New Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 to premier on SLS AMG Black Series
Delivering superior performance is engrained in the genetic code of the AMG brand. It’s also the mission assigned to the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, which will equip all new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Black Series cars. This achievement by the car manufacturer and Michelin is the result of close cooperation that enabled them to complete the project. More importantly, it demonstrated their shared commitment to superior performance.
Mercedes-AMG set demanding criteria for the tyres that will equip its supersport model and the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 complies fully with the car manufacturer’s specifications. The new range delivers the total performance required by the company and is the only tyre to display Mercedes-AMG´s own certification markings for the new SLS AMG Coupe Black Series. Operating in perfect harmony with the car, the tyres are capable of providing:
Continuous precision steering, whether the driver is taking to the track with cold tyres or leaving it with hot tyres.
Agility and enhanced responsiveness that enable drivers to get the most out of the car’s sporty engine and chassis.
Maximum grip, for faster lap times.
Exceptional heat resistance to ensure consistent performance lap after lap.
Adherence, balance and stability on wet surfaces for carefree driving, even when weather conditions worsen.
Delivering performance in these areas is the result of a co-development project involving teams from the Michelin Technology Center and engineers from the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer. The project can be summed up with the following figures:
More than 100 dynamic evaluations and test sessions conducted on tracks in Northern and Southern Europe – in Italy, at the Michelin Technology Center in Ladoux and on the Nürburgring circuit.
1,800prototype and special series tyres.
800 pre-series tyres.
Up to 315 km/h achieved with the tyres, in safe driving conditions.
The new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 with its five high-tech features
The tread compound
Produced with the same tools used to manufacture race tyres, the tread compound for the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 integrates Bi-Compound technology, which involves the use of different rubber compounds on the inside and outside of the tread. The outer rubber is made with a high molecular-weight elastomer chain with a hardness that has been specially designed to deliver maximum adherence and outstanding dry grip on curves, especially on tight corners, while the inner tread area of the tyre uses rubber made with a more rigid elastomer to ensure precise steering.
An aramid fibre belt
The main feature of the belt made with aramid, a high-density fibre, is its high tensile strength. This composite is both light and strong; in fact, it is five times stronger than steel at an equivalent weight. Positioned on the crown under the tread, the strip rubber is applied with variable tension between the shoulders and the centre of the tyre. It is tightened so firmly that it literally locks the tyre structure into a practically inelastic belt. As a result, the tyre’s footprint remains constant and centrifugal force is effectively controlled, even at very high speeds.
The Track Variable Contact Patch 3.0
This innovation is adapted from Variable Contact Patch 2.0 technology integrated in the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyre. It optimises pressure in the tyre's contact patch so that more rubber is always in contact with the track, thereby ensuring superior grip in curves and tight corners.
A new bead area
The bead area is 10% wider than that of a traditional sports tyre. It is strengthened with a high modulus rubber compound that increases the tyre's lateral stiffness and delivers sporty response as well as precise steering.
Velvet sidewalls for a racing car with butterfly doors
A special tooling process in the moulds combined with the Group’s unique expertise has led to the development of Michelin Velvet Technology. This solution has made it possible to create contrast on certain sections of the outer sidewall using micro-geometry techniques that absorb light. The geometry of the texture thus generated allows technicians to vary the contrast and create shades of black that have the look of velvet.
For more information, visit michelin.co.uk.
