Posted on May 29, 2012

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

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MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport: The Essence of High Performance

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport, the world's fastest series-produced tire on the racetrack1, will be launched worldwide beginning in January
2011.

Designed for the sportiest series-produced cars as well as for vehicles specially tuned for ultra-high performance, this new Michelin tire integrates the
full range of expertise and know-how developed by Michelin in the leading international endurance races, and in particular the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport was designed to accomplish one purpose: deliver the ultimate driving experience while ensuring maximum safety even in
extreme conditions of use. This outstanding combination of driving enjoyment and safety performance proved decisive in the product development phases
conducted with Porsche, BMW M (the sports division of the Munich-based carmaker) and Ferrari.

The exceptional potential of the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport, which is designed for the most demanding conditions of use on the road, is derived directly
from the skills and capabilities of Michelin's motorsports teams. The technological breakthroughs that have enabled Michelin to score 13 consecutive wins
at the 24 Hours of Le Mans have been transferred to the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport with the goal of providing motorists with the ultimate in driving
pleasure.

To improve the tire's road-holding and braking ability and thereby its overall safety performance, even in the most extreme conditions, while also
providing excellent mileage, Michelin has uniquely combined three technologies, including two developed for tires used at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: the
Twaron® fiber belt as well as the Bi-Compound tread band and the Variable Contact Patch 2.0, both of which were derived from innovations validated and
used in endurance racing (more technical details on page 9). The combination has produced compelling results that are apt to win over the most demanding
manufacturers of cars in the ultra high-performance segment. As a result, the new Michelin tire has key advantages that enable it to rise to the challenge
posed by its predecessor, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport PS2, which was certified as original equipment on more than 200 vehicles.

In line with Michelin's innovation strategy, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport delivers an optimal balance of several distinct performance characteristics.
This ability to combine maximum safety, even in extreme conditions of use, with driving pleasure and excellent mileage is the result of an R&D
commitment unrivaled in the tire industry (nearly €500 million a year allocated to the Michelin Technology Center).

 

1
The tire recorded the fastest lap time against its five leading competitors in a dry-circuit test conducted in 2010 by TÜV SÜD Automotive, an
independent organization, using 245/40 ZR 18 Y and 235/35 ZR 19 Y tires.

 

2. Descended from motorsports

 


MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport, From the Racetrack

to the Ultimate On-Road Driving Experience

 

The world's fastest series-produced tire on the racetrack1&2 that also provides unparalleled road-holding ability in dry conditions 3, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport is a direct descendent of Michelin's motorsports tires.

The tire owes its excellence to Michelin's years of success in the world's most demanding endurance races. These include the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which
the tire maker totaled 19 victories of which the last 13 in a row; the American, European and Asian Le Mans Series; and the FIA GT1 Championship, in which
Michelin has won a combined total of more than 20 manufacturers' and drivers' titles since 1997.

These races require tires that not only deliver superior performance at very high speeds but which are also exceptionally long-lasting and reliable. In
this type of competition, pit stops are kept to a minimum since contestants are not allowed to change tires and refuel at the same time.

In the 2010 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Michelin tires set three records: longest distance covered, highest speed attained and total mileage.

The winning car, equipped with Michelin tires, set a distance record by covering 5,410.71 kilometers. The car used 11 sets of tires in all, meaning that
each set covered an average of almost 500 kilometers. In 2009, the team that won the race used 14 sets of tires and covered 5,206 kilometers.

What's more, in 2010, Britain's Anthony Davidson, at the wheel of the No. 1 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, completed four stints (46 laps) at an average lap speed of
3'21''917, which works out to 627 kilometers at an average speed of 243 kilometers per hour. "It's the first time that Peugeot and Michelin have
accomplished four daytime stints and moreover at a very high speed," said Serge Grisin, Michelin Automobile Racing Manager. "This demonstrates the
consistency of our tires and the performance they deliver."

Michelin has transferred this expertise to improve its series-produced tires. The new standard-setter, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport integrates
technologies that have demonstrated their validity and efficiency at the highest levels of motorsports (technical details on page 9).

 

1
The tire recorded the fastest lap time against its five leading competitors in a dry-circuit test conducted in 2010 by TÜV SÜD Automotive, an
independent organization, using 245/40 ZR 18 Y and 235/35 ZR 19 Y tires.

2
The World's fastest cars are equipped with MICHELIN tyres. Bugatti Veyron and Shelby SuperCars exceeded the speed of 400 Kph with MICHELIN Pilot Sport PS2.

