Tires are far more impressive technology than many people give them credit for. Producers continue to refine the rubber compound to make products that perform better than the ones from years earlier. As a perfect example of how quickly things are advancing, just look at what new tires can do for a
at the Nürburgring.
In case you need a refresher about the Carrera GT, it first debuted as a concept at the 2000 Paris Motor Show, and production ran from 2004 through 2006. Power came from a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-10, making 605 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque. All of the muscle goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Carrera GT quickly became a legend as an exceptional driver’s car. It was also Porsche’s last supercar to use a naturally aspirated powerplant and not have any hybrid assistance. Today, the models often change hands for over $1 million.
The Carrera GT’s New Tires Make It Faster Around The Nürburgring
In 2023, Porsche issued a recall for the Carrera GT to fix suspension components. The company solved the problem by developing new titanium parts and a set of bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 specifically for this supercar.
Porsche’s development driver Jörg Bergmeister shows off what the updated pieces can do around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in this video from Germany’s Sport Auto. The beginning of the clip is in German, but the in-car action begins at 1:35 into the video.
An Impressive Time
Bergmeister hustles the Carrera GT around the track in an impressive seven minutes and 12.69 seconds. For comparison, ace racing driver Walter Röhrl sent one of these models around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:28.0 for Auto Bild magazine in 2004 – 15.31 seconds slower than the revised model.
Bergmeister’s lap is especially impressive for a car that’s around 20 years old. In 2017, a then-new 991.2 Porsche 911 GT3 with the Clubsport Package covered the ‘Ring in 7:12.7 – a hundredth of a second slower than the Carrera GT’s new time.
TopSpeed’s Take
The Carrera GT remains a fantastic vehicle decades after its launch. Porsche deserves credit for investing in improving these cars after such a long time. If someone is already lucky enough to own one of these rare supercars, these upgrades should give them a reason to take it out for a drive.
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