When Porsche Develops a Bespoke Tire for Your 20 Year Old Car, You Track It

So Porsche has released new tires that are specifically made for its Carrera GT model, a car that represented the very best Porsche could produce back in its release in 2004. Some other manufacturers are doing this for their unicorn cars too, but this situation is intriguing because it's a new set of tires that were developed for a car that's already two decades old. Really shows Porsche's commitment to the game!

The motivation for developing these tires stems from a recall in April 2023, where 489 Carrera GTs were called back due to a suspension issue. Porsche, taking responsibility for the inconvenience, committed to delivering something special for its Carrera GT owners. The result? A bespoke tire development program that showcases how far tire technology has advanced since the car’s original release.

These new tires were put to the ultimate test on the Nürburgring, where the Carrera GT achieved a staggering improvement in lap time. With Porsche professional driver Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel, the car shattered its previous best, set by Walter Röhrl in 2004, by nearly 20 seconds. The new lap time of 7:12 is a marked improvement over the original 7:28, thanks Michelin!

For just a new set of tires, that time drop is impressive. It's a case in point on how much new technology is in the tires these days, with more efficient rubber compounds and tread patterns than were available in the early 2000s.

The full video of the lap produced by Sport Auto is shown below. You should give it a watch, if nothing else just to admire the speed and skill shown by the driver. They speak in German though, so you mighttt not be able to understand what they're saying most of the time.