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Milan, 23 July 2026 - Pirelli won “2026 Top Graduate Employer Brands” recognition in China from 51job – a leading Chinese human resources company – for the excellent results achieved in the attraction and selection of talented university students, skills’ development and employer branding enhancement.

Launched by 51job in 2018, the "Top Graduate Employer Brands" award employs a rigorous dual-track evaluation mechanism that combines input from both employers and talented young candidates to ensure its credibility. The 2026 edition – named “Without Boundaries” - assessed participants from various perspectives, including employer brand influence on campuses, graduate training programs, culture of young talent development, depth of university-industry collaboration, and compensation & benefits competitiveness.

Pirelli's award is a powerful testament to the company's brand appeal among talented young people as well as further recognition of the company’s long-term campus talent strategy, aimed at developing upcoming generations and consolidating relationships with universities.

Year-round Campus Recruitment and In-depth University Partnerships

Pirelli has built a year‑round, deeply integrated talent strategy for its university collaborations. The company has campus recruitment drives in both spring and autumn, with targeted outreach to Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, and Design Institutes through structured interviews, assessment centers, and real‑life business case challenges.

For the class of 2027, Pirelli offers opportunities across multiple functions: motorsports, R&D, quality, data analytics, production management, lean manufacturing, supply chain, electrical engineering, and HSE.

Structured Onboarding and Development System for Recent Graduates

For recent graduates and young new hires, Pirelli offers a two-year Warming Up @Pirelli onboarding program. The program consists of four main steps: an official welcome to understand Pirelli culture and strategy; a journey through the company functions to gain a deeper grasp of its processes; a chance to acquire effective tools and ways of working; and a final moment of self-reflection to put their initial experience in Pirelli into perspective and consider their future within the company.

Key features of the program include internationality and cross-functionality, top management speeches and interviews, exercises and simulations for on-the-job practice, and a 24/7 online digital library. For longer-term development, Pirelli has established a global training system built on four pillars: Professional Academies, School of Management, Global Activities, and Local Education. The Professional Academies deliver continuous professional training across multiple disciplines, including R&D, manufacturing, commercial, quality, supply chain, purchasing, finance, human resources, digital, and HSE.  

The company also collaborates with world-class universities and business schools to continuously advance innovation-driven talent development, which includes launching localized talent programs and offering market-specific training aligned to local business needs and employee growth paths, supporting employees' skill enhancement and career progression.

Inclusive and Diverse Corporate Culture and Employee Care

Pirelli is committed to fostering an open, fair, and inclusive international working environment. The company upholds the key values of "Inclusion, Enhancement and Equal Opportunities," valuing each employee's uniqueness and skills. In terms of people care, Pirelli has launched the global “MORE” welfare program, built on three pillars “FOR YOU”, “FOR YOUR FAMILY” and “FOR YOUR COMMUNITY”, providing comprehensive health support, family care, and community volunteering opportunities.

Published on: 23 July 2026, 12:02 CET

Pirelli and the Rai family are committed to bringing Mr. Rai’s part of the Calendar to completion. Mr. Rai’s daughter Avani Rai, herself an internationally acclaimed photographer, is honored to step in and realize her father’s intentions for the series.    

“The work my father created for Pirelli was a tribute to India—bringing together his lifelong vision with a more contemporary expression of its people and diversity, something he was always deeply drawn to. I cannot bear the thought of it remaining unrealised. Bringing it to life feels deeply personal, as if I am stepping into his gaze and the way he saw India through his camera. Photography was his gift to me—not just as a craft, but as a way of seeing—and in that we found a quiet, profound connection. Carrying this forward feels like a way of staying close to him, of keeping a part of him alive within me.” said Avani Rai.  

In tandem, Pirelli is delighted to once again invite Sølve Sundsbø, who photographed the 2026 Cal™, to offer a second perspective in the 2027 Calendar. The sensitivity and innovative aesthetic of Sundsbø’s work, together with Ms. Rai’s own experience at home and intimate knowledge of her father’s work, will offer dual points of view on this extraordinary country.  

“It’s a great honor to be invited again to contribute to the Pirelli Calendar. I am very pleased to do so alongside Avani Rai and pay tribute to her father’s legacy. It’s a momentous opportunity to explore India. We will both do our utmost to celebrate the country and Mr. Rai’s memory with this collaboration.” 

Published on: 4 May 2026, 12:46 CET

This year, the Compasso d’Oro Award was inspired by the Expo theme – Designing Future Society for our Lives – with Pirelli awarded in one of the key areas: Connecting Lives. This is about connecting people through the development of technologically advanced products featuring reduced environmental impact, such as the P Zero E: the first tyre in the world designed with an unprecedented percentage of natural and recycled materials, especially in the high-performance segment for which it is intended. As a perfect synthesis of industrial design, sustainable innovation, and technology, this tyre represented a revolutionary turning point for the industry.

The Pirelli P Zero E was launched in 2023 as the first Ultra High Performance tyre in the world with more than 55% bio-based and recycled materials, maintaining performance and safety even in challenging conditions such as wet asphalt. Performance, efficiency, and comfort are highlighted by a triple “Class A” score for wet grip, rolling resistance, and noise on the European tyre label. This tyre is designed to maximise electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle efficiency (with the capability of increasing mileage by up to 10% thanks to Elect technology[1]) and is equipped as standard with Pirelli’s most advanced proprietary technologies including RunForward, which allows driving to continue even after a puncture. This is an invisible revolution that is nonetheless capable of setting a new direction for the development of future tyres, claiming the “Tyre of the Year” prize at the 2023 Automobile Club de France Awards.

As a result, P Zero E is at the vanguard of Pirelli’s technological innovations alongside Cyber Tyre: the world’s first hardware and software system capable of collecting information from embedded sensors within the tyres and processing that data via proprietary software and algorithms. This enables new vehicle functionalities, as well as integration with other digital environments such as smart roads and smart cities.

Collecting the award, Piero Misani, Pirelli’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, said: “This prestigious recognition celebrates Pirelli’s design excellence and the innovative scope of products like P Zero E, confirming the role of research and development as a driver of progress and sustainability. Our constant commitment in the field of R&D has made Pirelli a benchmark in the global industry for technological innovation and cutting-edge solutions for future tyre development, thanks to the use of new materials with reduced environmental impact and the increasingly widespread use of advanced artificial intelligence throughout every phase.”

PIRELLI AND THE COMPASSO D’ORO

Pirelli’s history has intertwined several times with that of the ADI Compasso d’Oro Award, thanks to advertising campaigns from great names in graphic design, as well as iconic industrial design products. These have ranged from foam rubber toys, electromechanical clocks, and rubber flooring in the past to the Pirelli Foundation’s most recent projects. The ‘Rubber Soul’ exhibition, which won the 2013 Red Dot Design Award 2013, was included in the ADI Design Index, while the ‘Publicity with a Capital P’ editorial project was nominated for the 2020 Award.

THE P ZERO E AT EXPO 2025 OSAKA

Together with this year’s other winners, the P Zero E will be featured as part of an exhibition in the Italian Pavilion, before entering the permanent collection of the ADI Design Museum in Milan. In line with the Expo theme – “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” – the P Zero E embodies a modern vision of mobility, connecting people and positioning itself as a benchmark for sustainability and circularity thanks to the use of recovered materials such as lignin. This tyre was developed with data-driven and artificial intelligence-based technologies, involving all major Pirelli R&D centres worldwide as well as numerous collaborations with universities, specialised centres and suppliers.

