Michelin Working with Nissan to Develop Bespoke Tires for ZEOD RC

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is deep in development of its ZEOD RC experimental race car for the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is collaborating with Michelin to create the tires specifically for the car.

The tires on the ZEOD RC are 10cm wide, half as wide as the front tire of an LMP car, but Michelin is attempting to develop tires that give similar levels of grip and longevity as the larger tires. The tire will also be lighter than the LMP tires.

The rear tires are similar to LMP tires. It is 40cm wide on a 15in wheel. It will have a somewhat different compound to adapt to the different geometry of the ZEOD RC.

Michelin thinks that it will be able to use the development on future road car tires for electric vehicles.

"For Michelin, this project is really important. We're a technical leader in the tire industry. Garage 56 is a good way for Michelin to learn more about the way to design tires for electric vehicles, and then we can imagine new technologies for the next generation of tires that will have better performance and efficiency,” said Serge Grisin, Director of 4 Wheels Racing Division at Michelin.