Just a couple weeks ago, BMW of North America was at Road America showing off the new M3 and M4 to journalists. They weren't just there to let some lucky writers burn off some tires though, they also used it as the perfect time to announce some great partnerships. Last week it was to announce one of their newest partners with the integration of GoPro control into the iDrive. Now it's the announcement that long-time partner Michelin will be the OEM tire with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport.
BMW has chosen Michelin as the exclusive tire provider on its new M3 and M4, keeping alive a continuous string of Michelin fitments on the M3 since its introduction nearly 30 years ago. Maintaining its very exacting performance standards, BMW selected the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire for its 2015 BMW M3 and M4.
First introduced in 1985, the 2015 M3 represents the fifth generation of the iconic sportscar; Michelin has been chosen by BMW to develop tires for every generation since. The Pilot Super Sport ensures that the BMW M3 and M4 provides the precise steering and feeling that drivers demand, both on road and on track.
“This is an incredible car and tire combination that delivers real racecar levels of performance, an engaging connection to the driving experience and still offers a comfortable ride as your daily driver,” said Oscar Pereda, director of ultra-high performance, Michelin North America.
The depth of the relationship between BMW M and Michelin is reflected by the evolution of the M3 and the evolution of the Michelin Pilot tire over the past 30 years From the Pilot SX MXX2 and MXX3, to the first Pilot Sport and PS2, and now the new Pilot Super Sport. Over that same time, BMW M and Michelin have jointly won championships in Formula 1, the 24 hours of Le Mans, the 24 hours of the Nurburgring.
Evolution of BMW M3 and Michelin Pilot Tires:
| Chassis Model | Years | Michelin Tire |
|---|---|---|
| E30 | 1985 - 1991 | Pilot® SX MXX2 and Pilot® SX MXX3 |
| E36 | 1992 - 1999 | Pilot® Sport |
| E46 | 2000 - 2006 | Pilot® Sport PS2 and Pilot® Sport Cup |
| E9X | 2007 - 2013 | Pilot® Sport PS2 and Pilot® Sport Cup |
| F80 | 2014 - | Pilot® Super Sport |
For the tires that equip its vehicles, BMW is constantly seeking the right combination of sport performance, exceptional grip and the ability to be used every day, which implies a certain level of driving comfort and long-lasting tires.
Engineers from Michelin and BMW M GmbH worked together to develop the tire to optimize the vehicle both on the street and the track. This required nine joint test sessions at five tracks and more than 3,800 prototype tires before arriving at the perfect combination.
Tire Sizes For the M3 and M4:
255/40 ZR18 (95Y) TL Pilot Super Sport *
275/40 ZR18 (99Y) TL Pilot Super Sport *
255/35 ZR19 (92Y) TL Pilot Super Sport *
275/35 ZR19 (100Y) XLTL Pilot Super Sport *
*The star is a special marking displayed on Michelin tires to indicate that they were specifically designed for BMW vehicles.
Watch an M4 lap Road America from a tire's view:
Photos courtesy of Michelin N.A.