^[1] Comparison between PIRELLI SCORPION™ ELECT™ and PIRELLI SCORPION™ tyres, size 235/60/R18, measuring battery range gain derived from a reduction in rolling resistance in the ELECT™ version. Testing was conducted on a Volkswagen iD4 under instrumented conditions at a constant speed of 50 km/h over a range of 550 km. Source: Internal Pirelli R&D tests conducted between March and June 2022.

Published on: 5 September 2025, 13:02 CET

ON THE PLANT’S 10^TH ANNIVERSARY, DIEGO SINHUE RODRIGUEZ VALLEJO,  THE GOVERNOR OF THE MEXICAN STATE OF GUANAJUATO, VISITED THE FACTORY TOGETHER WITH CLAUDIO ZANARDO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PIRELLI NORTH AMERICA

TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY, PIRELLI MEXICO HAS PRODUCED THE BOOK "PIRELLI, THE CULTURE OF INNOVATION"

Guanajuato, Milan, 29 October 2022 – On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Silao factory, Pirelli today announced the start of a 114-million-euro investment - already envisaged in the 2021-2022 | 2025 industrial plan.  The construction – planned for the two-year period 2022/2023 – is aimed at further increasing High Value production at the Mexican site. The investment confirms the strategic importance of the plant and will see an increase in production capacity of over one million pieces for a total of 8.5 million tires by 2025 when fully operational (from 7.2 million at the end of 2022). With an expansion of the production area of 16,000 square meters to over 220,000 and  further improvement of the mix, the investment will also create of 400 new jobs for a total of 3,200 employees when fully operational. 

The investment was announced during the visit by the governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, to the Silao factory for the celebration of its tenth anniversary. The ceremony also saw the participation of the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, via video message and was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Mexico, Luigi De Chiara, the President and CEO of Pirelli North America, Claudio Zanardo and the CEO and General Manager of Pirelli Neumaticos SA Mexico, Paolo Benea.

“The Silao plant has made an important contribution to the success of Pirelli's global strategy of becoming the leader in the High Value segment. When we chose Silao, and the Guanajuato region, as the location for a new plant 10 years ago, our expectations were very high. Today I am happy to say that we have achieved our goals and that the factory and the people who work there have exceeded our expectations. In fact, the Silao plant is one of the most technologically advanced in the Group and will soon host a new Pirelli R&D Centre. As we have for 10 years, we continue to strongly believe in Silao and its people”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli.

“Mexico is a strategic area for Pirelli for all its activities in North and Central America and with this investment we will further increase Pirelli's technological and industrial competitiveness. I wish to thank all the people and the institutions, who over these years have contributed to the growth of the Silao factory”, said Claudio Zanardo, President and CEO of Pirelli North America.

“In Guanajuato we are very proud to have Pirelli in our state, and to celebrate its tenth anniversary of the Silao plant, as well as the 150th anniversary of its foundation worldwide.

The presence of Pirelli in Guanajuato, one of the most advanced companies in innovation and technology, supports our continued advancement from manufacturing to mindfacture.

Pirelli and Guanajuato, share values and a vision of the future, enabling us to build a success story together. Constant investments confirm the strategic importance of this plant and ratifies the confidence that Pirelli has in our state. We are thankful for this commitment which will strengthen our development and generate more jobs for Guanajuato families”, said Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, the Governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

Located within the Silao “Puerto Interior” industrial hub, in the state of Guanajuato, one of Mexico’s major logistics centers and key economic and technology hubs, Pirelli inaugurated the plant in 2012 to serve the local and North American markets.

In the last ten years, the Silao plant has grown at a remarkable speed, progressing from a capacity of around 1.5 million tires and a staff of 300 people at the end of 2012 to a capacity of 7.2 million tires at the end of 2022 and around 2,800 employees. Its production is focused on the High Value segment, producing High Performance and Ultra-High Performance tires for passenger cars, electric vehicles, SUVs and Light Trucks.

The Mexican plant has always delivered the most innovative Pirelli solutions, like Cyber Tyre, PNCS (Pirelli Noise Cancelling System™), and RFID writing, aimed at tracking tires to provide product information to the entire logistics chain. Equipped with the group’s most advanced production processes, in recent years the Mexican factory has implemented the principles of Industry 4.0, in addition to a growing engagement with environmental care, adopting international standards that promote electricity and water savings, and ensure the recycling of waste from the plant.

The commitment announced today brings Pirelli’s investment in the Mexican plant since its foundation to more than 800 million euro and follows the announcement in May 2022 of the creation of the Italian company’s first Research and Development Center in Mexico, which is in addition to the 13 existing centers around the world. Innovation is in fact an essential element of Pirelli's strategy and the company annually invests around 6% of its revenue from High Value products in R&D and has over 6,700 patents.

 “PIRELLI, THE CULTURE OF INNOVATION”, A BOOK CELEBRATING THE 10^th ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate a milestone as important as the tenth anniversary of its foundation, Pirelli Mexico has published a book entitled “Pirelli, the culture of innovation,” edited by Trilce Ediciones and realized also thanks to the contribution from Fondazione Pirelli and the material housed in the company’s Historical Archives: a way to commemorate the local legacy of a company that in January 2022 marked 150 years of activity with worldwide celebrations. The book retraces the development stages of the Silao plant, its rapid growth, deep roots in the territory and among local communities, and Pirelli’s contribution to the development of the Guanajuato Region.

The celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Silao plant takes on particular importance in a year when Pirelli is commemorating 150 years since its foundation in Milan, where on January 28, 1872, the 23-year-old Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded a rubber factory that would become one of the most innovative and technologically advanced companies in the world. Known for its production excellence and as a lifestyle brand, active in culture, sport and motorsport at the highest levels, Pirelli today has 18 production plants in 12 countries and a commercial reach in over 160 countries.

Published on: 29 October 2022, 15:53 CET

Milan, 12 October 2022 – Dealing with the challenges of the current macroeconomic context through a supply chain that is always more sustainable and with lower CO₂ emissions, focused on high quality raw materials and services, and with continuous innovation through a global presence and stability of supply. These are the principle factors that have guided the assignment of the Pirelli Supplier Award 2022, the recognition that Pirelli gives each year to nine suppliers from the total of more than 15,000 of its global supply chain, that distinguished themselves in making Pirelli’s supply chain even more sustainable, innovative and qualitatively excellent.

The 9 awards to suppliers of raw materials and services who distinguished themselves in the last year were presented today by the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera and Chief Procurement Officer, Andrea Maganzani, at a ceremony at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan, with the participation of the Group’s top management. 

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, commented: “the sharing of our company values with our suppliers is a key step towards achieving the goals we have set, in particular those linked to sustainability and innovation. These strategic factors enable us to remain competitive even at this particular time. For this reason we wanted to award the companies that have become important partners for our activities throughout the world”.

