The new tires are designed to withstand the higher loads placed on them by larger and more powerful electric and hybrid vehicles.
March 29, 2023 at 19:03 ET
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S has a huge following. It’s been on the market for six years and is still one of the best ultra high performance tires you can buy. Naturally, Michelin wanted to make sure the replacement lived up to the PS4S’ reputation while measurably improving its performance. According to this video review from Tire Reviews, it seems so.
The Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 is based on the Pilot 4 S, evolving to support the latest demands of high performance cars. Many tire sizes include acoustic foam to reduce internal noise, something performance-oriented EV owners will appreciate. The tires are also equipped with connected sensors and integrated RFID and are designed to withstand the higher loads placed on them by larger and more powerful hybrid and electric vehicles, such as the Ferrari 296 GTB.
Other Pilot Sport S5 enhancements include:
- A new wavy top stiffens the tread pattern for more precise handling by controlling the waviness of the steel belts under the tread blocks.
- Improved Dual Asymmetric Sport Tread Design. A large portion of the outer tread features dedicated stiff blocks for improved lateral dry grip and steering response. The inside of the tire has large longitudinal grooves to remove water to improve wet road traction.
- A tread compound derived from outdoor racing to maximize dry grip and a new state-of-the-art rubber compound designed for the best possible wet grip.
- New heel design architecture to further improve steering response and handling.
In addition, the Pilot Sport S 5 features the next generation of Michelin’s premium tactile sidewall design for increased contrast, allowing the tire to look as good as it performs. The difference is subtle, but it makes the tire name and the Michelin Man stand out more than with the old tire.
Speaking of names, Michelin also revised its naming convention with the Pilot Sport S 5. Instead of calling it “Sport 5 S,” the revised naming format identifies the brand, product name, subgroup of performance and generation. That name separates it from the Pilot Sport 5 we reported on last year, with the S denoting a higher performance category.
