Project NSX: Part 14 – Michelin Cup 2 Connect Tires and Forgeline GA1R Wheels

Michelin Cup 2 ConnectThe Michelin Cup 2 Connect (240) is kind of like the Cup 2 “2.0”.  It is an off-the-shelf tire that uses newer construction techniques and compounding that makes it notably quicker around a racetrack than the off-the-shelf Cup 2 that it replaces.

Like the tire it replaces, this new tire also uses Michelin’s Bi-Compound Technology which uses two different compounds across the tire.  There’s a new high-silica, wet-focused compounding on the inner half of the tire, and more durable track-focused High Molecular Chain compounding on the wide outer shoulder of the tire to improve dry grip.

The construction is also improved with twin steel belts with spirally-wound, hybrid aramid and nylon reinforcements in a new architecture that increases stiffness for improved handling and stability.  There’s a new polyester casing that improves ride quality and handling and the bead of the tire has a high modulus rubber compound that increases the tire’s lateral stiffness for responsive steering precision.

Michelin Cup 2 Connect 240My article about sizing tires for PERFORMANCE explains how UTQG is essentially a useless metric and this is a prime example where the “Cup 2 Connect (240)” has a 240 treadwear rating and is stickier and faster than the 180 treadwear Cup 2 it replaces.  This was done primarily to shift the perspective of the tire and to not lose out on the 200 treadwear “street” tire market that is a very popular and competitive tire segment.

Michelin Cup 2 ConnectThis new ”Connect” tire is designed as part of Michelin’s “Track Connect system” that features a little pocket in the inner carcass of the tire that fits a tire temperature and pressure sensor that relays data to a receiver mounted inside the car that allows you to monitor the temps and pressures on your phone.

Michelin Cup 2 Connect system sensor pocketThe flexible pocket is found on every “Connect” tire.

Michelin Track Connect System BoxThe Track Connect System comes in this fancy black box.

Michelin Track Connect System contentsInside the box are 4 tire temperature/pressure sensors, a phone mount, and the Connect receiver.

9 comments

  1. Jesus Christ, that is one great-looking car! That massive rubber and functional stance really bring out the purpose of the NSX.

    1. Thank you very much. It took a lot of planning and testing but i’m extremely happy with how everything came together visually and performance wise. Stay tuned for when we track test and compare it to standard 17/18 tire sizes!

  2. Billy, you are making the best content out there on car websites right now. Keep it up. I also enjoyed seeing you in Dahm’s RX7 series!

    1. Thank you for the kind words. I’m trying to put out unique and interesting content. Spread the word! 🙂

      There will be more Project FD RX7 Restomod coming up soon, so keep an eye out!

  3. Thanks for including the wheel and tire weights. Pretty amazing that you could add that much tire and still lose some unsprung weight.

    Now you just need a twin-turbo and sequential gearbox to make the ultimate NSX!

  4. “Plus, it raised the ride height by over an inch, which is not good for looks, handling, or performance.”

    Do you have any idea if dropping an inch (going the other way) would help handling?

    My logic as to why it may work, preserves suspension geometry, reduces unsprung weight, opens up possibility for cheap, fun tyres.

    Reasons why it may not work, ground clearance.

    1. The 1 inch smaller diameter tire will drop the ride height 0.5″ without any other change, which is a win-win. The ability to lower it another 0.5″ from a fender clearance standpoint will have benefits and negatives (lower center of gravity, but less ideal suspension geometry). Depending on the rest of the setup this can be good or bad, but typically it will still be good. Ground clearance isn’t an issue on track.

      1. Thank you so much.

        I’m a casual driver and would like to get a set of spare rims for track tyres. I’d like to go to 16″ down from my stock 17″ and maintain the tire sidewall height.

  5. All this time I didn’t realize you were the wheelman with the Mustang too. Hopefully other tire manufacturers start offering stuff like this, namely Toyo as I’m required to run their tires in my series. It would be awesome to datalog tire temps and pressures over the course of a race.

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