Michelin has unveiled its first tire specifically designed to meet the needs of electric sports cars.
The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV, which goes on sale April 1, offers:
– Optimal grip on dry and wet roads – irrespective of the tire’s level of wear – taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sports cars.
– Outstanding resistance to wear in response to the high torque and acceleration forces of electric sports cars.
– The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV’s low rolling resistance extends range by up to 37 miles.
– 20 percent less perceptible road noise thanks to MICHELIN Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise.
The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV is the result of the unique experience Michelin has acquired in Formula E racing
Michelin, a Formula E founding partner, suggested a solution for the championship’s all-electric single-seaters that is conceptually similar to a road tire. The Michelin Formula E tire is capable of racing in all types of weather, and its size – 18 inches – is in line with current road-car standards.
The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over six seasons in Formula E and incorporates ElectricGrip Compound technology which features a hard compound for the center of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tire.
An eco-responsible, CO2-neutral tire at the point of sale
In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tire and address the demands of electric sports car owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO2 emissions associated with the tire’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO2 emissions associated with tire production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely.
Michelin is currently the only manufacturer that is active in the original-equipment and replacement electric sports car tire market. The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV will be rolled during 2021 in a choice of 16 sizes (original equipment: 11 sizes / replacement market: 5 sizes) for 18- to 22-inch rims.
The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV is already available in China and will be available on vehicles released in Europe and North America from the third quarter 2021. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in this high-growth market by a factor of eight.
