Porsche 911 GT3 RS
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Michelin Pilot Sport S 5
Suitable for driving in low temperature conditions
Owners of the 911 GT3 RS who enjoy circuit driving have been requesting the introduction of sports tires that can be used in wet and cooler road conditions.
Porsche, in collaboration with Michelin of France, has announced the “Michelin Pilot Sport S 5,” a tire for wet conditions on circuits exclusively for the “Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Type 992).” While it is designed specifically for circuit driving, it can also be used on public roads.
Every component of a Porsche sports car must be precisely configured and properly tuned. As the only point of contact with the road, the tyres are of paramount importance. For decades, Porsche has worked with carefully selected partners to develop tyres tailored to the car’s intended use.
Andreas Preuninger, Porsche’s Director of GT Vehicles, explained the development of the new tires:
“We are now responding to the requests of performance-conscious customers who want to spend more time on the track during the cooler spring, autumn and winter months. These new tires are suited to wet conditions and low track temperatures, and will enable the 911 GT3 RS to be used for a significantly longer period of time each year.”
The Pilot Sport S 5 is available in 275/35ZR20 front and 335/30ZR21 rear versions for the 911 GT3 RS. These tires are sold exclusively by Manthey Racing, a performance specialist for Porsche GT models based at Meispart on the Nürburgring.
Jörg Bergmeister also took part in development testing
Michelin and Porsche will begin developing new wet tires in 2022. Porsche brand ambassador and racing driver Jörg Bergmeister also participated in the development.
Currently, Porsche offers four types of Michelin tires exclusively for the 911 GT3 RS, including the high-grip dry tire “Pilot Sport Cup 2 R.” The newly introduced “Pilot Sport S 5” was developed as a wet tire with high-level specifications.
Development of the Pilot Sport S 5 will begin in 2022 at the Michelin Development Center in Ladoux, France. Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister is also using his many years of experience as a works driver to help tune the tire’s performance.
10-second improvement in time on wet test track
Four deep center grooves significantly improve water evacuation, saving lap times by as much as 10 seconds on Michelin’s wet test track.
The development goal was to optimize performance in conditions where aquaplaning is likely to occur. The tread pattern, designed for wet conditions, features four 7.4mm deep central grooves. These deep grooves allow for the evacuation of large amounts of water at high speeds.
“This tire will improve vehicle stability and raise the threshold at which the tire begins to lose contact with the road (aquaplaning speed),” explains Mathieu Greco, Michelin’s tire developer.
The compound’s high silica content improves grip on wet roads, allowing the tire to reach operating temperature more quickly and delivering optimal performance at extremely low road temperatures of between 5 and 15°C. This results in a level of grip and precision that was previously unattainable with conventional dry tires designed for road temperatures between 15 and 30°C.
The Pilot Sport S 5 delivers exceptional performance, especially on circuits where the track temperature drops due to rain or other severe weather conditions. At the 2.8km wet-condition 3bis circuit at the Michelin Development Centre, Michelin test drivers recorded lap times in a 911 GT3 RS that were more than 10 seconds faster than when equipped with the Pilot Sport Cup 2 R.