During the ceremony, which saw the participation of almost 150 of the Group’s preferred suppliers, Pirelli’s strategy was reiterated with its roadmap for growth in the use of innovative materials derived from renewable and recycled sources to achieve the objectives of the Group’s 2025 Industrial Plan. Another important factor in sustainability is the process of de-carbonization, to which the Group’s partners are called upon to contribute, with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions of Pirelli’s supply chain by 9% in 2025 compared with the 2018 figure.

These are the companies awarded in 2022 for the various categories of the Pirelli Supplier Awards:

Sustainability

DRT (France), supplier of bio-chemical products;

Quality

Evonik (Germany), silica supplier;

Innovation

Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), supplier of synthetic rubber;

Amazon Web Services (USA), partner for digital transformation;

Performance

Jiangsu Xingda Steel Tyre Cord Group Corporation (China), supplier of metallic reinforcements;

Service Level

Kordsa (Turkey), supplier of textile reinforcements;

DHL Global Forwarding (Italy) Spa (Italy), international logistics partner;

Fortek Srl (Italy), supplier of products and services for industry;

DCS Multiserve Ltd (UK), supplier of general services.

Published on: 12 October 2022, 16:12 CET

WITH ENHANCEMENT OF SKILLS IN THE AREA   

INVESTMENT OF 9 MILLION EURO BETWEEN 2022 AND 2024,

COULD IN PART BE SUPPORTED BY THE PUGLIA REGIONAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE PROJECTS PIRELLI ENABLES

LAUNCHES COOPERATION PROGRAM WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF BARI AND THE BARI POLYTECHNIC  

 

Bari, 20 May 2022 – Pirelli is investing in Puglia and the digital skills of its youth by opening a new centre for the development of software and digital solutions in Bari. The project was born of a fruitful meeting between the public and private sectors and foresees 50 new hires by 2025 between recent graduates and managers specialized in the development of software, particularly in computer science, software engineering, data science, , artificial intelligence, machine learning and smart manufacturing. These new professional profiles with be in addition to the approximately 160 people who today work in Pirelli’s digital team in Italy, with the goal of greater internationalization of digital skills in strategic and differentiating areas of the company’s strategy...

Pirelli’s new “Digital Solutions Center” was presented today in Bari at a press conference with the participation of the President of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, and the Assessor for the Economic Development of Puglia, Alessandro Delli Noci, accompanied by the Dean of the University of  Bari, Stefano Bronzini, the Dean of the Bari Polytechnic, Francesco Cupertino, and Pirelli’s Chief Digital Officer di Pirelli, Pier Paolo Tamma. The mayor of, Antonio Decaro, was also present.

The centre, for which facilitation has been requested from the regional government, will allow Pirelli to strengthen its activities of software development, strategic in the context of the Digital Transformation that the company has been implementing for some time, and to enhance the skill of the region that today has become one of Italy’s major digital hubs. The project calls for an investment of 9,000,000 euro between 2022 and June of 2024, of which part could be financed by the Puglia Regional Government based on the projects that Pirelli develops.

The Digital Solutions Center – located in via Mazzitelli, in the Poggiofranco area – will flank and strengthen Pirelli Digital’s operations units focusing on the development of software and algorithms of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in support of areas of Sales & Marketing, Product Development, Smart Manufacturing & Industrial IOT, Integrated Business Planning and facilitating the development of New Products and Digital Services for the Tyre world. Today Pirelli’s Digital function counts 500 people at the global level, between Headquarters in Italy and the various units in the macro-regions where the company is present with its 18 plants in 12 Countries and Service Operation Center with worldwide coverage located in Craiova, in Romania.

Bari, a university hub of excellence

To promote the young talents of Bari, the region’s capital which in a relatively short time has become a pool of skills linked to innovative disciplines such as  data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Pirelli has launched a cooperation program with the University of  Bari – in particular with its degree course in Computer Science and Data Science – and with the Bari Polytechnic – which among its courses includes a degree in Computer Engineering and Digital Transformation – which entails the creation of joint research and development and initiatives such as  career days, seminars and hackathon, as well as internship programs, apprenticeships and scholarships.

The development of the new centre consolidates the links between Pirelli and the university world and reinforces its open innovation model that today sees that company at work on around 40 projects and 12 Universities. The collaboration with the academic world integrate and complete Pirelli’s Research & Development, with its  13 research centres which employ over 2,000 people worldwide. In Italy, in particular, Pirelli already collaborates actively with the Milan Polytechnic, the Turin Polytechnic, Milan’s Bocconi University, Milan’s Cattolica University, Turin University, Pisa University and Milan’s Bicocca University.

Michele Emiliano, President of the Puglia Regional government, “Marco Tronchetti Provera and Pirelli are one of those rare points of reference that our country can offer, always with great attention to technological innovation and the right intuitions about what is happening in the world and what the world needs. Today they had the intuition and the willingness to approach the reality of Puglia, drawing on the extraordinary human capital of our students, our Southern youth, the backbone of the country. We are sure that with this project we will manage to keep them here, allowing them to express their great potential and the skills acquired in a land that has innovation and respect for the rules in its DNA.”

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli said, “We are proud to present Pirelli’s new facility in Bari, in the heart of the south, such a fertile place for digital knowledge and talented young people who what to learn, grow and produce. I would also like to thank the regional government of Puglia for its support, in the certainty that this new centre will allow the company, like the region, to bring value in economic, cultural and social terms”.

Alessandro Delli Noci, Regional secretary for economic development, “This is confirmation of companies from innovative sectors deciding to invest in Puglia and of locating there most important strategic hubs here. This important project of a solid and highly structured company like Pirelli, whose presence in Puglia is the fruit of synergies between the public and private, confirms the capacity of our region to be an attractive place and one that is in step with the times”.

Stefano Bronzini, Dean of Università di Bari, “Pirelli and Puglia had already met, when the ship laid the cables linking Puglia to the Tremiti islands. At the time, the visionary bet of the founder of Pirelli was telecommunications. After the turn around that made Pirelli a big player in the world. Today, after almost 150 years, knowing that this prestigious company has decided to return to Puglia is an important piece of news. It is also for our university, ready to emulate the visionary gaze that guided the engineer Giovanni Battista Pirelli to be a protagonist of civil, social and economic growth in the country. After all, the building in Via Garruba, where language lessons are given, was once a Pirelli warehouse. We are on the right track!”

Francesco Cupertino, Dean of the Bari Polytechnic “Pirelli’s investment in Bari is confirmation that Puglia, with its many resources, is becoming ever more attractive to industry. The automotive. In particular, represents and fundamental sector for our region and the Bari Polytechnic, which was created to support the region’s development, has always continued to evolve, adapting the skills of graduates and scientific research. WE are therefore happy to part of this evolution alongside such a high profile player, which ahs placed its trust in us”.

Published on: 20 May 2022, 14:37 CET

TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY

FROM TODAY A NEW AD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED ON TV, PRESS, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA

INITIATIVES INCLUDE NEW EDITORIAL AND DIGITAL PROJECTS, THE ISSUE OF A STAMP AND THREE COMMEMORATIVE COINS  

Milan, 28 January 2022 – “What an original stroke, don’t you think? Look at that P…it looks elastic, like rubber”. These are the words that launched the celebrations of 150 years of Pirelli, with the direction of the Piccolo Teatro of Milan where a theatrical story brought together testimonials, voices and images to represent a history of industry, culture, tradition, technology and passion that began on 28 January 1872.

