Goodyear has announced it will debut a slick tire specification for LMP2 teams at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, the second round of the 2025 European Le Mans Series (ELMS), taking place on May 4.
Goodyear says the specification marks a step forward in tire performance and durability for LMP2 competitors, offering better performance tailored to the diverse driver line-up.
It will be introduced at Le Castellet and remain in use for the remainder of the 2025 ELMS campaign. It will also be used by all 17 LMP2 contenders entered for the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
The LMP2 slick specification builds upon the foundation of Goodyear’s existing compound and has been developed to further improve performance and durability for drivers across race stints.
The specification arrives after the current set of LMP2 regulations was renewed in preparation for the next generation of cars set to debut in 2028. Goodyear says that the development process ensured the tires will remain optimized not only for outright performance but also for versatility. This approach guided Goodyear’s work in LMGT3, where car architecture and handling dynamics vary further.
João Coelho, testing and track support manager, Goodyear, explained, “This new specification is an evolution of our existing slick LMP2 compound. It has undergone extensive testing in close collaboration with several LMP2 teams, both on the track and through simulation work. Their input has been very valuable in helping us fine-tune the construction to suit the specific demands of endurance racing. That partnership has allowed us to introduce a tire that delivers even higher standards of performance and maintains the reliability needed for endurance races as grueling as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Coelho added, “We have a mixture of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze-rated drivers competing in LMP2, so it’s essential the slick tire offers drivability, is forgiving and remains trusted to race on by an array of drivers with a range of driving styles. That’s a key focus for both our LMP2 and LMGT3 products.”
Teams competing in the LMGT3 category will continue to run the latest specification of Goodyear’s Eagle Medium slick compound this season.
This season also marks the third year without tire warmers in ELMS, placing even greater emphasis on fast warm-up characteristics. Each team across LMP2 and LMGT3 is supplied with a single specification of a slick and wet-weather compound per event.
“As with the previous LMP2 slick specification, we’ve maintained a strong focus on ensuring quick tire warm-up, which is critical for cars during out-laps, safety car restarts and in changeable weather conditions,” said Coelho. “We’d like to thank the drivers and teams for their cooperation in developing this new specification, and we cannot wait to see them do battle for the remainder of this season.”
Following an action-packed season-opening 4 Hours of Barcelona in April, ELMS will continue its six-race European tour with a stop at Circuit Paul Ricard on May 3 and 4.
In related news, Davanti Tyres is using its first track tire, the Protoura Race, to launch its move into motorsports, with the company establishing the Davanti Tyres Race Team for 2025, which is set to compete in the inaugural 2025 Swift Sport Challenge. Click here to read the full story.
