The particular tire is the ContiSportContact Vmax that was designed specifically to withstand the stresses of high speed driving, braking, accelerating and cornering. The major priority during its development was efficient tire cooling, whilst maintaining excellent handling and good grip in the wet.
Jan Fatthauer also set the record for the world's fastest convertible, again in a tuned Porsche fitted with ContiSportContact Vmax tires. The record was made back in October 2006, when he reached a speed of 237.8mph (380.5km/h).
Of course, everyone knows that the Bugatti Veyron can reach 253mph but it's not yet an official record according to the rules set out for such attempts. Porsche may even dethrone the Veyron in the unofficial stakes too, because 9ff is developing a new GT9 supercar that its makers claim capable of reaching 254mph (409km/h), 2km/h better than the Bugatti.