3
The best dry handling. Tests carried out in 2010 by TÜV on tyre sizes 245/40ZR18Y & 235/35ZR19Y, compared to its 5 premium competitors (available
on the market at the time).

 

3. Delivering maximum safety


MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport,

Maximum Safety, Even in Extreme Conditions of Use

 

Intended for motorists who want the ultimate driving experience and exceptional safety - whether for day-to-day use or sporty driving - the MICHELIN Pilot
Super Sport is designed for series-produced super sport models and street-legal cars that have been tuned and modified for ultra high-performance. The
MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport outperformed its five leading competitors in speed and dry road-holding in a test conducted in 2010 by TÜV SÜD, the
independent testing organization, using size 245/40 ZR 18 Y and 235/35 ZR 19 Y tires.

The combination of driving enjoyment and safety is perfectly aligned with motorist expectations. This was revealed in a broad-based 2009 TNS Sofres study
of 9,000 drivers in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) as well as in Russia, the United States and China. Among
the people surveyed, 20% said that driving was very important for them. And within this category, 68% - across all nationalities - said that driving
enjoyment was their top priority. What's more, 62% of them mentioned the important role that tires play in their car's handling, and thus its safety
performance.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport achieves a unique balance between safety and driving enjoyment that makes it suitable for everyday road use as well as the
racetrack in demanding conditions. Michelin engineers focused on simultaneously improving performance in different areas. The driver of a car equipped with
MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport tires can relax and enjoy the experience, knowing that the tires deliver maximum safety even in extreme conditions of use.

In-house tests performed at the Michelin Technology Center identified six key areas in which the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport outperforms its predecessor,
the MICHELIN Pilot Sport PS2, which until now was the segment benchmark:

-
Road-holding on dry surfaces:

Tests showed a 1.5-second gain on a 2,700-meter closed-circuit track.

-
Braking on dry surfaces:

When decelerating from 100 km/h to a full stop, braking distance was shortened by 1.5 meters.

-
Road-holding on wet surfaces:

Time was reduced by 2.5 seconds on a 4,100-meter closed-circuit track.

-
Braking on wet roads:

When decelerating from 80 to 10 km/h, braking distance was shortened by three meters.

-
Total mileage on the track:

50% more laps.

-
Total mileage on the road:

10% greater distance.

These spectacular advances ensure that the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport's outstanding safety performance meets the highest standards in the most demanding
driving conditions.

 



 

4. Developed in partnership


MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport,

The High-Performance Tire Developed With the Most Demanding Carmakers

 

A preferred, long-time partner to high-profile carmakers, Michelin has been working closely for decades with the world's most prestigious brands to design
exceptional vehicles that deliver unrivaled performance.

Following the MICHELIN Pilot SX MXX3, which was original equipment on the McLaren F1, Bugatti EB 110, Dodge Viper, Porsche 911 and Ferrari F 550 in 1990;
the MICHELIN Pilot Sport, which prominently equipped the Pagani Zonda, Ferrari 360 Modena and Maserati Quattroporte in 1997; and the MICHELIN Pilot Sport
PS2, the first tire with a dual compound tread in 2003; the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport has crossed a new threshold.

The information and technology derived from motorsport racing were crucial in satisfying the requirements of the different manufacturers. While each
carmaker has its own philosophy and high-performance criteria, all of them agree on at least one point: a tire that is certified must highlight and enhance
a vehicle's personality and be suited for both everyday road use and track driving, without compromising safety. The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport was
developed by Porsche, BMW M and Ferrari engineers according to these specifications. In 2010, it received the Ferrari Technology Award. It has already been
approved by Ferrari (for the 458 Italia and 599 GTO) and by Alpina (for its B5).

To ensure that its latest-generation tire meets the highest standards of safety, Michelin has applied the same safety margins as those used in the civil
aviation industry. During testing, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport covered 50,000 kilometers under extreme conditions, notably withstanding peak loads
equivalent to twice the weight it would support on a vehicle.

For each car manufacturer with whom Michelin has a technical partnership, the tire underwent tests covering more than 10,000 kilometers in low-grip
conditions. All together, the MICHELIN Super Sport was evaluated over more than 100,000 kilometers on some of the world's most demanding tracks.

In joint development trials with automobile manufacturers, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport was tested for a total of 1,000 hours at over 300 km/hour, proving its
superior level of endurance at high speeds.

