It doesn’t matter how you tune your engine or tweak the suspension, ultimately performance is always dependent on tyres, and they are getting pretty darn clever.
Traditionally a high grip tyre has used a sticky rubber compound which unfortunately wears out quickly and uses more energy to make it roll along.
A number of companies are trying new compounds, Michelin have developed the impressive sounding Organosilicates, to tackle this issue. This stuff replaces some of the carbon black traditionally used to improve durability, and reacts to the different types of vibration that are caused by different driving conditions.
During a gentle cruise the tyre is hard and uses very little power, giving good mpg and emissions as well as doubling tyre life. But when the driver brakes heavily or corners hard, the compound detects the increase in high frequency vibrations and heats up to give maximum grip. You may think that waiting for your tyres to warm up when you do an emergency stop is a bit lame, but incredibly the new tyres manage this trick in only a few milliseconds giving a seamless transition from green to mean.