Michelin ready with next-generation Formula E tyres

Launched in September 2014, the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship featured 11 street races in major cities across the globe starring electric single-seater cars equipped with 18-inch, patterned Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. Work on developing new tyres for the second Formula E season had already begun when the FIA asked Michelin to continue with the same-spec tyre for the season in order to enable teams use a known tyre when developing their cars to meet new, less restrictive technical regulations applying to motors, transmissions and rear suspension pick-up points. Work on the second-generation tyre nevertheless continued, and Michelin Motorsport says this means “two steps forward will have been taken” in regards to tyre development when its new tyre finally debuts at the start of the third Formula E season. All constructors registered for the upcoming season were supplied with the latest Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyre at the beginning of May.

Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin’s Formula E programme, shares some details on the new tyre’s development: “Our work focused on improving energy efficiency, even though the original Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyre excelled in this domain. Thanks to the use of new technologies, we have succeeded in reducing rolling resistance while at the same time lowering the weight of each Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyre. The combination of these gains will mean greater autonomy for the cars and, no doubt, enhanced performance for the third Formula E championship.”

The original Michelin Pilot Sport EV will take to the track for the last time in London on 2 and 3 July. Michelin views the tyre as one that “revolutionised ecologically-responsible motor racing” and claims that technological data gleaned from the first-generation tyre is “already being dialled into road tyres like the recently-launched Michelin Pilot Sport 4.”