Available in an exclusive limited edition, the new Ferrari 599 GTO will have a production run of just 599 vehicles, all of them equipped with new Michelin super sport tyres specially designed for this model. This means that the only point of contact between the Ferrari 599 GTO and the road will be the 2,396 Michelin tyres which are capable of the highest levels of performance.
Michelin partnered with the Italian sports car manufacturer to co-develop these unique tyres 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.
The tyre sizes are 285/30 ZR 20 for the front and 315/35 ZR 20 for the rear. Despite the generous dimensions they are exceptionally light, with the front tyre weighing just 10 kilograms and the rear 15 kilograms. This means a weight saving of up to 10 per cent compared to other tyres of similar dimensions. The lighter Michelin tyres deliver two benefits:
- They reduce unsprung weight which in turn improves handling
- They help to reduce fuel consumption and thus carbon emissions. The Michelin tyres
designed for the Ferrari 599 GTO have up to 20 per cent better rolling resistance than other similar tyres, enabling a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 7 grams per kilometre.
Michelin engineers developed innovative rubber compounds that ensure safe, precise handling in all conditions even when the tyres are delivering 670 horsepower from the six litre V12 engine. Their unique 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 tyre construction to maximise the amount of rubber in contact with the road for secure road-holding.
Michelin and Ferrari development engineers and test drivers worked closely together on different racetracks, in particular at Fiorano and Nardò in Italy, to validate the tyres’ performance balance which matches the chassis characteristics of the new Ferrari GTO, Ferrari’s fastest ever road car.