The most significant moments were revisited by Ferruccio De Bortoli, Stefano Domenicali, Paolo Mieli, Renzo Piano, Ferruccio Resta and Annamaria Testa, alongside the Executive Vice Chairman and Ceo, Marco Tronchetti Provera, and Alberto Pirelli, representing the bond between family and company. The event, conducted by Ilaria D’Amico, recounted Pirelli’s journey across three centuries through the things that most distinguish it: international scale, the factories, relationship with culture and artists, creativity in communication, presence in sport and motorsport, constant search for innovation and cutting-edge technology.                                                                                                              

“Today we wanted to take a journey together through history but with our eyes on the future. Anticipating change is what Pirelli has done for 150 years thanks to the solidity of its entrepreneurial culture and ability to be a protagonist of the present. These things have allowed us to reach this milestone with a brand established around the world. We felt it important to share this story with our city, our country and all the international groups and communities that we work with every day. A thank you to all the 30,000 people who every day at Pirelli build our history”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli.

THE CELEBRATION LOGO AND THE INTERNATIONAL COUNTDOWN

The logo created for the 150 years, unveiled last November at the launch of the 2022 Pirelli Calendar by Bryan Adams, featured recently at the Montecarlo Rally, where it decorated the car that completed the inaugural lap of the track. It was also on the vests of competitors in the World Ski Cup in Cortina and at San Siro at the Inter-Venezia game. Its celebration will continue via Pirelli sponsorships through the whole year.

The event at the Piccolo was preceded by an international countdown that began on 24 January in Rio De Janeiro. It continued on the following days with the projection of the logo and congratulations across the 180 meters of the CITI Tower in Shanghai and with a 3D animation on the Times Square Nasdaq Tower in New York, and on Palazzo Venezia between Via dei Mercanti and Piazza Cordusio in Milan. The video is of a 3D tyre rolling down a descent and stopping before shooting off the screen, perfectly encapsulating Pirelli’s payoff “Power is nothing without control”. The video ends with the 150 year logo and congratulations.

AT THE PICCOLO TEATRO A STORY OF HISTORY, INDUSTRY, SPORT AND INNOVATION

The history
On stage at the Piccolo Teatro, immersed a set made up of five large screens, four actors told the story of Pirelli beginning with its history. Images, videos, photographs of the past and present alternated with the voices of the actors, who revisited the company’s different moments together with Ferruccio De Bortoli, Paolo Mieli, Alberto Pirelli and Marco Tronchetti Provera. A dialogue centered on the figure of Leopoldo Pirelli and his father Alberto, also through the recollections of his grandson, and his role in the company’s contribution to the modernization and industrialization of the country – his successes and inevitable difficulties encountered along the way.

A journey, Pirelli’s, begun on 28 January 1872 by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, who at only 23 years of age bets on something absolutely new: rubber. In the beginning, the company produced insulators for telegraphs and cables that linked the most distant points of the newly born Italy. It grows rapidly around the world and produces objects of everyday use (from swimming caps to toys to raincoats) and tyres for wagons and bicycles in answer to these first forms of mobility. From its birth it focused on innovation, the company offers products that also become symbols of the country’s progress. Just as Pirelli’s modern skyscraper (the Pirellone) was a symbol of Milan and was through the 1960s the company’s headquarters, which then moved to an area to the city’s north known as Bicocca, today a true corporate campus. But even Pirelli encountered obstacles: the failed mergers in the 1990s with Dunlop and Continental and the plan to integrate networks and content in telecommunications, pursued from the early 2000s through Telecom Italia and cut short by external interference. Crises that were overcome restarting from the core business, which leads the company to focus on tyres.

Internationalism
Pirelli has forever been international. And it was in this sense that the story continued. Born in Milan, it quickly became a multinational, to the point of being considered English in the UK, Brazilian in Brazil, American in the USA ... A vocation already evident in the travels of the founder and then in those of his sons, Alberto and Piero.  Its identity is that of a multinational with solid Italian roots with leading industrial relations, attention to welfare and training. These were among the themes discussed with Ferruccio De Bortoli, Marco Tronchetti Provera and Paolo Mieli.

The factories
The journey onstage at the Piccolo Teatro continued with the exploration of the company’s industrial tradition. Through its factories, Pirelli put down roots in many countries, today 12, building plants that are light filled, safe and sustainable. Welcoming places for people working with passion and for industry 4.0 with simulators, artificial intelligence and robots like MIRS invented by Pirelli itself. In summary, today 18 beautiful and efficient factories with Settimo Torinese the model, designed and built by the architect Renzo Piano who on the stage at the Piccolo explained how to blend functionality with beauty, competitiveness and sustainability.

Culture, communication and image
On its journey, Pirelli was always in dialogue with artists and intellectuals to keep an eye on society, its evolution and changing customs. It did so and continues through innovative languages and instruments, such as: the “Rivista Pirelli”, Pirelli Calendar, Pirelli HangarBicocca, publications and exhibitions of the Fondazione Pirelli, products of Pirelli Design, World magazine, the volumes of its Annual Report enriched with the contributions of artists and writers. The list to emerge from the Piccolo Teatro’s stage is rich and begins with the iconic Pirelli logo, born in New York at the beginning of the 20th century, with that long P which stretches as if it were rubber. A company that experiments with new languages, produces tyres and interviews Umberto Eco. It talks with writers, philosophers, poets: today from Carrère to Kureishi, yesterday from Elio Vittorini to Eugenio Montale and Salvatore Quasimodo. It hosts Luchino Visconti and John Cage and puts Carl Lewis in high heels, accompanying the unforgettable payoff “Power is nothing without control”. Innovation and communicating enterprise, ability for renewal conserving memory and dialogue between industry and contemporary art, sport, photography and music.

These themes were addressed by Annamaria Testa, Ferruccio De Bortoli, Paolo Mieli and Marco Tronchetti Provera - recounting different worlds with the underlying idea that when you are involved in industry with passion you are also producing culture.

Motorsport and passion for sport
The passion that makes hearts beat at Pirelli: motors. An area where technology is fundamental, as explained by Alberto Pirelli, a rally enthusiast, and a sport that the company has been involved in since the 1970s. Today Pirelli is present in over 350 motorsport competitions.  The Beijing-Paris of 1907 is particularly memorable, when Prince Scipione Borghese, driving an Itala equipped with Pirelli tyres, covered 17,000 kilometers to finish 20 days ahead of the team in second place. A great success that transforms mobility into innovation and spectacle; and competitions into open-air laboratories. In the GT, rally, superbike and Formula 1. The onstage discussion of the greatest motorsport competition involved Stefano Domenicali, who today heads Formula 1, on the eve of an important change: the introduction of 18” tyres in a competition where, in the midst of Italian flags, there is also Pirelli’s. For Pirelli, however, sport is not limited to motors, but also football, cycling, winter sports and sailing, with Luna Rossa.

Innovation, research, product
History reveals a company that always moves with its eyes on the future. “Look inside to understand”, to discover new solutions so used to say Mr. Emanueli, who signed many of the 6,700 patents registered by Pirelli in 150 years. A lesson, Mr. Emanueli’s, which today is interpreted by the over 2,000 people who work in Research & Development, a sector of fundamental importance for the company. Its collaborations with leading universities (over 50) are also fundamental, as explained by Ferruccio Resta, who tells Ilaria D’Amico also about the relationship of reciprocal inspiration that links Pirelli and the Politecnico di Milano.

