Speedcafe.com was recently invited to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi to trial Michelin-shod Formula 4 and Clio Cup race cars. Plus, sample how all the lesson learnt on the track have been incorporated into the all-new Pilot Sport 4S road tyre.

How what happens on the race track is a direct benefit to the road user is no more evident than with road tyres. Michelin has been involved in several motor sport disciplines worldwide and uses the competitive environment as a laboratory for development of future tyre technologies.

Information collected during racing, mostly from ‘confidential’ tyre technologies or rubber compound recipes, has enabled Michelin’s engineers to validate their findings.

The high-performance road tyre uses construction methods and materials directly developed in competitions such as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and its flagship event the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula E, World Rally Championship and Carrera Cup.

The distinctive design of the tread on the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S has been developed following the success of the tyres used in Formula E, which are the first 18-inch tyres to be used on open-wheeled race cars.

Designed for sports cars and high performance saloons, the Pilot Sport 4S replaces the Pilot Super Sport, which was originally launched in 2010. Just like in the road car business, new developments in tyres never stands still and this is no more evident than in the performance market.

VIDEO: Michelin’s latest performance road tyre – the Pilot Sport 4S