Michelin Extends Corvette Fitment Portfolio

The Corvette has been ‘king of the hill’ in the American performance car word for more than half a century, and the latest incarnation of the fibreglass bodied Chevrolet comes with a range of engine options delivering up to 638hp. A car so well endowed in the motor department obviously needs a tyre up to the job, and Michelin now has a product for the entire model range. The manufacturer has announced that its Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (zero pressure), already supplied for the Corvette C5, C6, and ZR1 models, will as of August 1 become available on the Corvette C6 Z06. The addition of tyre sizes for the C6 Z06, says Michelin, completes the transformation of its UHP portfolio that began in December 2007 with Michelin’s very first original equipment fitment for the Corvette ZR1.

Michelin’s relationship with the Corvette began with Pratt & Miller in 2004 as a partner-race team collaboration through the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since this time the Michelin/Corvette combination has notched up 48 victories in 54 races in ALMS competition and four wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race team’s continued success set the stage for the ZR1 program as well as the development of new Corvette tyres for the replacement market.

This latest UHP tyre range utilises Michelin’s Zero Pressure (ZP) technology and benefits from knowledge acquired during the development of run-flat products. Michelin states that the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP is specially-tuned to deliver no-compromise performance, superior cornering grip and tuned sidewall rigidity for lateral acceleration – while providing exceptional ride comfort, noise reduction, wet handling and extended tread life.

“Drivers of ultra-high performance vehicles demand the very best for their vehicles. For these enthusiasts, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tyre is the only choice; we created this tyre with these drivers in mind,” said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. “Our Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tyres provide precision handling and control in high-speed cornering and maximised grip in both wet and dry conditions without sacrificing the ride.”

According to Michelin, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP is a further evolution of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 family of low-profile, Z-rated tyres and offers all its performance characteristics plus the added advantage of run-flat capability. And despite being a run-flat tyre, Michelin states that it also delivers comfort levels similar to those of standard Pilot Sport PS2 tyres, while delivering improved cornering control, thanks to an advanced sidewall and variable contact patch technology.

An asymmetric tread pattern has been designed to provide strong performance in both wet and dry conditions. The tread design presents large outer shoulder blocks and continuous intermediate and centre ribs to enhance steering response and cornering stability. The inner tread design features a higher groove to rubber ratio with wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that help channel water through the footprint to enhance wet road traction. In addition, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP features tread life similar to the standard Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.

Available replacement tyre sizes for the Corvette include:

For the Corvette C5:

P245/45ZR17 95Y Pilot Sport 2 ZP
P275/40ZR18 99Y Pilot Sport 2 ZP

For the Corvette C6:

P245/40ZR18 93Y Pilot Sport 2 ZP
P285/35ZR19 99Y Pilot Sport 2 ZP

For the Corvette C6 Z06:

P275/35ZR18 (87Y) Pilot Sport 2 ZP
P325/30ZR19 (94Y) Pilot Sport 2 ZP

For the Corvette ZR1:

P285/30ZR19 (87Y) Pilot Sport 2 ZP
P335/25ZR20 (94Y) Pilot Sport 2 ZP

For Corvette C6 Z06 owners wishing to maximise their car’s track performance, Michelin recommends the usage of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup. The size selection made by Corvette Racing team driver Ron Fellows is said to show a significant track time improvement. According to Michelin, the most appropriate fitment is:

P265/35 18 (93Y) Pilot Sport Cup
P325/30 19 (101Y) Pilot Sport Cup