PARIS: Porsche and Michelin have jointly developed a new tyre that is specially designed for circuit use in wet and low-temperature conditions.
The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is said to be suited for prolonging the track-day season.
Together with Michelin, Porsche is now presenting a road-legal track tyre for the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS that has been specially developed for circuit use in wet conditions.
The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is initially available for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS in sizes 275/35 ZR 20 for the front axle and 335/30 ZR 21 for the rear.
The tyre will be distributed exclusively by Manthey, the performance specialist for Porsche GT models based in Meuspath at the Nürburgring.
"We are responding to demand from our particularly performance-focused customers that have expressed a desire to spend more time on track during spring and autumn,” says Porsche director GT Vehicles Andreas Preuninger.
“The new tyres significantly increase the annual usage period of the GT3 RS."
The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 bears the ‘N’ marking reserved for tyres specially developed for Porsche models.
The Pilot Sport S 5 is the counterpart to the ultra-high-performance (UHP) Pilot Sport Cup 2 R and establishes a completely new tyre segment.
The Pilot Sport S 5 is also suitable as an everyday tyre in countries with predominantly wet and cool weather conditions.
As part of the development of the new Pilot Sport S 5, since 2022 test drivers have been completing countless kilometres of testing at the Michelin Development Centre in Ladoux, France.
A major development goal was optimisation of the aquaplaning characteristics.
The tread pattern, which is specially designed for wet conditions, features four large central grooves with a depth of 7.4mm.
Thanks to the greater tread depth, and the resulting increased proportion of negative tread, the tyres are able to expel a greater volume of water.
"The tyre, therefore, improves the stability of the vehicle and raises the threshold at which the tyre starts to lose contact with the road ('aquaplaning speed')," says Michelin tyre developer Mathieu Greco.
Contact with the road remains stable even at high speeds.
Extensive testing at the Nürburgring and at Portimão in Portugal in dry weather and in ambient temperatures of more than 20 degrees Celsius ensures that the tyre also offers a high level of performance outside its core operating window.
Various tread designs were intensively tested to find the perfect balance between the front and rear axles.
The result is optimal performance in wet conditions while also meeting the needs of track day enthusiasts and everyday drivers – in terms of the precision, handling and driving stability of the tyre – even on dry roads in warm temperatures.
Another strength of the tyre is its high wear resistance, which ensures long-lasting enjoyment of the new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0.
The new tyre is approved for road use and meets all legal requirements in terms of rolling resistance and noise levels.
