AUTONEWS

Michelin Pilot Sport S 5: the perfect choice for extending your track season

Porsche and Michelin have jointly developed a new tire specifically designed for use on wet tracks and in low temperatures. The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is the perfect choice for extending your track season.

As with all Porsche models, precise configuration and adjustment of all components is a priority. In this regard, the tires, as the only point of contact with the road, are crucial. For this reason, Porsche has been working with the best partners for decades to develop wheels that are perfectly adapted to each vehicle and its intended use. Together with Michelin, Porsche is now presenting a road-approved track tire for the 992 generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, developed specifically for use on wet tracks.

“We are responding to the demand from our performance-focused customers, who have expressed their desire to spend more time on the track in spring and autumn,” says Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Vehicles at Porsche. “The new tires significantly extend the annual service life of the GT3 RS.”

The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 carries the ‘N’ marking, reserved for tires developed specifically for Porsche models. The manufacturer from Zuffenhausen now offers four Michelin tire specifications for the 911 GT3 RS. The Pilot Sport S 5 is the equivalent of the ultra-high-performance (UHP) Pilot Sport Cup 2 R and opens up a completely new segment. It offers an exceptional level of performance on the track in adverse weather conditions. The Pilot Sport S 5 is also suitable for everyday use in countries with predominantly wet and cold climates.

Low lap times with a higher level of safety in difficult conditions... As part of the development of the new Pilot Sport S 5, test drivers have been completing thousands of kilometers at the Michelin Development Center in Ladoux, France, since 2022. Porsche Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister contributed to the development of the tire with his many years of experience as a factory driver. One of the main objectives during development was to optimize the aquaplaning characteristics. The tread pattern, designed specifically for wet conditions, has four large central grooves with a depth of 7.4 millimetres. Thanks to this greater tread depth, the tyres are able to expel a much greater quantity of water. “The tyre thus improves the vehicle’s stability and increases the limit at which it begins to lose contact with the road (the aquaplaning speed),” explains Mathieu Greco, Michelin tyre developer. The contact with the asphalt remains stable even at high speeds.

A high proportion of silica in the rubber compound further improves grip on wet surfaces and ensures that the tyre reaches operating temperature more quickly. The new Pilot Sport S 5, developed especially for Porsche, demonstrates its optimum properties at ambient temperatures between five and fifteen degrees Celsius. In these conditions, they offer a level of grip and precision that could not be achieved with the UHP tyres approved by Porsche for warmer conditions, which achieve optimum performance at temperatures between fifteen and thirty degrees Celsius. “The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 reaches its optimum temperature very quickly,” says Bergmeister. “In wet conditions and at low ambient temperatures, it achieves exceptional levels of control and predictability when changing direction.”

The developers also adapted the material composition and geometry of the tire’s carcass and optimized the contact patch, both on straights and in bends. As a result, it provides a better sense of the limits in demanding driving situations and inspires greater confidence behind the wheel. This results in greater safety and faster lap times in wet conditions. On the demanding 2.8-kilometer ‘3bis’ track at the Michelin Development Center, the wet lap times set by Michelin test drivers in the 911 GT3 RS were more than 10 seconds faster than those achieved with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N0 tires.

Precision and performance even in hot and dry conditions...In spring and autumn, conditions are often changeable in regions with temperate climates. Extensive testing on the Nürburgring (Germany) and Portimão (Portugal) circuits in dry conditions and at ambient temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius ensures that the tire also delivers a high level of performance outside its main operating window. Various tread designs were tested intensively to find the perfect balance between the front and rear axles.

The result is optimum performance on wet surfaces for both track driving enthusiasts and everyday use, while also providing excellent dry road handling in warm temperatures. Another strength of the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 is its high wear resistance, which ensures long-lasting driving fun. The new tire is approved for road use and meets all legal requirements in terms of rolling resistance and noise levels.

Market launch and availability...The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is initially available for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the sizes 275/35 ZR20 for the front axle and 335/30 ZR21 for the rear axle. It will be distributed exclusively by Manthey, the Porsche GT specialist based in Meuspath at the Nürburgring.

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