Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres OE on new Porsche 911 GT3

At the launch of the latest version of the Porsche 911 GT3, eight out of ten cars rolling off the production line will be fitted with specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 ultra-high-performance tyres, in 245/35 ZR20 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear sizes.

Designed specifically for the Porsche 911 GT3, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 is the latest generation of Michelin ’s road-legal track tyres. Compared to its N0 marked predecessor it offers improved lap times, stability and more sporty handling, and provides drivers with a unique balance between safety and driving enjoyment that makes it suitable for everyday road use, as well as in very demanding conditions on the racetrack.

The co-development of these tyres took two and a half years and during this time the tyres were developed and fine-tuned to suit the characteristics demanded by Porsche engineers for the new 911 GT3. This resulted in tyres which offer very high grip levels, consistent performance and excellent front/rear balance, while still conforming to European regulations concerning rolling resistance (R117-2).

This extensive development process led to the production and testing of around 350 prototype tyres and included intensive track testing at Michelin ’s Ladoux test centre in France, and the Nürburgring and Nardo tracks in Germany and Italy.

An innovative range of motorsport-derived technologies are used in the tyres, including multi-compound technology where different rubber compounds are used on the inner and outer sections of the tread to ensure high and consistent grip levels in a variety of weather conditions. In addition, Track Variable Contact Patch 3.0 optimises the pressure in the tyre’s contact patch so the same amount of rubber is always in contact with the road or track, whether driving in a straight line or cornering.

The trust that Porsche has in the performance of this tyre range is clearly demonstrated by the fact that it is also the original equipment fitment on other Porsche models including the 918 Spyder, Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3 RS.