STUTTGART: Porsche, in partnership with Michelin, has developed a new ultra-high-performance tyre for the Carrera GT, a sports car produced between 2003 and 2006 with only 1,270 units built.
This tyre update, designed almost 20 years after the car’s initial release, enhances the vehicle’s performance, precision, and handling on both wet and dry roads.
The newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre replaces the earlier bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres that were originally equipped on the Carrera GT.
In 2013, these were replaced with the Pilot Super Sport, but the latest Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres promise even better driving dynamics.
The new tyres carry the NO designation, specifically developed for Porsche vehicles, ensuring that they are optimised for the Carrera GT.
“It’s very unusual for new tyres to be developed for a 20-year-old vehicle. This underscores how important the Carrera GT is for Porsche and their customers to this day,” said Porsche development driver and former factory driver Jörg Bergmeister.
Bergmeister (left) in a tyre discussion with a Michelin expert.
He tested the new tyres and said they elevate the Carrera GT’s performance, making the car faster and easier to control. The improved rubber compound uses Dual-Compound Technology, with silica in the inner tread blocks for enhanced wet grip and industrial soot on the outer blocks for superior dry grip.
The Carrera GT, powered by a 5.7-litre V10 engine producing 605hp and 589Nm of torque, was one of the world’s fastest production cars when launched.
It can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 330kph. The new tyres contribute to improved driving dynamics, offering clearer feedback to the driver during spirited driving. Bergmeister noted the clear communication of the point at which the tyres lose traction, enhancing driver control.
In addition to handling improvements, the new tyres shorten braking distances.
From 100kph, the Carrera GT can stop up to 2.4 metres sooner, while from 199kph, the stopping distance is reduced by up to 11.9 metres.
These advancements, along with enhanced lap times, demonstrate that motorsport technology continues to benefit road tyres.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres for the Carrera GT are now available for order at Porsche Centers, offering owners an opportunity to update their vehicles with improved performance and safety features, ensuring the Carrera GT remains a top-performing sports car even decades after its debut.
