Michelin Chosen As Standard Original Equipment Fitment For 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

DETROIT, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin, the world's leading tire manufacturer, marks a milestone at the 2013 North American International Auto Show with the announcement that, for the first time, MICHELIN® tires are the exclusive original equipment tire on the complete line-up of 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models.

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(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040818/MICHELIN )

All 2014 Corvette Stingrays will come equipped with the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport® ZP tire, an ultra-high performance tire that was co-developed by Michelin and Corvette through a relationship that began on the racetracks of the American Le Mans Series.

Being selected as the fitment on the 2014 Corvette Stingray marks a significant achievement for Michelin after the tire giant also gained tire fitments for the 2009 Corvette ZR1 and 2011 Corvette Z06.

"The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire exemplifies Michelin's commitment to innovation and our aim to deliver the best possible performances in every tire we make," said John Moloney, vice president of original equipment marketing at Michelin North America. "The proof is in the performance; owners of the 2014 Corvette Stingray will enjoy a tire that is tuned specifically for their vehicle and delivers the road-handling, grip, cornering ability and progressivity of drive they expect."

Michelin earned the opportunity to outfit the 2014 Corvette Stingray and then worked closely with the Corvette vehicle development team to design and engineer a tire that matches the vehicle performance. During the vehicle development process, Michelin performed more than 12,000 hours in tire design using state-of-the-art computer tire modeling and completing thousands of miles of subjective test driving. Harnessing its full arsenal of experience and technology, the company developed two MICHELIN Pilot® Super Sport® ZP tires unique to the Corvette Stingray, one for the standard car and another for the Corvette Stingray with Z51 Performance Package.

The MICHELIN Pilot® Super Sport® ZP summer tire technical advancements include:

• Michelin's most innovative ultra-high performance technology, including advances in the tread compound adapted for improved levels of both dry and wet grip.
• Footprint shape designed by sophisticated computer modeling and analytic tools traditionally used to predict the stresses occurring in racing tires. This is the first time these tools have been used to achieve higher performance in a street tire.
• A new, advanced Aramid cap ply specially tuned for optimum contact patch control for high speed and high performance tire handling and wear life.   
• A new specially adapted internal rubber compound to reduce rolling resistance and maximize overall vehicle fuel economy without compromising other performances.
• Asymmetric run-flat inserts and carcass configuration are designed to broaden and emphasize a range of tire performances by focusing distinct functions to the appropriate sidewall.

"When given the opportunity to develop a tire for the breakthrough next-generation Corvette, we knew we had to bring the best technology Michelin had to offer," said Lee Willard, lead Michelin technical engineer for the Corvette project. "The MICHELIN Pilot® Super Sport® ZP tire represents a significant advancement in what is possible for an ultra-high performance tire."

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire for the Corvette Stingray with Z51 Performance Package is different from the tire found on the Corvette Stingray. Because the Z51 Performance Package takes the Corvette Stingray to a more aggressive level of performance, Michelin was tasked with designing a version of the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire to Corvette's specifications.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire delivered as original equipment for the Z51 Performance Package is aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling and grip and road-holding capability. The design was derived from a combination of technologies found on the MICHELIN Pilot® Sport Cup ZP tire that helped the 2012 Corvette ZR1 post a 7:19.6 Nurburgring lap time and from the significant gains from the development of the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport tire.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire also features the next-generation of racetrack-born tread compounds found in the record-setting Pilot Sport Cup ZP of the C6 ZR1 and Z06. Unlike the MICHELIN tire fitted to the standard 2014 Corvette Stingray, the Z51 tire features a custom dual-tread compound and pattern that achieves near-racing-slick grip and handling levels, while providing longer tread life and wet handling capabilities.

Like the tires found on the standard Corvette Stingray, advanced computer-modeling techniques used to design American Le Mans Series racing slicks were applied to the Z51 Performance Package tires. The process resulted in tire structure and contact patches optimized specifically for racetrack-critical tire performances.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tires are manufactured in Greenville, S.C., in state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed for high-performance, high-intensity tires.

For detailed information on the MICHELIN tires engineered for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray visit:  www.michelinmedia.com

About Michelin
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

SOURCE Michelin North America