- Porsche and Michelin have developed the Pilot Sport S 5 N0 tire with Michelin for the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS
- The street-legal tire is designed for use on wet tracks and in cooler conditions
- The tire will be available exclusively through Porsche dealerships
Booking a track day in advance only to have the weather turn sour when the time comes is a dilemma many track enthusiasts have experienced. Many leading track tires are notorious for delivering very little grip in the wet due to their reduced tread pattern, but Porsche recently teamed up with Michelin to develop a street-legal track tire designed for use in wet and cooler conditions.
The tire is based on Michelin’s latest Pilot Sport S 5 tire, which was launched a couple of years ago, initially on the Aston Martin DB12. Porsche’s version is classified as the N0 version, keeping the tradition where Michelin’s N-marked tires are normally specially developed for Porsche models.
Porsche said to think of the new tire as the opposite of Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2 R semi-slick tire, which is designed for dry tracks in warmer environments. But beyond just being a track tire, Porsche said the new rubber is suitable for use as an everyday tire in countries with predominantly wet weather, in both cool and warm climates. The optimum temperature is between 40 and 60 degrees F.
Key characteristics that help the tire’s performance in the wet include a tread pattern with four large central grooves that are a relatively deep 7.4 millimeters, helping to dissipate more water. A high proportion of silica in the rubber compound further improves grip on wet surfaces and supports the tire in reaching operating temperature faster, Porsche said.
The result of all these measures is improved grip—and faster lap times—in wet conditions. However, another bonus is a relatively high level of resistance toward wear, helping extend the period between changes.
“The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 gets up to temperature very quickly,” Jörg Bergmeister, a racing driver and now Porsche brand ambassador, said in a statement. “In wet conditions and low ambient temperatures, it offers outstanding levels of control and predictability when changing direction.”
The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 tire will be available exclusively through Porsche dealerships, and initially for the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS only, in sizes 275/35 ZR 20 for the front and 335/30 ZR 21 for the rear. The exact timing of availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.