Today the “heirs of Emanueli” are involved in managing the acceleration of innovation, as in the case of electric vehicles, where Pirelli is already present with Elect, a package of technological solutions ad hoc to handle the different weight, acceleration and consumption compared with traditional vehicles. But also new connected products like Cyber Tyre, with sensors that supply real time information to the driver. Continuing innovation, on the road and beyond. Because technologies evolve and virtualization accelerates research and development times. The tyres are created and developed in the digital world through the creation of virtual alter egos to design and produce products that are safe, high performing and sustainable thanks to materials that are always more renewable. At the centre, as always, there is natural rubber with which Pirelli produced the world’s first FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified tyre, testifying to a 100% sustainable supply chain. A great safeguard for the environment as occurs, for example, with Pirelli’s participation in the Birdlife project to conserve biodiversity in Indonesia. Thanks to its commitment at the social, environmental and economic levels, Pirelli finds itself at the top of the most important sustainability indices.

A NEW AD CAMPAIGN RE-INTERPRETS “POWER IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL”

A new advertising campaign broadcast from today on prime time TV and launched in the press, digital and social media to celebrate Pirelli’s 150 years offers a re-interpretation of the historic payoff “Power is nothing without control” inviting people to reflect, through a visionary and metaphorical story, on two complementary and opposed concepts. Thanks to technology and social media individuals have enormous power, but in a moment they can lose control and chaos ensues. More than ever, one needs to be aware that power needs control, in life and not only on the road. Filmed in Barcelona, directed by Manson - a team of Mexican directors formed by Gerardo del Hierro, Pau López and Tomás Peña - produced by Utopia and under the creative direction of M&C Saatchi, the commercial is planned for digital channels also at the international level. 

A DEDICATED SITE WITH 3D “ROOMS” TO VISIT THE WORLD OF PIRELLI

For the digital story of the 150 years an innovative website – www.pirelli.com/150years –  was created which allows one to “travel” inside the world of Pirelli. Through four virtual rooms dedicated to “Product and Research & Development”, “Sustainability”, “Sport”, “Art & Culture” where you can immerse yourself in a 3D environment which presents the products of yesterday and today, the commitment to sustainability, involvement in sports competitions as well as artistic and cultural initiatives beginning with the Pirelli Calendar.

A SPECIAL ISSUE OF ‘WORLD’ MAGAZINE

The 150th birthday will be celebrated, as well, with a special issue of “World”, the company magazine that from 1994 continues the heritage of the “Rivista Pirelli” that was published from 1948 to 1972. The issue proposes 26 words, one for each letter of the alphabet, chosen for their meaning, force and  capacity to describe Pirelli. Each word, thanks to the contribution of illustrators, authors, novelists and essayists, is explored in an original way.  

A NEW EDITION OF THE “GRAPHIC NOVEL” TO TELL THE STORY OF PIRELLI

To retrace its history, Pirelli has updated its graphic novel, a kind of company profile 4.0 created with different styles and techniques from illustrations to motion graphic design. The video, in a shortened version of around nine minutes, revisits the history of Pirelli from 1872, the foundation year, to today, touching on the most significant moments.

The project was realized by drawing on material in the archives of the Fondazione Pirelli and the detailed historical reconstruction produced by Professor Carlo Bellavite Pellegrini in his book “Pirelli. Innovazione e passione”, published by Il Mulino, which has been updated.

SET OF THREE COINS AND ONE STAMP TO CELEBTATE THE ANNIVERSARY

The Ministry of the Economy and Finance and the State Mint and Printworks presented a new

stamp collection which, as part of the series “Eccellenza Italiane”, will include a set of three celebratory coins in gold and silver dedicated to the Pirelli Group. In addition, dated 28 January 2022, a new stamp has been issued also dedicated to Pirelli as part of the thematic series “Excellence in the economy and production system”.

THE OTHER INITIATIVES IN 2022

Beginning from today, there will be a series initiatives dedicated to the 150 years initially involving the 12 countries where Pirelli has an industrial presence. Projects and events that will continue into  2022 through sports sponsorships, beginning with the world of Formula 1, institutional appointments, cultural events and new product launches.

Among the main projects is the publication, edited by Fondazione Pirelli, of the book “Thinking Ahead. Pirelli: 150 Years of Industry, Innovation and Culture” planned for the spring. Published by Marsilio in Italian and English, the book gathers contributions from institutional figures, including the Ministry for University and Research Maria Cristina Messa, the Deans of the Politecnico di Milano and Torino, Ferruccio Resta and Guido Saracco, great Italian and international authors, like Ian McEwan, and leading figures from the worlds of art and culture, such as Renzo Piano and Salvatore Accardo. The editorial project will be featured on the pirellibuildsthefuture.org web platform, linked to the dedicated 150 year site and will also consist of a chronology that reconstructs the most important events in the company from 1872 to today, including new virtual tours and a section dedicated to the new display at the Fondazione Pirelli “When History Builds the Future”. There will also be an exhibition through which visitors can review Pirelli’s 150 years through documents, technical drawings of the first tyres, up to their virtualization, highlighting engineering achievements in R&D and other great innovations. Images, objects, multi-media installations in “Inner Future”, video in “Shapes, Patterns, Movements and Colors”, and a photographic work that interprets the world of rubber, from raw material to finished product. History, innovation and culture, with an eye always on the future.

Published on: 28 January 2022, 17:42 CET

“It was a great honour for me and for us all to have been received by President Mattarella on the eve of the 150^th anniversary which Pirelli is celebrating in January 2022. Since 1872, in fact, our company, thanks to the passion and desire to innovate of its people, has brought Italian excellence to the world, a testament to the values of entrepreneurship that have characterized the company since its birth. The attention to product quality and production processes, to cutting-edge research, to the market’s international culture as well as to the wellbeing of people in the workplace worldwide, demonstrated by the founder Giovanni Battista Pirelli and subsequently by his sons Alberto and Piero and grandson Leopoldo still characterize Pirelli today. A company I am proud to lead and which focuses on the future every day, laying the foundations for the celebration of still many years of growth”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, the company’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO.

Published on: 15 December 2021, 14:03 CET

THE TWO-MILLION EURO AGREEMENT TARGETS THE INTEGRATED USE OF SIMULATORS, DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE MATERIALS, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE MOBILITY

Milan, 2 December 2021 ­– Ten years after the first agreement, Pirelli, Milan Polytechnic and Polytechnic Foundation have signed off a continuation of the ‘Joint Labs’ programme, focused on research projects for the continuous technological innovation of tyres. This collaboration will extend for another three years, with new and challenging objectives as well as innovative tools. Pirelli’s static simulator, installed in the company’s research and development centre in Milan, as well as the dynamic simulator in the Politecnico are now also pivotal to the programme. In addition to enhancing the potential of virtual modelling, this latest chapter of the two-million Euro agreement (from 2021 to 2023) focuses on two main areas of research: materials (with the development of innovative solutions and modelling of mixing processes) and product and cyber ​​development (with integrated static or dynamic simulation and innovative modelling).

