New wet weather tire from Porsche and Michelin extends the track-day season

Porsche and Michelin have jointly developed a new tire that is primarily designed for use in wet and cooler conditions, expanding the track-day season for drivers in climates where cooler or wet weather would otherwise interfere. The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is a new, optional tire meant to widen the range of weather conditions suitable for the 911 GT3 RS.

Atlanta. As with all Porsche models, the precise configuration and tuning of all the components is a principal focus, and the tires – the only point of contact with the road – are crucial to this. That is why Porsche has a longstanding tradition of working with selected partners to develop tires that are precisely tailored to Porsche vehicles and their respective intended use. Together with Michelin, Porsche is now presenting a new road-legal tire for the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS that has been specially developed for use in wet and cooler conditions. "We are responding to demand from our particularly performance-focused customers who have expressed a desire to spend more time on track during spring and fall,” Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Vehicles said. “The new tires significantly increase the annual operating window of the 911 GT3 RS."

The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 bears the ‘N’ marking reserved for tires specially developed for Porsche models. The sports car manufacturer now offers four specifications of Michelin tire to choose from for the 911 GT3 RS, including a winter tire offering. The Pilot Sport S 5 is to wet and cooler conditions what the ultra-high-performance (UHP) Pilot Sport Cup 2 R is to dry, warmer environments. It aims to offer an exceptional level of performance in wet weather conditions. The Pilot Sport S 5 is also suitable as an everyday tire in countries with predominantly wet and cool weather conditions.

Impressive lap times, improved grip in wet conditions

The development process of the new Pilot Sport S 5, which began in 2022, involved extensive testing at the Michelin Development Center in Ladoux, France. Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, with his many years of experience as a factory driver, contributed to the fine-tuning of the tire. Optimization of the wet handling characteristics was a major development goal. The tread pattern, which is specially designed for wet conditions, features four large central grooves with a depth of 7.4 millimeters. Thanks to the greater tread depth and the resulting increased proportion of negative tread, the tires are better able to evacuate water.

A high proportion of silica in the rubber compound further improves grip on wet surfaces and supports the tire getting up to operating temperature faster. The new Pilot Sport S 5, specially developed for Porsche, shows its optimum properties at ambient temperatures between approximately 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In these conditions, the wet-weather tire offers a level of grip and precision that would not be achievable with the other Porsche-approved UHP tires for warmer conditions, which deliver their peak performance at temperatures between 60 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. "The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 gets up to temperature very quickly," Bergmeister said. "In wet conditions and low ambient temperatures, it offers outstanding levels of control and predictability when changing direction."

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The material composition and geometry of the tire carcass as well as the contact patch are optimized, both in corners and straight driving. As a result, the tires communicate grip better during demanding driving situations and inspire more confidence for the driver. The result of all these measures is improved grip – and faster lap times – in wet conditions. On a wet, approximately 1.7 miles, technically demanding track at the Michelin Development Center, lap times set by Michelin test drivers with the 911 GT3 RS were more than 10 seconds quicker than those achieved with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N0 tires fitted.

Precision and performance even in warm and dry conditions

In spring and fall, conditions often vary 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 68 degrees Fahrenheit ensures that the tire 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 tire – even on dry roads in warm temperatures. Another strength of the tire is its high wear resistance, which lends itself to long-lasting enjoyment of the new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0.

Market launch and availability

The new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 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 tire will be available for purchase exclusively through U.S. Porsche Centers as part of the Porsche tire support program. Exact timing of availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.