Michelin track test: BMW M2 hits 160 mph on MIRA’s high-speed circuit

Designed to push cars (and their tyres) to the limit, MIRA’s banked bowl measures a fearsome 33 degrees at its steepest. We find out how that feels at more than twice the UK national speed limit — all in the name of science, of course.

Nestled in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, the Motor Industry Research Association’s (MIRA) Technology Park is home to one of the world’s most comprehensive automotive test facilities. 

Built on the site of the former RAF Lindley Airbase, this experimental tour-de-force is frequented by the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, GKN, Bosch and many more, to put new products through their paces and find out how they fare in truly extreme conditions. 

And, with an array of custom-designed tracks, MIRA’s proving ground has the scope to test all aspects of a vehicle’s performance — from suspension durability to brake feel. Today, though, we’re more interested in assessing the rubber on all four corners: Michelin’s high-performance Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.

Test time

To test a high-performance tyre, first you need a high-performance car. So that’s why we’ve chosen BMW’s decorated F87 M2. While not the latest iteration of BMW’s hot 2 Series, this F87 model’s blend of everyday usability and hair-raising performance makes it the perfect match for an equally versatile Pilot Sport 4 S tyre. 

So that’s car? Check. Tyres? Check. What about the track? Well, with its 2.8 miles of steeply banked, autobahn-esque curvature, MIRA’s high-speed circuit is the ideal playground to fully exercise the Michelin-shod M2. 

Jumping in, professional driver at the wheel, we’re reminded that the M2 isn’t a large car as we squeeze into the back seats. But with over 370-bhp on tap, it has little trouble piling on the speed — even when loaded with three excitable passengers. Redlining each gear until the speedometer is nudging 140 mph, our driver tips the M2 into the long-banked turn and we get our first taste of true g-force.

“Try holding your arms out straight in front of you” he jokes, as the speedo needle continues to climb past 150 mph. And sure enough, it’s a near-impossible task; the centrifugal force acting on our bodies is now pushing all the blood from our heads towards our toes. It’s a sensation unlike any we’ve felt in a car before and, though it’s a tired trope, really does remind us of a rollercoaster. As a former NASCAR racer, our driver admits it’s a feeling he’s now used to. 

Meanwhile, the M2 and Pilot Sport 4 S tyres are taking a pummelling. A combination of the sheer velocity and the circuit’s 33-degree banking exert huge pressure on the BMW’s suspension components. However, it’s the tyres which have the toughest job. At these speeds their temperatures and pressures rise quickly, while the constant radius turn simultaneously flexes and deforms the sidewall. With a less-well-developed tyre, this could result in uneven wear and potentially even a blowout with sustained abuse. Thankfully, the Pilot Sport 4 S is designed to shrug off such extreme loading and offers highly consistent wear and grip levels, lap after lap.

Then the heavens open. Now, as well as contending with the immense loading effect, the Michelins must also evacuate any standing water with ruthless efficiency — a crucial function for all road tyres, but particularly important when you’re travelling at over 2.5 miles a minute. There’s not a hint of any loss of traction from the cabin, though. The Pilot Sport 4 S’ ultra-reactive tread pattern does its job and prevents any scary aquaplaning incidents. 

As a final party trick to highlight the extremity of the slope, our driver eases the M2 back down to a steady 86 mph and then takes both hands off the steering wheel. To our amazement, the BMW holds its lane without any help from driver assistance or autonomous tech — at this speed the forces acting on the car are perfectly balanced. 

Ambling back to the pits for a cool down and debrief, the M2’s now emitting a strange knocking noise from the rear. Our driver promises us it’s just a loose exhaust hanger, while the Michelin tyres bare no such signs of the punishment they’ve endured. It’s not their first (or last) lap of the day, either. After our rollercoaster ride it’s on to the next group. And the next. From early morning to late afternoon the little blue M2 continues to hammer round the bowl at breakneck speeds on the same set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.  

Results 

What did we learn? Firstly, that traveling at over 150 mph in the pouring rain is entertaining and terrifying in equal measure. However, our biggest takeaway regards the incredible longevity of the tyres and the car. The very fact that both were able to handle our extreme, repeated punishment, is testament to their underpinning technology and build quality. In the case of the Pilot Sport 4 S, this performance is the product of countless hours of R and D, as well as knowledge garnered from Michelin’s continued involvement in motor racing. 

Ultimately, if the Pilot Sport 4 S can handle such extreme scenarios with ease, then it’s more than capable of dealing with the stresses and strains of daily driving — and even the occasional track session.  

Does your car deserve an upgrade? Take its performance to the next level today, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.

Hero image credit: Michelin