Five departments of Milan University are involved in scope of this agreement (mechanics, chemistry, materials and chemical engineering, mathematics, electronics, information and bioengineering, and civil and environmental engineering) and the researchers will be involved in the following areas:

• Simulation: integrated use of static and dynamic simulators with the aim of optimising the development and testing of new tyres, reducing lead times and strengthening collaborations with car manufacturers.
• Materials: modification of polymers, nanofillers, protective tyre materials, new materials with low environmental impact; open source modelling for mixing and modelling of textile reinforcements.
• Product and cyber ​​development: external and internal noise, tyre aerodynamics, automated tread modelling; development and consolidation of models for intelligent vehicle control data, and development of value-added services from the cyber ​​system.

A JOINT COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AND TRAINING

Over the 10 years of the collaboration between Milan University, the University Foundation, and Pirelli, no fewer than 14 registered patent families have been filed and about 30 articles published in international scientific journals, as well as a number of high-profile presentations made at international conferences. The topics addressed have been multiple, and the results have been seen in terms of tyre performance, safety and sustainability: thanks to the use of advanced materials identified as part of this partnership. In particular, 15 research grants for young graduates were awarded in the materials chemistry sector. In the last three years, research has mainly focused on the production and functionality of carbon allotropes, preparation of modified silica fibres, as well as studies into alternative sources of natural rubber, synthesis of innovative polymers, and self-repairing materials. In the tyre mechanics sector, 12 research contracts have been activated in the cyber ​​tyre and Formula 1 fields since 2011, with study into the interaction between tyres and asphalt.

An area of ​​particular interest is the study of low-noise tyres for new hybrid and electric vehicles, a key aspect of driver comfort. Innovative testing methods were applied for the indoor measurement of the acoustic field generated by the rolling tyre. Using the Tread Modelling Automation project, the modelling of the tyres and the characteristics of the different summer, winter and all-season tread patterns were studied.

Supporting professional training, the “R&D Excellence Next” postgraduate university Master’s degree was also recently inaugurated. This was conceived in collaboration with Milan Polytechnic, involving 34 young engineers newly hired by Pirelli, in order to train specialized engineers. This is an evolution of the careers that several researchers and doctoral students have enjoyed within Pirelli, in areas such as innovative materials, modelling and cyber, which has contributed to the success of these joint projects over the last 10 years.

A 150-YEAR HISTORY

The relationship between Milan Polytechnic and Pirelli dates back to the very beginning of Pirelli's history, when in 1870, fresh from graduating from the University, Giovanni Battista Pirelli was directed by his teacher – Giuseppe Colombo – towards the chemical industry and rubber production. Giovanni Battista Pirelli became the father of this industry in Italy, founding his company, Pirelli & C, in 1872.

Over the years, there have been numerous collaborations between Milan University and Pirelli, with the aim of capitalising on the synergies between the academic and business worlds. One of these projects from the past was CORECOM (Consorzio Ricerche Elaborazione Commutazione Ottica Milano) from 1995. This was among the first associations between the public and private sectors in Italy and was a leading player in the development of international photonics until 2010.

Ferruccio Rest, Dean of Milan Polytechnic

"Driving simulators, virtual reality and new materials: the keys points of a decades long accord, the one between the Milan Polytechnic and Pirelli, which is being renewed on the basis of shared goals, in step with technological innovation, attentive to sustainable development. These are the elements on which the agreement is based which involves five departments of the institution. The Joint Lab underlines the importance of this long standing and constructive relationship between university and company, one of the keys indicated in the Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza. Research and training are the prerequisites for an industrial development that looks to the future. The agreement between the Politenico di Miano and Pirelli is solid and this is the direction we wish to pursue”.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:

“Innovation is the engine room of our company. Being able to rely on a network including the most advanced research institutions and universities in the world, such as Milan University, means investing to meet the future challenges of mobility. Our priorities with the 'Joint Labs' programme take in all aspects of sustainability, evolved automation,

virtualisation and connectivity, The collaboration with the University underlines our commitment to strengthen the core of our group's know-how in these key areas within Italy.”

Andrea Sianesi, Chairman of Milan Polytechnic Foundation

"Pirelli, as well as participating in our birth, was one of the first companies to believe in the Foundation’s ability to create synergies in the region, to enhance the scientific research done by the Milan Polytechnic. Today we are talking about sustainable mobility: this agreement aims to consolidate enduring relationships for investments in the long term, which will enable the realization of advanced research with a high level of experimental and innovative content. Strategic partnerships like this create constant dialogue between companies and the university in order to shares needs, strategies an visions".

Published on: 2 December 2021, 12:25 CET

COMMITMENT TO REDUCING CO₂ EMISSIONS OF SUPPLY CHAINS IS RENEWED

Milan, 1 December 2021 – The main criteria behind the 2021 Supplier Awards have been care for the environment through an increasingly sustainable supply chain – with lower CO₂ emissions, high quality, innovation, speed and global presence.

Every year, Pirelli hands out awards to just nine of more than 14,000 suppliers throughout its global chain. The Supplier Awards reward companies that have distinguished themselves in making Pirelli’s supply chain even more sustainable, innovative and of the highest possible quality.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The last two years have clearly shown how the role of suppliers is important for the business success of each company. Sharing an approach that is focussed on quality, speed, and transparency – as well as a commitment to continuous and sustainable innovation – has allowed us to remain competitive even during in this particularly challenging period. This is why we wanted to reward the companies that share these values ​​with Pirelli, as our true partners.”

Pirelli's strategy was also reiterated to suppliers, envisaging a roadmap for growth in the use of innovative materials derived from renewable or recycled sources, in order to achieve the objectives of the Group’s industrial plan. This provides over 40% renewable materials to be used in specific product lines by 2025, along with at least 3% recycled materials and less than 40% of materials derived from fossil sources. By 2030, more than 60% renewable materials will be used, at least 7% of materials will be recycled, and materials of fossil origin will amount to less than 30%. Another important element to the sustainability of Pirelli's supply chain is represented by the decarbonisation process to which Pirelli's partners are asked to contribute, in order to reduce CO₂ emissions by 9% in 2025 compared to 2018. Maximum respect is also paid to respect for human and labour rights: all aspects to be taken into consideration when assigning the specific sustainability award.

The nine suppliers of raw materials, services and machinery that have distinguished themselves in the last year were awarded today by the Vice President and CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera and Chief Procurement Officer, Andrea Maganzani, during a ceremony at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan.

These are the companies rewarded in the 2021 edition of the Pirelli Supplier Awards:

Thai Eastern Group Holdings Co (Thailand), supplier of natural rubber, has been awarded the prestigious “Sustainability” award for its role in the production of the first tyre with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified natural rubber, as well as for its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and increasing the use of electricity from renewable sources;

Quechen Silicon Chemical (China), supplier of silica, awarded for “Quality”;

Glanzstoff Sicrem (Italy), supplier of textile reinforcements, awarded in the “Service Level” category for having contributed to the production of the first Forest Stewardship Council certified tyre with FSC-certified Rayon;

Synthos (Poland), supplier of synthetic rubber, awarded for “Performance”;

Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), supplier of synthetic rubber, awarded for “Innovation”;

Himile Science & Technology Co (China), mould supplier and machinery manufacturer, awarded for “Innovation”;

DSV Solutions (Italy), international logistics partner, awarded for “Service level”;

Deloitte Consulting (Italy), consultancy for digital transformation, awarded for “Innovation”;

Grupo Drivers (Mexico), transport services, awarded for “Service Level”.

