Porsche 911 GT3 RS to sport Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as factory fitment
Published On 07-Jun-2016
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New Porsche 911 GT3 RS will come shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres[/caption]
Michelin has been confirmed as the official tyre supplier for the Porsche’s all new 911 GT3 RS sportscar. The latest iteration of the Porshce’s 911 series of sportscar, the GT3 RS, will come factory-fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ultra high-performance tyres in 265/35 ZR20 front and 325/30 ZR21 rear sizes.
According to Michelin, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres ‘blur the line between motorsport and road tyres’ and the latest generation rollers are specially-designed for ultra high-performance cars that are used on road and track. Prior to this, Michelin and Porsche have been partners on a number of occasions. Porsche’s highly-acclaimed 918 Spyder also comes shod with Michelin rubber while the French tyre manufacturer also supplies its tyres as a standard fitment on the Porsche Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3.
Michelin and Porsche began development on Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres with the ones used on the 918 Spyder. However, for the track-focused 911 GT3 RS, Porsche demanded a more fine-tuned iteration of the tyres so as to suit the characteristics of the car. As a result, Michelin developed tyres that are larger than those fitted on the standard 911 GT3 models - the contact patch of tyres has been increased by 20 per cent and 18 per cent at the front and rear, respectively. This, as per Michelin, improves the car’s track-focused dynamic handling characteristics.
[caption id="attachment_700" align="alignnone" width="1024"] New Porsche 911 GT3 RS will come shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres[/caption]
Further, Michelin claims the new tyres feature racetrack-derived Bi-Compound technology, which involves the use of different rubber compounds on the inner and outer sections of the tread. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 is said to offer a unique balance between safety and driving enjoyment, making it suitable for everyday running as well as in demanding conditions on the racetrack. For reference, compared to its predecessor, the Pilot Sport Cup+, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 lasts up to 50 per cent longer on track while offering faster lap times, the company claimed.
Porsche will offer the the GT3 RS with Porsche-approved winter tyre fitment for extreme cold conditions. These will be available as 245/35R20 91V Pilot Alpin 4 N0 front and 315/35R20 110V Pilot Alpin 4 N0 rear.