Michelin Unveils Sustainable Slick Tyres for 2026 Endurance Racing
Michelin has announced the upcoming introduction of a new line of slick tyres for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA SportsCar Championship, slated for 2026. This innovative range will be produced from 50% sustainable materials, surpassing the initial goal of 40% set in earlier projections.
The new Pilot Sport Endurance tyres represent a significant enhancement from the current range, which incorporated only 30% sustainable materials when launched at the start of 2023. The manufacturer plans to produce approximately 30,000 units annually, a marked increase compared to their limited production for the MotoE World Cup and Mission H24 hydrogen fuel-cell demonstrators.
Michelin aims to transition to 100% sustainable ingredients in their road tyres by 2050, with the latest development contributing to this overarching vision. "Motorsport serves as a laboratory for performance and technological development, now also catalyzing sustainable technologies," stated Matthieu Bonardel, Michelin’s motorsport chief.
The new tyre range will feature three specifications—soft, medium, and hard—similar to the existing line. Notably, these tyres are designed to achieve one-lap performance equivalent to their predecessors while improving warm-up times, particularly relevant following the recent ban on tyre warmers.
A reduction in tyre allocation per vehicle is under consideration, with discussions indicating a potential cut from the current 18 tyres for six-hour races. Philips Tramond, Michelin’s motorsport technical director, emphasized the need to evaluate the new tyres’ performance before finalizing this adjustment, eyeing possible implementation by 2027.
Development of the 2026 tyres is concluding with a final test at Watkins Glen later this month, after which specifications will be solidified for production in September. Mid-November will see the release of these tyres to teams during the IMSA sanction test.
In addition, Michelin is also working on a new wet-weather tyre, though no release date has been confirmed. The innovative slicks will incorporate a "micro velvet effect" designed to visually represent the advanced materials used.
Michelin has secured the supply deal for the WEC’s Hypercar class through the 2029 season, with speculations of extensions for the current regulations expected during the upcoming Le Mans week.
