Ferrari 599 GTO to Have Michelin Tires

The limited run of the newly introduced Ferrari 599 GTO (Gran Turismo Omologato) model will be equipped with new Michelin super sport tires specially designed for this model, the tire manufacture announced today. This means Michelin will produce 2,396 tires for the 599 units of the Italian sports car.

Michelin developed these tires in conjunction with Ferrari in just 18 months. “The objective was to enable the Ferrari 599 GTO to achieve its full performance potential by delivering optimal track handling and superior safety,” a company statement reads.

The tire will come in sizes 285/30 ZR 20 for the front and 315/35 ZR 20 for the rear. The front tire weight 10 kilograms and the rear 15 kilograms. This means a weight saving of up to 10 percent compared to other tires of similar dimensions.

The tire tread comprises three different compounds: a track-type compound on the outer shoulder to withstand the extreme pressure of circuit driving, a compound at the centre of the tread especially designed for superior performance at very high speeds, and an inner shoulder compound designed in combination with the tire construction to maximize the amount of rubber in contact with the road for secure road-holding.

The lighter Michelin tires deliver two benefits:

• they reduce unsprung weight which in turn improves handling
• they help to reduce fuel consumption and thus carbon emissions. The Michelin tires designed for the Ferrari 599 GTO have up to 20 per cent better rolling resistance than other similar tires, enabling a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 7 g/km.