The 911 GT3 RS is built for the track, but not every track day comes with perfect weather. Rain and cooler temperatures can turn high-performance tires into a slippery mess. That’s where Porsche and Michelin’s latest collaboration comes in—a new version of the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 (PSS5), designed specifically to keep the GT3 RS in top form when conditions aren’t ideal. The PSS5 N0, as Porsche calls it, is built to handle wet and cool surfaces while still being street-legal. That means no more last-minute tire swaps just because the forecast looks sketchy. It also carries Michelin’s N-marking, a sign that it was made with Porsche’s input to fit the car’s exact needs. The tire is based on the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5, first seen on the Aston Martin DB12, but Porsche’s version gets its own tuning. It’s all about extending the GT3 RS’s usability—because when you’ve got a track-ready machine, you don’t want a little rain cutting the fun short. Read More Rezvani Retro Reveals Production-Ready Porsche 911-Based RR1 A Tire for the Track—Even When the Weather Won’t Cooperate Most track tires come alive in warm, dry conditions. That’s great—until the forecast calls for rain. For Porsche 911 GT3 RS owners, that used to mean parking the car and waiting for better weather. Not anymore. Now, Porsche has expanded the lineup, offering four Michelin tire options, including a winter tire for extreme conditions. The newest addition is the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5, made specifically for cooler and wetter weather. It’s the opposite of the Pilot Sport Cup 2 R, which thrives in dry, warm temperatures. “We are responding to demand from our particularly performance-focused customers who have expressed a desire to spend more time on track during spring and fall,” Porsche Director of GT Vehicles Andreas Preuninger said. One key improvement is the tread design—it features four deep central grooves (7.4 mm depth) to clear water more effectively, reducing the risk of hydroplaning. More negative tread proportion also helps push water away from the contact patch. For Porsche, it’s about keeping the GT3 RS on the track year-round. “The new tires significantly increase the annual operating window of the 911 GT3 RS,” Preuninger added. How Porsche’s New Tire Transforms the 911 GT3 RS in the Wet Michelin started working on winter tire in 2022 at its Ladoux Development Center in France. To make sure it felt right on the track, Porsche turned to Jörg Bergmeister, a former factory driver who knows exactly how a Porsche should behave at the limit. His input helped shape a tire that delivers sharper control and more confidence in the wet. The secret is a new tread design with four deep central grooves that quickly clear water, cutting the risk of hydroplaning. A higher silica content in the rubber boosts grip on wet surfaces and helps the tire warm up faster, hitting its peak performance between 40–60°F. That’s a big shift—most Porsche UHP tires only perform best at 60–86°F. Read More 2025 Corvette ZR1 Smashes Five Lap Records Across America Michelin put the Pilot Sport S 5 through its paces on a 1.7-mile wet test track, where the 911 GT3 RS lapped over 10 seconds faster than it did on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N0 tires. Porsche ran it at the Nürburgring and Portimão, testing different tread designs to find the perfect balance between the front and rear axles. It comes out a wet-weather tire that still feels sharp in the dry, holding its own in warmer temperatures while keeping the car planted in the rain. For now, the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 N0 is available exclusively through US Porsche Centers in 275/35 ZR 20 (front) and 335/30 ZR 21 (rear) sizes. Pricing and release details are still under wraps, but for GT3 RS drivers tired of canceling track days because of bad weather, this could be the solution they’ve been waiting for. Source: Porsche
