Michelin IMSA Insider: Wave of Momentum, Innovation

The clock is nearing midnight in Daytona in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but an energetic John Doonan, president of IMSA, is saying on IMSA Radio that this must be the Platinum Era of sports car racing.

Global convergence, capacity grids, high OEM involvement and huge crowds lends credibility to his statement. This wave of momentum is happening while major strides in sustainability take place. Michelin is proving that high performing tires and sustainability can go hand in hand through four key areas: simulation, resource conservation, tire lifespan and circularity.

Revolutionizing Tire Development

The development of race tires has undergone a significant evolution. Historically, engineers would design multiple iterations of a tire, then spend days at the track testing each version over countless laps. The data would then inform the next iteration, requiring multiple cycles of testing and redevelopment. This traditional process, while effective, consumed significant time and resources.

Today, the integration of simulation technology has changed everything. With tools like car models and driver-in-the-loop simulators, Michelin can test tires virtually, achieving a level of precision that dramatically reduces physical testing requirements.

IMSA GTP teams now use this tool to enhance their simulator sessions, enabling them to accurately replicate tire warm-up, the effects of track temperature, and how car setups influence both tire and vehicle performance. With these advanced simulations, teams and drivers can prepare for race conditions without even setting a wheel on the track.

More Sustainable Materials, Same Michelin Standard

Michelin is pushing the boundaries of what goes into a racing tire by incorporating renewable and recycled materials without lowering the standard of performance.

The Michelin Pilot Sport tire used in GTP competition is composed of more than 30 percent renewable and recycled materials, including natural rubber, recycled carbon black, steel, orange and lemon peels, sunflower oil, and pine resin. Watch IMSA drivers try to name these materials here.

At Le Mans, Michelin went even further, unveiling a competition tire made from an incredible 71 percent renewable and recycled materials.

Performance That Goes the Distance

For Michelin, sustainability doesn’t mean compromising on a core principle—performance that lasts. In fact, endurance racing is the ultimate proving ground for developing technology that can perform over long periods of time.

Michelin’s standard remains even while reducing tire allocations for GTP teams by a third compared to the previous DPi era and a 17 percent reduction in tire usage for GTD PRO and GTD teams. This means teams need to make double stinting tires a part of their strategy.

Closing the Loop: The Future of Tire Circularity

The journey doesn’t end when a tire has performed on track. The goal is to keep the cycle going by regenerating valuable raw materials from used tires and incorporating them into new tires. This circular approach is an important mission, and Michelin hopes to showcase the process soon.