Michelin Launches the Pilot Sport EV, the First High-Performance Tire Designed for Electric Vehicles

author: FutureCar Staff    

French tire manufacturer Michelin has launched a new high-performance tire called the Pilot Sport EV that is specifically designed for electric vehicles. The tire was the result of the unique experience acquired by Michelin in Formula E racing.

The new tire will launch on April 1 in North America.

The Pilot Sport EV is the first Michelin tire engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements of electric sports cars, such as the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and upcoming Lucid Air.

The Pilot Sport EV tire produces less road noise, which is especially helpful for drivers of electric vehicles. Without the drone of an engine EVs are mostly silent, so any noises from the outside, including from the tires, can easily make its way into the cabin.

Michelin says its new EV tire offers a 20% decrease in perceptible road noise, due to its "AcousticTM technology", which is a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise. This type of foam is found inside the tires of many Tesla vehicles to help reduce tire noise.

Michelin says its new EV tire offers optimal grip on dry and wet roads through all phases of a tire's lifespan, taking into account the heavier weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sports cars.

Michelin claims the Pilot Sport EV tire offers outstanding resistance to wear in response to the high torque and instant acceleration of electric sports cars. Some high performance electric sedans, such as the Tesla Model S Performance, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, which can cause premature tire wear.

In addition to the tire's handling characteristics, it offers low rolling resistance, which for an electric car can help extend range. Michelin claims its Sport EV tire can extend range by up to 37 miles between charges compared to the standard Pilot Sport tire.

Michelin's Pilot Sport EV tire was modeled after tires the company developed for Formula E race cars, which are capable of racing in any weather conditions. The French tire company is a founding partner of Formula E racing.

The Pilot Sport EV tire benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved in over six seasons participating in Formula E. 

The tire incorporates ElectricGrip Compound technology which features a hard compound for the center of the tread to provide the grip required to handle the high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. 

The sidewall design includes the same pattern and finish markings of Michelin's Formula E tire.

Since Michelin's new tire is intended for zero-emissions electric vehicles, 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.

Michelin claims that it's the only tire manufacturer that is active in the original-equipment and replacement electric sports car tire market. 

The Michelin Pilot Sport EV will be rolled out throughout 2021in a choice of 16 sizes, ranging from 18- to 22-inches.

Michelin said that its 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, the company said.

FutureCar Staff