Highly demanding tests were conducted in France, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan and Thailand on such world-famous racetracks as Fiorano, Motegi,
Estoril, Magny-Cours, Nardo, Charade and Nürbürgring. In this way, the lineup was optimized to provide an appropriate solution for each of the
following automobile segments:

- Series-produced supercars, such as the Porsche Carrera GT, Koenigsegg Agera and Ruf CTR CT3, and enhanced models.

- Series-produced luxury supersport cars, such as the Porsche 997 and Ferrari 458 Italia, and enhanced models like the Audi R8 MTM.

- Series-produced supersport cars, such as the BMW M3 and Subaru WRX STi, and enhanced models like the Nissan GT-R Novidem.

5. Technology

Inside innovation

With a design inspired by Michelin's racing tires, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport integrates the most innovative technologies.

- Ceinture Twaron®

A high-density fiber used in cutting-edge equipment for such sports as tennis, sailing and mountain biking - as well as in aeronautics, protective military
gear and motorsports - Twaron® provides the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport with superior high-speed stability.

Thanks to its variable tension, the belt tightens the tread more than the shoulders. As a result, centrifugal force is more effectively overcome and
pressure is more evenly distributed.

A key feature of Twaron® is its high grip-resistance. Strong and light at the same time, Twaron® is five times more resistant than steel at
equivalent weight.

Illustration en attente

- Bi-Compound tread

Originally developed for racing tires, this technological innovation uses different rubber compounds on the left and right sides of the tread.

On the outside, a unique, carbon black-reinforced elastomer (developed specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans) ensures exceptional endurance when corners
are tight.

On the inside, a latest-generation, high-grip elastomer enables the tire (on wet surfaces) to break through the water's surface and adhere to even the
slightest irregularity in the road.

Illustration en attente

- Variable contact patch 2.0

Thanks to the latest digital simulation software used in the aeronautics and automobile industries, pressure and consequently temperatures are spread
evenly across the tire's contact patch. Although the patch's shape changes when cornering, the amount of rubber in contact with the road remains the same.

Illustration en attente

 

 

6. The market

 

A Targeted Offer for a Growing Market

 

Certified as original equipment for more than 200 vehicles, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport PS2 is currently fitted on the most prestigious vehicles in the
market. Now its successor - the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport - is taking up the challenge.

With the announcement of the worldwide rollout of the new MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport, scheduled to begin in January 2011, Michelin has confirmed its
wholehearted commitment to the world of high performance vehicles. In first quarter 2010, the Group presented and brought to market the MICHELIN Pilot
Sport 3.

The tire was designed for a broad range of vehicles, including sporty models of city cars and compacts as well as large, powerful sedans. It also equips
true small sports cars, such as roadsters and coupes. With the extra-large 18 to 19-inch range, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport 3 is also suitable as optional
equipment on non-sporting models.

The new MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport is positioned at the top of the ultra high-performance range, for truly outstanding, world-class vehicles.

Sales of ultra high-performance vehicles are on the rise and are expected to increase by more than 25%1 worldwide over the next five years. Over
the same period, from 2010 to 2015, the market for corresponding tires should grow by 43%1 in North America and by more than 30%1 in
Europe, while undergoing a five-fold expansion in China1.

 

1
Michelin estimates

 

7. Available sizes

The Complete Lineup

Available in five diameters, the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport replacement tire lineup will soon be certified as original equipment on a large number of
vehicles.

18 inches:

225/45 ZR 18 (95 Y) XL

245/45 ZR 18 (100 Y) XL

245/40 ZR 18 (97 Y) XL

265/40 ZR 18 (101 Y) XL

19 inches:

225/40 ZR 19 (93 Y) XL

225/35 ZR 19 (88 Y) XL

235/35 ZR 19 (91 Y) XL

245/35 ZR 19 (93 Y) XL

255/35 ZR 19 (96 Y) XL

265/30 ZR 19 (93 Y) XL

275/35 ZR 19 (100 Y) XL

275/30 ZR 19 (96 Y) XL

295/30 ZR 19 (100 Y) XL

305/30 ZR 19 (102 Y) XL

20 inches:

235/35 ZR 20 (92 Y) XL K1

255/35 ZR 20 OPEN ZR

275/35 ZR 20 OPEN ZR

275/30 ZR 20 OPEN ZR

285/30 ZR 20 (99 Y) XL K1

285/30 ZR 20 OPEN ZR

285/25 ZR 20 (93 Y) XL

295/35 ZR 20 (101 Y) K1

295/25 ZR 20 (95 Y) XL

315/35 ZR 20 (110 Y) XL K1

345/30 ZR 20 (106 Y)

21 inches:

255/30 ZR 21 (93 Y) XL

265/30 ZR 21 OPEN ZR

295/30 ZR 21 OPEN ZR

295/25 ZR 21 (96 Y) XL

22 inches:

235/30 ZR 22 OPEN ZR

265/30 ZR 22 OPEN ZR

-------------------------------- encadré ------------------------------------

Further information:

Y: can be driven at speeds of up to 300 km/h if total weight does not exceed 85% of the load capacity.