Published on: 1 December 2021, 16:07 CET

Bryan Adams
Since the late 90's Bryan Adams has combined his rock career with his passion for photography, photographing musicians, actors and models to great acclaim. Past sitters have included Sir Mick Jagger, John Boyega, Amy Winehouse, Naomi Campbell and many others including politicians, statesmen and even HM The Queen who he photographed for her Golden Jubilee. His portraits have graced the pages of top publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and Harper's Bazaar, as well as in his own celebrated art magazine Zoo. He has also published a number of books of his work, including ‘American Women’ (2004), ‘Exposed’ (2012), a project on Injured British war veterans entitled, ‘Wounded: The Legacy of War’ (2014), and ‘Homeless’ released in 2019. On the other side of the creative coin, his music over the past four decades has achieved Number 1 status in over 40 countries. He has 3 Academy Award and 5 Golden Globe nominations and a Grammy Award, and he will release his 15th album in 2021.

Published on: 08 June 2021, 13:37 CET

TWO-PHASE PLAN: IN 2022 RETURN TO PRE-COVID 2019 VALUES, IN 2025 LEADER IN HIGH VALUE SPECIALTIES WITH ELEVATED CASH GENERATION

CENTRALITY OF HIGH VALUE CONFIRMED WITH FOCUS ON TYRES ABOVE 19 INCHES, SPECIALITIES AND ELECTRIC

IN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CUSTOMER BASE SELECTIVE GROWTH,

IN REPLACEMENT CAPITALISATION OF THE HOMOLOGATIONS PULL-THROUGH EFFECT

 ACCELERATION OF PROCESS AND PRODUCT INNOVATION WITH 44 NEW LINES BY 2025

PRESENCE IN NEW MOBILITY WITH TYRES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SENSOR-FITTED, AND CYCLING

INVESTMENTS: IN THE 2-YEAR PERIOD 21-22 BETWEEN ~710 AND ~730 MILLION EURO ESSENTIALLY FOR TECHNOLOGICIAL UPGRADE AND PRODUCTIVITY INCREASE. IN THE 3-YEAR PERIOD 23-35 BETWEEN ~1.2 AND ~1.3 BILLION ALSO FOR NEW HIGH VALUE CAPACITY IN COUNTRIES WITH LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS

COMPLETION OF COMPETITIVENESS PLAN WITH NET EFFICIENCIES OF ~170 MILLION EURO IN THE 2-YEAR PERIOD 2021-2022 (110 MILLION IN 2020). BY 2025 ADDITIONAL ~70 /~100 MILLION MAINLY THANKS TO THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE OF THE BUSINESS STRATEGY

NEW MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN (LTI) TO SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL PLAN TARGETS

TARGETS

Targets for 2-year period 2021- 2022

REVENUES AT END 2022 BETWEEN ~5.1 AND ~5.3 BILLION EURO

ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN AT END 2022 BETWEEN >16% AND ~17%

NET CASH FLOW PRE-DIVIDEND FOR 2-YEAR PERIOD 2021-2022 BETWEEN ~700 AND ~800 MILLION EURO

NET FINANCIAL POSITION AT END 2022 BETWEEN ~2.75 AND ~2.65 BILLION EURO,

EQUAL TO 2 TIMES ADJUSTED EBITDA

Targets for 3-year period 2023- 2025

REVENUES AT END 2025 BETWEEN ~5.7 AND ~6.2 BILLION EURO

ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN AT END 2025 BETWEEN ~19% AND ~20%

NET CASH FLOW PRE-DIVIDEND FOR 3-YEAR PERIOD 2023-2025 BETWEEN ~1.7 AND ~1.9 BILLION EURO

NET FINANCIAL POSITION AT END 2025 BETWEEN ~1.6 AND ~1.4 BILLION EURO,

EQUAL TO ~1 TIMES ADJUSTED EBITDA

DIVIDENDS: ~50% OF 2021-2022 CONSOLIIDATED PROFIT

 AND ~40% OF 2023-2024 CONSOLIIDATED PROFIT

***

BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES PROPOSED NOMINATION OF GIORGIO LUCA BRUNO

AS DEPUTY-CEO BEGINNING 15 JUNE 2021

***

2020 CONSOLIDATED RESULTS APPROVED

CONSOLIDATED NET PROFIT 42.7 MILLION (457.7 MILLION AT 31 DECEMBER 2019)

PARENT COMPANY NET PROFIT: 44 MILLION (273.2 MILLION AT 31 DECEMBER 2019)

AT THE SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING, CALLED ON 15 JUNE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL PROPOSE THE DISTRIBUTION OF A DIVIDEND OF 0.08 EURO PER SHARE FOR A TOTAL OF 80 MILLION

Published on: 31 March 2021, 12:28 CET

PIRELLI’S WINTER RANGE

Pirelli is also represented in the world of ice and snow by its winter tyre range, which is well-suited to even the most extreme conditions, such as those found in Alpine climates. For more powerful cars, Pirelli makes the P Zero Winter: a tyre developed jointly with car manufacturers themselves. This is in line with Pirelli’s ‘perfect fit’ strategy, which means that every car has a made to measure tyre created specifically for it. All the tyres from the P Zero family are designed in exactly this way. The Winter Sottozero 3 is intended for top of the range premium cars, delivering high performance, while the Cinturato Winter is designed for city cars, urban SUVs and crossover vehicles. For latest-generation SUVs and CUVs the Scorpion Winter is available, while the Carrier Winter is intended for vans and light trucks.

PIRELLI TYRES FOR ELECTRIC AUDIS, INCLUDING THE NEW E-TRON GT

Pirelli is a partner of Audi, which has brought a fleet of electric cars to Cortina, all on Pirelli winter tyres. As well as the Audi A6, A7 and Q5 plug-in hybrids, the fully-electric e-tron and e-tron Sportback – also in S version – will be seen on the roads around Cortina. Audi will additionally be previewing itsprototype e-tron GT at the World Ski Championships: a zero-emission grand tourer, for which Pirelli has made both summer and winter tyres with Elect markings, before it is definitively revealed on February 9. Elect denotes a package of technologies specifically designed to complement the characteristics of electric cars, delivering immediate grip for their immense torque, low rolling resistance to maximise range, and reduced noise to benefit driving comfort and environmental sustainability.

PIRELLI’S SOCIAL MEDIA TO DELIVER ALL THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The World Ski Championships are held behind closed doors this year, but Pirelli will open them virtually to fans through its social media channels, allowing winter sports enthusiasts to soak up all the atmosphere. Stars from the world of sport and entertainment will accompany Pirelli’s social followers on a behind the scenes tour to provide a unique perspective on the snowy competition. Cyclist Ignazio Moser will be getting there from the Falzarego Pass, while actress Matilde Gioli will be joining from the Misurina Lake, and another actor – Giulio Berruti – will be broadcasting from the 30 hairpin bends of the Giau Pass. Pirelli’s social media channels will also host a competition where people can win official Cortina 2021 merchandise as well as Pirelli tyres.

