On September 26th， according to Fast Technology， the Yangwang U9 track special edition U9X has achieved a new speed of 496.22 km/h， making it the fastest car in the world.
Furthermore， the Yangwang U9X’s debut lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife， clocked at 6 minutes and 59.157 seconds， marks it as the first pure electric production car to break the 7-minute barrier. This lap time also surpasses the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra production version， establishing it as the fastest production electric car in Nürburgring history.
Achieving such exceptional performance hinges significantly on having suitable tires. Yang Feng， the Dean of Yangwang Research Institute， has revealed the specialized tires for the Yangwang U9X， which are also China’s first custom tires designed to exceed 500 km/h.
Yang Feng explained that established tire manufacturers like Michelin and Pirelli possess extensive experience in matching tires for internal combustion engine vehicles and have mature products for extreme speed and Nürburgring testing. However， these tires were not developed specifically for the U9X and cannot fully support its 3000 horsepower pure electric powertrain.
Considering the benefits of having development bases with domestic suppliers for higher development and matching efficiency， Yangwang opted for a joint development with Giti Tire. The goal was to create a tire that balances excellent track performance with top-tier extreme speed capabilities.
Tires are typically classified by speed ratings， ranging from ‘L’ (120 km/h) to ‘Y’ (300 km/h). The tires specially developed by Yangwang and Giti for the U9X， however， are engineered to safely exceed 500 km/h， far surpassing conventional speed ratings.
During high-speed rotation， tires can experience “standing waves.” This phenomenon occurs when the tire deforms faster than it can return to its original shape， creating wave-like distortions in its tread after the contact patch with the ground. This can lead to rapid temperature increases， compromising the tire’s structural integrity and potentially causing a blowout.
Additionally， track driving demands a tire with stable grip to prevent slippage during acceleration or braking and to minimize torque loss.
To address the challenges of high-speed safety and track grip， Yangwang and Giti Tire collaboratively explored nearly 40 different solutions. They conducted extensive bench testing and track matching， continuously optimizing and iterating on the tire’s structure and compound.
The final design utilizes nylon as the primary material， offering a 45% improvement in impact resistance compared to traditional polyester. The bead wire was upgraded from ST to UT， further enhancing impact strength by 10%.
Moreover， a robust bead structure design minimizes sidewall flex， increasing lateral stiffness by over 10%. The inclusion of ultra-high-strength Aramid fiber (commonly used in bulletproof vests) around the bead further constrains the wheel assembly， virtually eliminating deformation at high speeds.
Through multiple rounds of rigorous validation， these advancements effectively suppress standing wave phenomena at extreme speeds by reducing deformation in both the tread and sidewall from the source.
To ensure superior grip under demanding track driving conditions， the tire compound was optimized with precise molecular chain control and reinforcing agents. This resulted in a 20% increase in rubber’s tensile and tear strength， preventing tread chunking and enhancing stability during extreme driving.
The use of imported track-grade reinforcing carbon black filler also reduced tire temperature rise by 40%， ensuring sustained grip performance throughout extended track sessions.
Ultimately， the finalized tire solution offers a 27% improvement in safe operating speed compared to the previous year， capable of safely handling speeds of 500 km/h. This meets the demands of the 3000 horsepower powertrain and the driver’s pursuit of ultimate control， delivering world-class performance.
