Michelin CGDE : introduces Pilot Sport 4 S to north american market at NAIAS

Jean-Dominique Senard, CEO of Michelin Group, said in a press conference at NAIAS:

When manufacturers design and build the greatest cars, they overwhelmingly choose MICHELIN and the Pilot tire line to connect them with the road and enable the very spirit of the machine. The Pilot Sport 4 S tire will be the next great tire in our Pilot family line-up, with more than 60 original equipment fitments currently under development.

Jean-Dominique Senard, CEO of Michelin group

Designed for sports cars and high-performance vehicles, the tire combines the best aspects of the Pilot Super Sport with key attributes of the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire. The Pilot Sport 4 S tire solves the pleasure and safety equation for performance enthusiasts, offering unprecedented driving pleasure, exceptional steering precision and tremendous directional stability, while also providing maximum grip on wet or dry roads.

Commissioned third-party track tests in Germany against five top ultra-high-performance tire competitors ranked the MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 S tire first in the following areas:

• first in dry braking
• first in wet braking
• first in dry lap times

Michelin is involved in motorsport disciplines worldwide and uses competition as a laboratory for accelerated development of tire technologies, which are then used in the development of its production tires. Data collected during racing, mostly from confidential tire technologies or rubber compound recipes, enable Michelin's engineers to validate their findings. The MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 S tire uses construction methods and materials directly developed in competitions such as the FIA World Endurrance Championship (WEC) and its flagship event the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E and the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The Pilot Sport 4 S tire bears a (Y) speed rating (186+ mph). The tire is commercially available in Europe starting this month, and available in the United States starting in March. The product line initially includes 35 sizes, in widths ranging from 225mm to 345mm, aspect ratios from 30 to 45, and rim diameters from 18 to 20 inches.

The tire's aesthetic design complements the vehicles it fits, featuring Michelin's patented velvet sidewall branding, called Premium Touch Design, and a rim protector that will help avoid contact between the wheel rim and curb. The Pilot Sport 4 S tire will be produced at Michelin plants in Greenville, S.C., and Clermont-Ferrand, France.