GREENVILLE, S.C.—BMW A.G. has chosen Michelin's Pilot Super Sport as the exclusive original equipment tire for the 2015 M3 and M4, the fifth generation of the German car maker's performance model range.
BMW's choice of Michelin as OE supplier for the M3 and M4 continues unbroken a 30-year relationship between the two companies, Michelin said.
“This is an incredible car and tire combination that delivers real race-car levels of performance,” said Oscar Pereda, director of ultra-high performance, Michelin North America, “an engaging connection to the driving experience and still offers a comfortable ride as your daily driver.”
The M3 sedan/M4 coupe feature a turbocharged 3-liter, inline-6 engine rated at 425 hp. The M3 sedan and M4 coupe carry MSRPs of $62,925 and $65,125, respectively, according to BMW.
Engineers from Michelin and BMW M GmbH—the car maker's performance arm—worked together to develop the tire to optimize the vehicle both on the street and the track, Michelin said. This required nine joint test sessions at five tracks and more than 3,800 prototype tires before arriving at the designated combination.
Tire sizes for the M3 and M4 are: 255/40 ZR18 (95Y) TL; 275/40 ZR18 (99Y) TL; 255/35 ZR19 (92Y) TL; and 275/35 ZR19 (100Y) XLTL, depending on performance package. The Pilot Super Sports for BMW are marked with a star to indicate that they were designed specifically for BMW vehicles, Michelin said.
The firms' relationship has carried over into motorsports, Michelin said, where together they've achieved championships in Formula 1, the 24 hours of Le Mans and the 24 hours of the Nurburgring.