Motorsport FAQ

Recutting is only permitted when FIA and event regulations explicitly allow it.

When permitted, it can improve water evacuation and grip in very wet or muddy conditions.

Only previously used tires should be recut, and approved blades and patterns must be used to maintain structural integrity.

Championship regulations should always be checked before modifying the tread.

Michelin provides homologated recutting patterns that are specific to each tire range and designed to match different surface and weather conditions.

• Pilot Sport A MW1: Rain-focused recutting patterns with longitudinal grooves that increase water evacuation and help maintain grip in heavy or standing water.

• Pilot Sport Pro Rally / Pilot Sport A: Recutting options designed for damp or changeable asphalt, improving traction when surfaces are wet or polluted while preserving tread stability.

• Gravel ranges: Optional recutting used only in exceptional cases, such as deep mud or when the first competitor on the road must clear loose material, as these cuts can accelerate wear if used unnecessarily.

Using the correct recutting pattern improves grip and water evacuation while maintaining the tire’s structural integrity and safety.

If a tire shows cuts, deformation, bulges, exposed cables, abnormal wear, or unusual behaviour, it should be removed from service immediately.

Continuing to use a damaged tire can compromise safety, handling, and performance.

The issue should be documented with clear photos and submitted through Michelin’s official claims process for inspection by a dealer or Michelin technician.

The tire will then be assessed to determine whether it can be safely reused or must be replaced.

Marbling occurs when a tire is run underinflated, causing excessive casing flex and internal heat buildup. Visually, marbling appears as irregular, rippled, or wrinkled marks on the inner liner of the tire, often resembling folded or displaced rubber rather than smooth, even surfaces.

This condition indicates internal structural damage that may not be visible from the outside but significantly weakens the tire. Once marbling has occurred, the tire must be removed from service and cannot be repaired or reused in competition.

No. Running flat causes internal deformation and potential cable breakage.

Even if the tread looks intact, the structural integrity of the tire is compromised and the tire should be discarded.

Michelin motorsport tires should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area to preserve compound performance and structural integrity. Tires should be kept away from direct sunlight, heat sources, ozone-producing equipment, solvents, and prolonged stacking, all of which can accelerate aging or cause deformation.

Minimum storage temperatures should be respected:

• Circuit and classic slick tires: at least 10 °C for storage and 15 °C during transport

• Wet tires: minimum 5 °C

• Rally asphalt and gravel tires: minimum 10 °C

Whenever possible, store tires on vertical racks to prevent distortion. Improper storage conditions can reduce tire lifespan, consistency, and on-track performance.

Before mounting, Michelin motorsport tires must be fitted using approved procedures to ensure safety and performance.

Then:

• Inspect tires and rims for damage and compatibility

• Confirm rim width and diameter match Michelin specifications

• Apply appropriate bead lubrication

• Respect directional tread orientation when applicable

• Use approved inflation equipment and safety cages for higher pressures

• Verify bead seating and set initial pressures with calibrated gauges

Racing tires should first be inflated enough to properly seat the beads, then adjusted to the target cold pressure before use. During inflation, approved equipment and safety procedures must always be followed to ensure safe handling.

For circuit racing, all four wheels should be balanced to maintain stability at high speeds. Inflation and balancing should be performed using properly calibrated gauges and machines to ensure consistent performance and safety on track.

Michelin RFID technology uses an embedded radio-frequency identification chip to give each motorsport tire a secure, unique identity that is locked at the factory. The chip can be read through static or dynamic scanning, allowing tires to be identified even while in use.

RFID helps teams and officials track tire usage, verify regulatory compliance, and prevent mislabeling or unauthorized changes. By automating tire identification and checks at events, it improves traceability, accuracy, and overall operational efficiency during competition.

Michelin provides digital tire models that accurately reproduce the real-world behavior of each motorsport tire range. These models include key characteristics such as longitudinal and lateral grip, stiffness, load sensitivity, and steering response.

Teams use this data for vehicle setup, performance simulation, and race strategy development, including lap time prediction and driver-in-the-loop simulation. By reflecting how the tire behaves under different conditions, Michelin’s modeling service helps teams make more informed engineering and setup decisions.

