Giti's bespoke EV tyres help BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme achieve 503.17 km/h, earning Guinness World Records recognition.
Specially developed GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro tyres have helped BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar achieve 503.17 km/h (312.65 mph), securing Guinness World Records recognition following more than three years of collaborative development.
Giti Tire has secured a Guinness World Records title for the highest speed achieved by electric vehicle tyres after the Yangwang U9 Xtreme exceeded 500 km/h during a record-breaking run in Abu Dhabi.
The achievement took place on 1 November 2026, when German racing driver Marc Basseng reached 503.17 km/h on a closed section of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region.
The result surpassed the vehicle's previous benchmark of 496.22 km/h, established at Germany's ATP Papenburg proving ground in September 2025.
The speed was independently recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Guinness World Records also confirmed two vehicle records: the highest speed achieved by a production car in a single-direction run and the equivalent record for an electric production car.
Giti's achievement was recognised separately, with executive chairman Dr Enki Tan receiving a Guinness World Records certificate during a presentation in Dubai on 6 November.
The record-setting vehicle was equipped with GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro tyres, developed specifically for the Yangwang U9 Xtreme through a collaboration lasting more than three years.
Designed for a hypercar producing 3,019 PS, the tyres incorporate high-strength aramid fibre reinforcement and a specialised racing profile.
According to Giti, the reinforcement is intended to maintain structural integrity under the extreme forces generated at very high rotational speeds, while the tyre's construction was developed around the vehicle's particular performance requirements.
One of the challenges facing tyre engineers at such speeds is controlling deformation, including the formation of standing waves. These occur when a rapidly rotating tyre cannot fully recover its shape after leaving the road contact patch, potentially producing repeated distortions and excessive heat.
Giti worked with Yangwang engineers and Basseng throughout the development programme, refining tyre performance in response to vehicle dynamics, aerodynamic changes and driver feedback.
For the Abu Dhabi attempt, the tyres were further optimised for the conditions of the highway.
The final record followed two days of testing and adjustments.
According to BYD, initial runs on 31 October reached approximately 490 km/h. Engineers subsequently adjusted the rear-wing angle, suspension settings and tyre pressures to improve stability.
The team also inspected and cleared the road surface to reduce the risk of debris interfering with the high-speed attempts.
Two further runs followed on 1 November, with the second achieving the record speed of 503.17 km/h.
Basseng said the close collaboration with Giti's engineering team had helped build his confidence during the development programme.
"When you're pushing the limits of speed, confidence is everything," he said.
The achievement depended on the combined performance of the tyres, vehicle powertrain, aerodynamics, suspension and careful preparation.
The GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro was developed for the U9 Xtreme's extreme-speed requirements rather than as a conventional road-car tyre.
The record demonstrates the demands placed on tyre construction when managing substantial rotational forces and maintaining stable road contact at speeds far beyond normal vehicle operation.
While Giti says the knowledge gained through specialist programmes supports its wider tyre development activities, the manufacturer has not announced that the record-setting tyre will become a commercially available passenger-car product.
The 503.17 km/h result represents a confirmed milestone for Giti and Yangwang, with the recognised vehicle records specifically relating to single-direction speed runs.
Tags: Giti Tire, GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro, Yangwang U9 Xtreme, BYD, Guinness World Records, EV tyres, electric hypercar, tyre technology, Marc Basseng, speed record.
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