities and outside their main working window. Various tread patterns were evaluated during the tests, and Porsche emphasizes that the tires are not only optimal for wet racing tracks but also meet the requirements of track day enthusiasts or ordinary drivers in terms of performance on dry pavement in warm weather, and another advantage is their high resistance to wear.
Initially, the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 will be offered in sizes 275/35 ZR20 and 335/30 ZR21, respectively, for the front and rear axles of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and will be available exclusively in American Porsche dealerships. The cost is not specified.