Michelin motorsport tires integrate several proprietary technologies designed to improve performance, safety, and consistency in competition:

• Warm-Up Technology: Helps the tire reach its ideal operating temperature more quickly, delivering earlier and more consistent grip.

• Dynamic Response: A hybrid belt construction that enhances steering precision, stability, and feedback at high speeds.

• Side Shield: Reinforced sidewall protection designed to resist lateral impacts in demanding rally environments.

• Wear2Check: Visual wear indicators that allow teams to monitor tread wear and assess remaining tire life.

Together, these technologies improve grip, predictability, durability, and driver confidence across a wide range of motorsport conditions.

Each tire range is tuned for specific rally demands:

• Pilot Sport Pro Rally: Rapid warm-up, strong braking stability, and consistent grip on mixed asphalt.

• Pilot Sport A: Offers quick warm-up, excellent steering precision, and longer competitive life.

• Pilot Sport A MW1: Optimized for heavy rain, with deep channels that clear standing water and maintain confidence in unpredictable wet conditions.

• Pilot Sport R: A versatile asphalt rally tire ideal for national and regional competition, offering predictable handling on dry and damp surfaces.

Compound choice is influenced by temperature and surface abrasion:

• Soft compounds (S10, SS02, 11, G70): Cold temperatures, low abrasion, short stages.

• Medium compounds (M20, M21, 21, G80): Temperate conditions, medium abrasion.

• Hard compounds (H30, H31, 31, G91): Hot stages, high abrasion, long competitive mileage.

Choosing the correct compound helps the tire warm up appropriately and retain grip throughout the stage.

Tire choice comes down to surface grip, temperature, and stage abrasion. Michelin offers specialized rally ranges for every type of condition:

Asphalt (dry to damp):

• Pilot Sport Pro Rally (S10/M20/H30) for fast warm-up and consistent grip

• Pilot Sport A (SS02/S11/M21/H31) for strong feedback and long life

Wet asphalt or changing conditions:

• Pilot Sport A MW1 designed to evacuate water and maintain traction on wet, dirty, or inconsistent surfaces

Gravel:

• Pilot Sport Gravel (G70/G80/G91) for loose or compact surfaces

• LTX Force or LTX Force XL for rolling or brittle soil

Snow and ice:

• Pilot Alpin NA01 for snow-covered roads

• Pilot Alpin NA01 CL or X-ICE NORTH NA01 for studded ice rallying

Selecting the correct compound and pattern ensures the tire reaches its target operating window and performs consistently across the stage.

The Pilot Sport A MW1 is engineered specifically for high water evacuation, offering:

• Deep longitudinal grooves

• Transverse channels for polluted or muddy asphalt

• Rapid warm-up on wet surfaces

For very wet asphalt, Michelin recommends MW1, with optional FIA-compliant recutting to further enhance water clearance.

Michelin offers winter-specific rally solutions depending on the severity of conditions:

• Snow-covered roads: Pilot Alpin NA01

• Mixed snow and ice: Pilot Alpin NA01 CL

• Extreme ice rallying: X-ICE NORTH NA01 with studded construction for maximum mechanical bite

These tires provide the traction and braking precision needed when temperatures drop and surfaces lose natural grip.

Cold pressure: Measured before driving; depends on stage length and ambient temperature.

Hot pressure: Measured immediately at stage end; represents the tire’s actual working pressure.

Because heat increases pressure, hot pressure is the primary metric for evaluating grip, stability, balance, and even wear.

Michelin provides stage-based guidance:

Fitting tent:

2.0–2.5 bar depending on surface

Service park:

~1.8–2.2 bar

Start of stage (cold pressure):

Dry asphalt: 1.65–1.8 bar

Wet asphalt: +0.1 bar

Gravel: ~1.7–2.0 bar

End of stage (hot pressure):

Target: 2.0–2.3 bar (asphalt)

Wet: 2.1–2.3 bar

Hot pressure = true operating pressure, so adjustments should be made based on end-of-stage readings.