Michelin Pilot Sport 5 ultra-high performance tyre now available
Michelin’s fifth generation ultra-high performance tyre has landed with improved performance and a focus on longevity
Michelin has officially launched its fifth generation Pilot Sport ultra-high performance tyre, claiming improvements to their overall grip, wet weather performance and lifespan. The Pilot Sport 5 is now available to purchase in 50 sizes in Europe, with the full range (17- to 21-inches) set to be available from March 2022 – Blackcircles is already stocking select sizes with prices starting at £107 per tyre.
A successor to the highly popular Pilot Sport 4, Michelin has focused primarily on improved longevity for the Y-rated (to 186mph) Pilot Sport 5. Aiming to reduce the overall cost and environment footprint of tyres, a new ‘MaxTouch Construction’ is designed to more evenly distribute acceleration, braking and cornering forces for extended tread life.
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A hybrid Aramid and Nylon ply belt is also employed in Michelin’s ‘Dynamic Response Technology’ for improved transmission of control inputs, making for better response and feedback. Also said to improve performance is a ‘Never Slip Compound’, utilising a functional elastomer to increase the number of adhesion elements.
As we saw in the Pilot Sport 4, braking in both wet and dry conditions has also been a focus with a new ‘Dual Sport Tread Design’. The internal tread design features large longitudinal grooves to evacuate water more quickly for better wet traction, while the external tread design features rigid blocks for better performance in the dry.
Also new is a ‘Wear2check’ indicator to allow drivers to easily monitor tyre wear, with a freshly designed matte black side wall (similar to the design seen on the Cup 2 track tyre) separating it from its predecessor.
There’s no word on when we’ll see a more focused Pilot Sport 5 S, but the standard tyre is already available in 50 sizes in Europe with the full range coming in March.
