The Bugatti Veyron has always been defined by absurd numbers, but for nearly two decades, one figure haunted even billionaire owners: $42,000 for a single set of replacement tires.
To hit a top speed of 253 mph back in 2005, Bugatti partnered with Michelin to equip the hypercar with bespoke PAX System tires. The catch? They required a glue-mounting process so specialized that only two dealerships in the entire United States possessed the machinery to service them. As a result, owners either hid their Veyrons away as low-mileage garage queens, fitted Chiron wheels, or worse—ruined the car’s aesthetics with cheap aftermarket replicas.
Bugatti’s La Maison Pur Sang restoration and customization division has stepped in with an official OEM fix through their new “Recommission” program.
Who Is Making the New Tires and What Are They Made Of?
The new rubber is manufactured by long-time partner Michelin.
Rather than relying on the outdated, glue-bound PAX technology, the new setups use a bespoke, Bugatti-specific variant of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2. This is the exact same high-performance compound technology developed for modern Bugatti heavyweights like the Chiron Super Sport and the W16 Mistral.
- Tire Model: Bugatti-Specific Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
- Manufacturer: Michelin
- Tire Sizes:
- Front: 285/30ZR-20
- Rear: 355/25ZR-21
- The Difference: These are standard-mounting, ultra-high-performance radial tires. Owners will no longer need specialized glue-mounting machines, bringing replacement costs down from over $40,000 to around $3,600 to $4,000 per set.
What About the Rim Size? Are They Reducing the Size?
No, Bugatti is not reducing the rim size—they are making them larger.
VEYRON OEM WHEEL SIZE COMPARISON
┌───────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────┐
| ORIGINAL PAX SYSTEM WHEELS | LA MAISON PUR SANG OEM WHEELS |
├───────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────┤
| Metric PAX Sizing (~19.7″ Front) | 20-Inch Front Wheels |
| Metric PAX Sizing (~20.4″ Rear) | 21-Inch Rear Wheels |
| Requires Michelin PAX Glue Mount | Standard Bead / Cup 2 Fitment |
└───────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────┘
The original Veyron used odd metric-sized PAX wheels (roughly equivalent to 19.7 inches up front and 20.4 inches in the rear).
For the new recommission package, Bugatti scaled the Machiavelli-style wheel design UP by approximately one inch, moving to a 20-inch wheel in the front and a 21-inch wheel in the rear.
By expanding the overall wheel diameter, Bugatti accomplished two critical goals:
- Aesthetic Proportion: The larger wheels fill the Veyron’s massive wheel arches cleanly while maintaining factory offsets and suspension clearance.
- Modern Fitment: Moving to 20-inch front and 21-inch rear dimensions allows the Veyron to natively run modern, off-the-shelf hypercar compounds without compromise.
The Broader Recommission Program
Debuted on the La Maison Pur Sang Veyron 20 Years at Monterey Car Week, the wheel update arrives alongside a full suite of factory restyling options. Owners can now update their Veyrons with modern paint shades (like Rouge Rembrandt from the Tourbillon), upgraded 3D mesh grilles, new cabin finishes like Côte de Genève aluminum, and complete erasure of previous owners’ custom headrest initials.
For Veyron owners who actually want to exercise all 1,001 horsepower without waiting weeks for specialized tire glue, the shift to larger, 20/21-inch OEM wheels with Michelin Cup 2 rubber is a game-changer.
