At the end of 2015, following extensive talks with the drivers, teams and manufactures, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) submitted a formal request for a genuine wet weather tire for the WRC in order to combat the phenomenon of aquaplaning, whereby a film of water forms between the road and the tire's tread in heavy rain.

This led to the development by Michelin of a second-generation version of its wet weather tire for the world championship: the tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport FW2 (FW = Full Wet). Thanks to its specific tread pattern which features a high degree of grooving, with channels that clear water to the sides, the tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport FW2 pushes back the aquaplaning threshold to provide longitudinal and lateral grip, as well as enhanced traction, both in a straight line and when cornering.

'The clearance capacity of the tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport FW2 marks an improvement over that of the tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport H5/S5. Thanks to its narrower tread compared with the tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport H5 and S5 [175mm instead of 202mm], its deeper grooves [7mm instead of 6mm] and a sea-to-land ratio higher than the 27.5 percent dictated by the regulations, the contact patch of this new Michelin tyre has been doubled in heavy rain*. We obviously don't know whether the crews will get to use these tyres on the upcoming asphalt rallies but, if they do, we know they have the potential to obtain top results.'

Jacques Morelli, manager of Michelin's FIA WRC programme

The tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport FW2 is intended for extreme conditions only, however, and drivers will be restricted to an allocation of eight tires per car per rally.

The tire MICHELIN Pilot Sport FW2 - technical data

  • Size: 215/45R18 (18/65-18)
  • Tread band width: 175mm
  • Tire width: 220mm
  • Sidewall height: 96mm
  • Interior diameter: 18 inches
  • Tread pattern: symmetrical
  • Conditions: showers, standing water or heavy rain on asphalt rounds of the FIA WRC (2016: ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Rally China-Beijing, Tour de Corse-Rallye de France, RallyRACC Catalunya-Rally de España)

* Measured on a 3mm-thick film of water at 90kph with a tyre pressure of 2.1 bar.

Compagnie Générale des établissements Michelin SA published this content on 02 August 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 August 2016 15:04:02 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.michelin.com/eng/media-room/press-and-news/press-releases/Products-Services/Michelin-to-introduce-a-new-FIA-WRC-rain-tire-the-MICHELIN-Pilot-Sport-FW2-Full-Wet-2

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