Why Michelin and top car manufacturers make a perfect match

Michelin takes high performance to the next level

The Michelin name is right at home among the elegant contours of the world’s most iconic high-performance vehicles – and for good reason too. For a long time, Michelin has worked closely with high-end vehicle manufacturers to push the limits of performance and raise the bar together.

Michelin enjoys a close working relationship with several of the biggest names in performance and superior quality. This kind of collaboration is at the heart of the motorsport world where a compromise in quality is never an option. It’s a world where the difference between world champions and second best is measured in milliseconds.

Porsche

Michelin and Porsche have been collaborating for more than 50 years – it’s a strong partnership that continues to bear fruit. Porsche has claimed victory time and again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – easily the greatest test for any manufacturer. It recently won three years in a row (2015, 2016 and 2017) on Michelin tyres.

A statement from Porsche proclaims: “It’s the tyres that create a firm connection between us and the tarmac … They keep us on track, have excellent tread and provide stability. Years of development, decades of experience and cutting-edge technology are behind every millimetre. With the highest performance standards and ever-new goals, [Michelin] have been by our side since day one.”

Toyota, Ferrari, BMW and Mercedes

Michelin has a celebrated history with Toyota and has shared numerous podium finishes in a variety of motorsport categories. So it’s no surprise that Michelin is Toyota’s tyre brand of choice for some of its flagship creations. These include the powerful GR Supra, as well as the stylish new Yaris GR, which comes standard with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres if you opt for the performance-orientated Circuit Pack.

The Pilot Sport 4S is also the tyre of choice for BMW’s X3 M and X4 M Competition models, the Mercedes AMG E-Class E63 2017 and E43 2017, and for Ferrari’s GTC4 Lusso 2016, among others.

Applying valuable lessons

Some manufacturers have been dogging one another for the title of fastest production car on the road, namely Koenigsegg, Hennessey and Bugatti. Special tyres are required to even stand a chance of approaching the coveted 300mph mark and surviving the experience – and Michelin has risen to that challenge.   

We take the valuable lessons from projects like that, combine them with a wealth of knowledge from our extensive experience in motorsport, and add a rigorous scientific approach to our design, production and testing to produce a superior product.     

We turn to our partners to really put our tyres through their paces. By employing the most exacting vehicles in the harshest of conditions and pushing them to their limits, we polish and perfect every product. This ensures that every tyre epitomises the standards of performance and safety that Michelin is famous for. Learn more about the capabilities of the Pilot Sport 4S here.