PIRELLI LAUNCHES THE FIRST MOUNTAIN BIKE TYRES MADE IN ITALY WITH FSC™ CERTIFIED NATURAL RUBBER*
Produced in the Milan-Bollate Pirelli plant, developed in collaboration with the athletes of its partner teams
The SCORPION XC RC, a World Cup races winning tyre, is now 7% more rolling efficient and features a new profile
The SCORPION XC M has been completely redesigned, delivering 9% lower rolling resistance and 12% less weight compared to its predecessor**
Milan (Italy), 19 June 2025 – Pirelli presents the SCORPION XC RC and M, the first 100% Made in Italy mountain bike tyres with FSC™ certified natural rubber*. These products are made at Pirelli’s Milan-Bollate plant, which only uses natural rubber that is Forest Stewardship Council™ certified.
Made for Cross Country races, from the Short-Tracks to the Olympic races all the way to the Marathons, these new tyres certainly have a racing spirit; they have been designed specifically for the toughest competitions but can also be used for a wide range of other cross-country applications, up to a light Trail riding.
NEW RACE COMPOUND
The SCORPION XC RC and M use a new compound formula called RACE Compound. It has been developed by the Pirelli technicians of the Motorsport Compound division. Made in Italy, it represents Pirelli’s pinnacle of off-road performance in the XC discipline. It is currently the best performing compound of Pirelli’s MTB XC range and is designed to combine top chemical grip also on wet surfaces, high tear resistance and greater rolling efficiency. The ability to meet opposite needs with a single compound allows the tyre to deliver consistent performance throughout every moment of the race and across all types of terrain, as well as throughout the tyre’s lifespan – even when it’s worn out.
The new RC preserves and enhances the previous tread design, already successful and widely appreciated at all levels of use, and stands at the top of Pirelli’s Cross-Country range as the best all-rounder, offering the perfect balance between speed and grip. In Pirelli’s internal testing, it reduced rolling resistance by 7% compared to the previous model by the same name. It has been designed to guarantee excellent performance levels both in and out competition. It features the ideal tread for rocky terrains and dirt tracks, as well as compact to mid-loose, dry and wet surfaces. The new design with a more squared profile on the shoulder knobs and a 29x2.4 true size volume (optimised for wide 30c rims) provides greater control and stability in corners thanks to the greater footprint area that results from the new profile. The less round profile compared to the previous model improves the grip of the side tread blocks when leaning into corners and also provides a more immediate and responsive feeling in cornering as well as when hitting the brakes or spinning out of the pedals with a greater rear traction. It is the ideal tyre to take on technical and fast terrains: when every second matters, the SCORPION XC RC truly delivers.
The M model has been completely redesigned. It is perfect for today’s dynamic Marathon courses and is also suitable for light trail riding: it provides the perfect balance between low rolling resistance and good grip on the most slippery terrains and less compact surfaces. Pirelli’s internal testing showed that the new tyre is 9% more rolling efficient than the previous model and 12% lighter. Less weight but greater volume: the SCORPION XC M too is produced in the true size 29x2.4 volume on 30c rims. It offers great performance levels on all loose terrains, ranging from dry loose to light mud, thanks to more open tread knobs and the advanced RACE Compound. It truly delivers on highly technical tracks on which grip and handling are key. Mounted on the front wheel, it adapts to an even wider range of surfaces. The tread design is more spaced out and distributed, but its central blocks are more compact and denser, thus optimising acceleration and rolling speed without sacrificing control. The SCORPION XC M is the ideal choice for technical tracks, where speed and control over the bicycle must coexist.
LITE CASING AND NEW PROWALL
The SCORPION XC RC and M are available with two high-performing casings: the ProWALL and the LITE. Whilst the LITE preserves the well-known Pirelli characteristics of lightness and responsiveness, the new ProWALL has been redesigned compared to the previous version. It features a new fabric distribution, whilst retaining its 120 TPI Nylon, as well as reinforced sides, thus obtaining even higher levels of protection and stability, especially with low inflation pressure levels.
The new SCORPION XC RC and M tyres are already available at the best cycling shops and online, in the 29x2.4 size with two new Silver and Team Edition graphics.
The official début in races is set for the weekend of 22 June, in the XCC and XCO round of the UCI World Cup 2025 in Val di Sole.
*The percentage of natural rubber out of the total weight of the tyre is equal to about 17% for the LITE version and 20% for the ProWALL version. Natural rubber is the product’s most important component – FSC™ licence N003618. The FSC™ logo guarantees that the natural rubber used by Pirelli comes from responsibly managed forests, protecting the environment, biodiversity, workers’ rights and local communities.
** Percentages verified through Pirelli internal testing.
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