Michelin NA Introduces All-New Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Michelin North America reports that company engineers faced a taunting task when it came to enhancing the capabilities of the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus tyre, however by combining new technologies and the company’s ‘relentless obsession for innovation and excellence’, they believe they have achieved their aims. The end result, the all-new Pilot Sport A/S Plus, offers what Michelin states is the perfect combination of all-weather performance and extended tread life for high-end performance vehicles.

“The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre provides everything a driving enthusiast needs in a tyre,” said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. “The improvements made on the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre allows for greater performance in dry and wet conditions, while still maintaining its capabilities in snow.”

After a research and development process that Michelin describes as extensive, company engineers identified three key focus areas to ensure maximum performance for the new tyre: all-weather performance, wet grip and tread-life.

All-Weather Performance: To give the Pilot Sport A/S Plus superior all-weather performance, a proprietary Michelin compound known as TriFusion has been used, the only UHP tyre in the Michelin line-up to offer this technology. The TriFusion technology precisely places three specialised rubber compounds across the tread, helping to elevate a car’s performance in virtually every type of weather, from wet to dry to winter conditions.

Wet Grip: A directional tread pattern and wet-weather silica compound combine for improved wet-weather control. The tapered grooves of symmetrical tread are designed to channel water away from the tyre’s contact patch to provide excellent wet grip in wet conditions. The result is, says Michelin, best-in-class wet grip.

Tread Life: Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyres are the first to make use of Michelin’s MaxTouch Construction technology, a tyre design innovation that delivers substantially improved tread life without sacrificing performance; this is backed by a 45,000-mile manufacturer’s limited warranty. The result is, the tyremaker reports, best-in-class tread life, without compromising performance.

Goubert adds, “The biggest challenge in the development of the second generation Pilot Sport All-Season tyre was to achieve the highest level of performance, while drastically improving the tread life. We are confident with the results.”

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus is especially designed to provide superior levels of all-weather capability, wet traction and improved wear for vehicles such as the C5 Corvette, Cadillac CTS, BMW S3, Lexus IS330, Mercedes C class and other high-performance vehicles. The new tyre goes on sale in the US September 1, 2008. It will be available in 59 sizes, 25 per cent more than the previous generation. Upon its initial launch, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus will be available in 29 sizes and the remainder will be introduced in March 2009. Complete sizing options will range from 205/55ZR16 up to 265/30ZR22.

“With the launch of the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre and the expansion of the size offerings, now including 22-inch, we are able to provide more consumers with the performance they desire,” concluded Goubert.