Wet tyre from Porsche and Michelin extends the track-day season
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 a perfect option for prolonging the track-day season.
As with all Porsche models, the precise configuration and tuning of all the components is a principal focus, and the tyres – the only point of contact with the road – are crucial to this. That is why, for decades, Porsche has been working with selected partners to develop tyres that are precisely tailored to Porsche vehicles and their respective intended use. 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.
"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 Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Vehicles at Porsche. “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 sports car manufacturer now offers four specifications of Michelin tyre to choose from for the 911 GT3 RS. 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. It offers an exceptional level on performance on circuits made additionally demanding due to challenging weather conditions. The Pilot Sport S 5 is also suitable as an everyday tyre in countries with predominantly wet and cool weather conditions.
Low lap times, higher level of safety in challenging 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. Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, with his many years of experience as a works driver, contributed to the fine-tuning of the tyre. 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 7.4 millimetres. 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 Mathieu Greco, a tyre developer at Michelin. Contact with the road 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 gets up to operating temperature faster. The new Pilot Sport S 5, specially developed for Porsche, shows its optimum properties at ambient temperatures between five and 15 degrees Celsius. In these conditions, the wet-weather tyre offers a level of grip and precision that would not be achievable with the previous Porsche-approved UHP tyres for warmer conditions, which deliver their peak performance at temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. "The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 gets up to temperature very quickly," says Bergmeister. "In wet conditions and low ambient temperatures, it offers outstanding levels of control and predictability when changing direction."
The developers have also adapted the material composition and geometry of the tyre carcass and optimised the contact patch, both on the straight and in corners. As a result, the tyres give a better feel for the limit during demanding driving situations and inspire more confidence in the car’s handling. The result of all these measures is increased safety – and faster lap times – in wet conditions. On a wet, 2.8-kilometre technically demanding ‘3bis’ circuit at the Michelin Development Centre, lap times set by Michelin test drivers with the 911 GT3 RS were more than 10 seconds faster than those achieved with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N0 tyres fitted.
Precision and performance even in warm and dry conditions
In spring and autumn, conditions are often changeable in regions with temperate climates. 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.
Market launch and availability
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.
