2018 Mustang GT to ride on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. will offer its 2018 Mustang GT — the V8-powered version of the auto maker's pony car — with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S high-performance tires, continuing its exclusive OE performance tire contract with Michelin North America.

The OE fitment with Ford marks the mass-market debut of the Pilot Sport 4 S, which has been OE in Europe on several top performance cars there, Ford said.

According to Ford, Michelin and Ford engineers took information gleaned from their work on the Ford GT supercar and Shelby GT350 Mustang to develop a custom Pilot Sport 4 S summer tire designed for optimal wet and dry grip, braking distance and lateral-handling performance for the 2018 GT.

"We took everything we learned at the track, including feedback from professional drivers, to create a tire custom-tuned for Mustang GT," said Michelin tire engineer Gary Swingle in a quote provided by Ford.

The Mustang GT's tire sizes are 275/40R19 rear and 255/40R19 front.

Ford noted that the Pilot Sport 4 S has performance qualities particularly suited to the Mustang, including an "ultra-reactive" tread pattern and a hybrid aramid/nylon belt that ensures optimum transmission of steering input to the road

The tire uses a "hybrid elastomer" in its outer rib for enhanced dry grip along with silica-reinforced "functional" elastomers in the middle and inner ribs for improved wet grip and braking.

Ford said the tires contributed to helping the Mustang GT achieve a sub-four-second 0-60 mph time to go along with its available drag mode and 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Mustang GT goes on sale this fall and is listed at $35,095. The standard Mustang models are powered by Ford's 2.3-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

Ford signed an exclusive tire-supply contract in 2015 with Michelin North America covering its range of high-performance vehicles, including the Ford GT, Shelby Mustangs and F-150 Raptor. The deal includes BFGoodrich-brand tires for light trucks.