The New Tires on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS Revolutionize Performance in Wet Conditions | Carscoops

      The new rubber will be exclusively available through Porsche Centers throughout the United States.

      The custom Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires have dimensions of 275/35 for the front and 335/30 for the rear.

      Pirelli and Goodyear also provide specialized track-oriented tire compounds for the 911 GT3 RS.

      Porsche asserts that the new Michelin tires can reduce lap times by over 10 seconds on wet tracks.

      The current Porsche 911 GT3 RS is among the fastest street-legal sports cars on a circuit; however, Porsche understands that weather conditions can be unpredictable on track days. Consequently, it has partnered with Michelin to introduce a new wet weather tire for the GT3 RS that aims to prolong the “track-day season” and offer superior tread life compared to other tires made for this vehicle.

      The tires in question are the newly designed Michelin Pilot Sport S 5. While these tires are already being utilized by various other manufacturers for their high-performance models, those crafted for the 911 GT3 RS have been specially engineered with cool and wet conditions in mind. They complement three other tires Michelin offers for the GT3 RS, including winter tires and the ultra-high-performance Pilot Sport Cup 2 R for dry conditions.

      Porsche began collaborating with Michelin on the specially formulated Pilot Sport S 5 compound in 2022. The final product possesses a tread depth of 7.4 mm and features four large central grooves designed to efficiently displace water. Moreover, these tires contain a higher level of silica than usual, enabling them to function optimally at temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

      The contrast between these new tires and the dry weather-oriented Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires is notable. Around a wet 1.7-mile circuit at the Michelin Development Circuit, GT3 RSs equipped with the Pilot Sport S 5 tires recorded lap times more than 10 seconds faster.

      Similar to the other tires available for the track-focused 911, these new Michelins have a size of 275/35 ZR 20 at the front and 335/30 ZR 21 at the rear. They will be sold exclusively through Porsche Centers in the United States, though information regarding pricing and availability is still pending.

      “We are responding to the requests of our performance-oriented customers who wish to have more time on the track during spring and fall,” stated Andreas Preuninger, Director of GT vehicles at Porsche. “The new tires greatly expand the annual operating range of the 911 GT3 RS.”

      Various other tire options from different manufacturers have also been designed for the 911 GT3 RS. For instance, Pirelli offers its P Zero Trofeo RS tires for the vehicle, while Goodyear has formulated the specialized Eagle F1 SuperSport R and F1 SuperSport RS tires for this high-performance Porsche.