Porsche and Michelin develop Pilot Sport S 5 tires for wet conditions
Porsche and Michelin have jointly developed the new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5, a road-legal track tire designed for wet and low-temperature conditions. This tire extends the track-day season for performance-focused drivers.
Photo: Porsche
Porsche has a long-standing history of working with select partners to develop tires tailored to its vehicles. The new Pilot Sport S 5 is designed explicitly for the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS, enhancing its performance in wet conditions.
Photo: Porsche
According to Andreas Preuninger, Director of GT Vehicles at Porsche, the new tire addresses demand from enthusiasts who want more track time during spring and autumn. The Pilot Sport S 5 joins Porsche’s existing range of Michelin tires, including the ultra-high-performance Pilot Sport Cup 2 R. This new addition provides better performance on wet circuits while remaining suitable for everyday use in regions with cool, wet climates.
Photo: Porsche
Developed at Michelin’s Ladoux testing facility in France, the Pilot Sport S 5 underwent extensive testing since 2022. Former Porsche works driver Jörg Bergmeister contributed to the tire’s fine-tuning. A key focus was improving aquaplaning resistance, achieved through a tread pattern with four large central grooves and a 7.4mm depth. The high silica content in the rubber compound ensures faster warm-up and increased grip on wet surfaces.
Photo: Porsche
At ambient temperatures between 5-15°C, the Pilot Sport S 5 offers significantly better traction than previous UHP tires, which perform best between 15-30°C. Michelin test drivers recorded lap times over 10 seconds faster on a wet 2.8-km circuit than with the older Pilot Sport Cup 2 N0 tires.
While optimized for wet weather, the tire also performs well in dry conditions. Testing at the Nürburgring and Portimão confirmed its stability and precision even in temperatures above 20°C. The tire’s high wear resistance ensures durability on track and road.
Photo: Porsche
The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is initially available for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with front tires sized 275/35 ZR 20 and rear tires sized 335/30 ZR 21. Porsche’s performance specialist, Manthey, based at the Nürburgring, will handle distribution exclusively.
