Michelin Tests New Tires at Watkins Glen Following Sahlen’s Six Hours
Watkins Glen, NY – Following their victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist returned to Watkins Glen International for a key tire validation test on July 3. Hosted by IMSA, five leading teams from the GTP class participated, evaluating Michelin’s new "hard" tire, slated for introduction in 2026.
Under an Extreme Heat Warning, temperatures soared into the 90s Fahrenheit, providing an ideal condition to assess tire performance under high-stress situations. "This is the so-called hard tire; it’s the hot weather tire," said Hans Emmel, Michelin’s corporate racing manager for the WeatherTech Championship. "Watkins Glen is among the highest-energy tracks in North America."
The teams commenced testing with baseline runs on existing 2025-spec Michelin tires before transitioning to varying lengths of stints, escalating from five to fifteen laps. Five potential compounds were assessed, focusing on parameters such as warm-up performance, peak grip, and degradation consistency.
Michelin’s design objectives include improving warm-up speed and increasing tire durability without compromising performance. The new slick features a distinctive "Vision" tread pattern designed to highlight its composition, which incorporates 50% recyclable and renewable materials. Emmel emphasized that the unique appearance is intended to generate excitement in the sport and promote sustainable racing initiatives.
Current feedback from track participants was overwhelmingly positive. Brandon Fry, lead engineer for Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 7 entry, noted improved warm-up characteristics and effective communication of tire performance from drivers, leading to increased confidence in the development progress for 2026.
Aston Martin THOR Team driver Ross Gunn expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to test in such conditions, highlighting the importance of blind testing to ensure genuine feedback regarding tire behavior. "We tried multiple options and they all seem to be reacting pretty well to warm-up and durability," noted Gunn.
Michelin plans to continue providing three slick tire compounds for the WeatherTech Championship, with successful testing of the soft compound already completed at circuits in Qatar and Bahrain, and the medium tire approved at Paul Ricard in May. As the teams departed, the valuable insights gained during this hot-weather test will undoubtedly shape strategies for the upcoming season.