(Y): can be driven at speeds of up to 300 km/h if total weight does not exceed 85% of the load capacity.

OPEN ZR: can be driven at speeds of more than 300 km/h with total weight between 85% and 100% of the load capacity.

Appendices

Michelin Group: Milestones

For more than a century, Michelin has dedicated its expertise and innovation to enhancing the mobility of people and goods around the world.

 

1889
: Michelin et Cie founded.

1891
: Michelin files its first patents for removable and repairable tires.

1895
: Michelin introduces Éclair, the first car fitted with pneumatic tires.

1898
: Birth of Bibendum, the "Michelin Man."

1900
: First MICHELIN guide published.

1905
: Introduction of the "Michelin Tread" with hobnails to improve tire grip and durability.

1910
: First 1/200,000 scale Michelin road map published.

1913
: Michelin invents the removable steel wheel.

1923
: First low pressure car tire (2.5 bar).

1926
: Michelin creates its first Green Guide for tourists.

1930
: Michelin files a patent for the integrated tube tire.

1938
: Michelin introduces Metalic, the first truck tire with a steel casing.

1946
: Michelin invents the radial tire.

1959
: Michelin introduces the first radial tire for earthmovers.

1979
: The Michelin radial tire wins the Formula 1 championship.

1981
: The MICHELIN X Air is the first radial aircraft tire.

1989
: Michelin launches the first online travel itinerary service, on France's Minitel teletext network.

1992
: launch of the fuel-efficient MICHELIN ENERGY™ tire.

1993
: Michelin invents the new C3M tire manufacturing process.

1995
: The space shuttle lands on Michelin tires.

1996
: Michelin invents the vertically anchored PAX System tire

1998
: The first MICHELIN Challenge Bibendum, the world's leading clean vehicle competition.

1998
: The Michelin Man's 100th birthday.

2000
: The Michelin Man elected best logo of all time by an international jury.

2001
: Michelin brings to market the world's largest earthmover tire.

2003
: Launch of Michelin brand automotive accessories.

2004
: New corporate signature introduced: "Michelin, a better way forward".

2004
: Launch of the MICHELIN XeoBib, the first ag tire that operates at a constant low pressure.

2005
: Michelin provides tires for the new Airbus A-380 aircraft - Launch of the MICHELIN Power Race, the first dual-compound racing tire approved for road use.

2006
: Michelin revolutionizes truck tires with MICHELIN Durable Technologies.

2007
: Launch of the new MICHELIN ENERGY™ Saver tire, which reduces fuel consumption by nearly 0.2 liters per 100 kilometers, thereby
lowering CO2 emissions by 4 grams per kilometer.

2008
: Introduction of the MICHELIN X ENERGY™ SAVERGREEN truck tire.

2009
: 100th edition of the MICHELIN guide France.

2010
: MICHELIN Pilot Sport 3 and MICHELIN ALPIN A4 launched in the replacement tire market.

2010
: The 10th MICHELIN Challenge Bibendum held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.



 

Michelin Group: Key Figures

 

 

Company founded:
1889

Production facilities:
72 plants in 19 countries

Number of employees:
109,000 worldwide

Technology Center:
More than 6,000 researchers on three continents: North America, Europe and Asia

Annual R&D budget:
Over €500 million

Annual output:
Around 150 million tires produced and over 10 million maps and guides sold in more than 170 countries

2009 net sales:
€14.8 billion

An extensive portfolio of brands covering all market segments:
Michelin, BFGoodrich, Kleber, Uniroyal, Riken, Taurus, Kormoran, Warrior, Pneu Laurent, Recamic, Michelin Remix, Euromaster, TCI Tire Centers and TyrePlus.

Discover the history of the Michelin Group with a visit to L'Aventure Michelin.

The latest news and useful information can be found at www.laventuremichelin.com

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About

About Michelin North America

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 22,500 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com