The new Porsche Panamera, fitted with specially developed MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, has set a new lap record for ‘executive cars’ on the 20.832-kilometre Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, posting a time of 7 minutes 29.81 seconds.
Driven by Porsche test driver, Lars Kern, the Panamera was fitted with 275/35 ZR 21 front and 325/30 ZR 21 rear MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 ND0 tyres, which have been developed for the new Panamera and will be available as an option following the car’s market launch.
Speaking after setting the lap time, Lars Kern said: ‘The car’s improved lateral dynamics and the increased grip level of the new Michelin PS Cup 2 tires had a major effect at the Schwedenkreuz. Here I managed to reach cornering speeds that I previously would not have thought possible with the Panamera.’
Already fitted as original equipment to numerous class-leading cars produced by the German manufacturer, including the 918 Spyder, Cayman GT4, 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, and the 911 GT2 RS the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires feature technologies developed at the highest levels of motor sport. These technologies are available to road drivers – enabling them to benefit from the highest levels of durability, grip, handling and safety.
These developments include multi-compound technology and casing designs which ensure very high and consistent grip levels in a variety of weather conditions, and tire rigidity for exceptional steering precision, balance and handling. As a result, passionate drivers benefit from a unique combination of safety and driving enjoyment that makes the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires suitable for everyday road use, as well as in very demanding conditions on the racetrack.
During the co-development of these tires by Michelin and Porsche engineers, they were optimised and fine-tuned to suit the characteristics demanded by Porsche for the new Panamera. This resulted in tires which not only offer very high grip levels, consistent performance and excellent front/rear balance, but which crucially still conform to European regulations concerning rolling resistance (R117-2).
