Tires may not be the most glamorous component of a car, but they significantly impact handling. Increasingly, car manufacturers are collaborating with tire companies to create custom tires, enabling engineers to more precisely match elements such as suspension, steering, and braking with specific tire compounds. This process involves extensive effort.
The Tyre Reviews YouTube channel explored Michelin's testing facilities in Ladoux, France, to uncover the development process behind the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tire, specifically designed for the new Mercedes-AMG GT. Despite sharing the same name as the standard Sport S 5, the AMG version features a distinct rubber composition. The tires incorporate three distinct compounds, each serving different tread sections. The inner part of the front tread is optimized for wet grip, the central tread enhances dry performance, and the outermost section uses high-endurance rubber suitable for track use. The rear tires have two sections for wet grip and a central section for dry performance, with an outer compound designed for dry conditions.
Michelin dedicated three years to developing these tires, testing 25 front compounds and 20 rear compounds before settling on the final mix. This extensive process was solely for one car model. Pierre-Antoine Gregoire, the lead development driver for this project, emphasized that much of his work focused on refining the tires' 'soft handling', which includes fine-tuning aspects such as straight-line tracking, steering feedback, tire response during turns, and sidewall flexibility in rapid transitions.
Gregoire noted that the greatest challenge was achieving a balance between wet and dry handling, as Mercedes required the tire to excel in both conditions. The Michelin team had to continuously adjust and test different compounds while keeping pace with the AMG GT's development timeline.