Published on: 9 February 2021, 16:17 CET

P ZERO WINTER AND SOTTOZERO 3 TYRES ARE AVAILABLE FOR WINTER

Milan, 14 January 2021 -- The latest technical collaboration between Pirelli and BMW Group is driven by the goal of achieving the highest levels of performance and safety. A total of 78 original equipment homologations have been tailor-made for the latest versions of the BMW 8 Series Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Cabrio: including the M Sport models.

These top of the range 8 Series cars will use bespoke Pirelli P Zero and Cinturato P7 tyres from 18 to 20 inches, specifically developed to unleash the maximum performance on the road and engineered to provide safety, control, and handling. The tyres were created in line with Pirelli’s ‘perfect fit’ philosophy and homologated as original equipment for the BMW Group’s luxury grand touring range, allowing occupants to benefit from maximum on-board comfort and appreciate the car’s full performance in every situation. These tyres deliver excellent wet braking performance with low rolling resistance, which reduces harmful emissions to support sustainability, and are marked with a star that distinguishes tyres developed by Pirelli’s engineers to meet the BMW Group’s performance requirements. They are also equipped with Run Flat technology, which allows drivers to continue their journeys even after a puncture or tyre pressure loss, for 50 miles at a speed of 50 mph.

Pirelli’s new P Zero tyres, dedicated to the most sporting cars, have starred in tests carried out by the specialized media. These tests highlighted excellent handling in both wet and dry conditions, as well as good balance and precise steering response with exemplary feedback. Furthermore, the media reported reduced wet and dry braking distances and a solid margin of safety against hydroplaning. When it came to sporting performance, the Pirelli P Zero demonstrated excellent driveability in both dry and wet conditions, as evidenced by lap times over a circuit. These results were also seen with the tyres homologated for the BMW Group’s well-known high-performance M series cars.

The Cinturato P7 is designed to increase safety by providing the driver with excellent control both in dry and wet conditions in terms of handling, braking and reducing aquaplaning. Added to this is an excellent level of acoustic comfort (with less road noise) and ride comfort (thanks to a greater ability to soak up bumps in the road) allied to outstanding durability and rolling resistance, which leads to reduced fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. For BMWs destined for the United States, Pirelli has developed the Cinturato P7 All Season to meet the requirements of the local market, while maintaining the exceptional performance typical of the Cinturato family.

Pirelli’s tyre homologations for the BMW 8 Series – in all its different variants – are characterized by a complete offering for both summer and winter. For winter, Pirelli has developed specific Sottozero 3 and P Zero Winter tyres dedicated to the BMW 8 Series.

Mattia Bussacchini, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, said: “The variety of the Pirelli line-up satisfies a very wide range of requirements both from consumers and car manufacturers. The joint development work with BMW Group has allowed us to create different technical solutions in terms of tyre tread patterns and constructions, which complement the exact performance of all the different 8 Series models. These new homologations join the other 3600 homologations already in Pirelli’s portfolio, representing an important result derived from shared processes and objectives. This is supported by the most innovative research and simulation technologies, which increasingly characterize our development processes for new original equipment tyres.”

Published on: 14 Jannuary 2021, 12:36 CET

Pirelli’s engineers worked in tandem with their counterparts from Land Rover to design bespoke Scorpion Zero All Season tyres for the new Defender: Land Rover’s off-roading icon, as part of an intense development programme that took place all over the world in the most extreme conditions possible.

OFF-ROAD SPIRIT BUT TOP OF THE CLASS IN ROLLING RESISTANCE

The Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season was born as an Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyre, intended for SUVs and designed to deliver maximum performance throughout every season: both in the dry and in the wet, guaranteeing excellent levels of comfort and safety, as well as reducing noise.

In order to hit Land Rover’s target of having tyres in class A of rolling resistance, Pirelli’s engineers worked from the ‘standard’ Scorpion Zero All Season, in 19 to 20-inch sizes, to increase its off-road ability and reduce rolling resistance to a minimum. A true challenge for Pirelli, with Land Rover being one of the first manufacturers in the world to focus on reduced emissions for its new off-roaders.

The development of the new tyre followed Pirelli’s ‘perfect fit’ philosophy, using new materials for the structure and compounds to be classified in class A for rolling resistance, which was specifically requested for off-road and wet grass performance. For this specific test, conducted on a hill, Land Rover tested Pirelli’s Scorpion Zero All Season both uphill at constant speed as well as a sideways across the slope in order to assess lateral grip on wet grass.

To meet Land Rover’s performance and efficiency targets for the Defender, the Scorpion Zero All Season tyres underwent a modification to the structure, with a new design on the shoulder and a double tread block, which improves grip on mud, grass, and snow. This is essential to the Defender’s performance and stability: even at high speeds and on typically off-road surfaces.

DEVELOPMENT TESTS ON EVERY SURFACE: FROM THE UK TO ITALY, GERMANY, SWEDEN AND SPAIN

The development of the new Scorpion Zero All Season for the latest Defender started from Pirelli’s facilities in Carlisle and Milan with a series of indoor laboratory tests, before moving onto an outdoor programme. One of the testing grounds used was Eastnor Castle in the United Kingdom’s Malvern Hills: where Pirelli’s Scorpion Zero All Season tyres were tested on 66 miles of varied terrain to find their limits. Snow and ice testing took place at Land Rover’s Revi Arjeplog in northern Sweden, while for soft handling and comfort, Pirelli used Land Rover’s own test track at Gaydon in Warwickshire, England. The high speed and wet handling tests were done at the legendary Nurburgring in Germany, and at the Applus and Idiada facility in Spain, as well as at Pirelli’s own Vizzola test track. This is considered by Land Rover to be one of the best places to assess wet handling, underlining the long history between the two companies that dates back to the 1970s, when the first Cinturato P5 was developed for Jaguar.

Published on: 15 December 2020, 12:10 CET

THE FIRST CAR TO USE ELECT-MARKED TYRES IS THE PORSCHE TAYCAN: NOW WITH A DEDICATED P ZERO FOR EVERY SEASON

Milan, 25 November 2020 – Low rolling resistance to increase autonomy, decreased road noise for ultimate comfort, immediate grip that puts the power down for a quick getaway, and a special structure designed to support the weight of a battery-powered vehicle. These are the key characteristics of Pirelli Elect tyres, developed by Pirelli together with leading car manufacturers to meet the specific technical requirements of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

This type of tyre is distinguished by the Elect marking, which was launched at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show and is available as original equipment for the most modern cars on the road.

PORSCHE TAYCAN WITH P ZERO ELECT

Pirelli’s engineers developed a specific P Zero Elect tyre for the Porsche Taycan, which is able to capitalise upon the car’s prodigious performance. This tyre was developed in line with Pirelli’s perfect fit philosophy, with a compound, construction and tread pattern design specifically created for the Taycan. This delivers low rolling resistance to maximise the car’s autonomy, reduced road noise to increase cabin comfort, and immediate grip – even with the Taycan’s impressive power and low-down torque – to enhance driveability: all in perfect safety. Thanks to Pirelli Elect, anyone choosing a Porsche Taycan can be sure of driving tyres as well as a car that have been specifically developed to be fully electric.

PIRELLI ELECT WINTER FOR THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS

With winter setting in as well as laws mandating the use of winter tyres in many countries, Pirelli has created Elect versions of the Winter Sottozero 3, Scorpion Winter and P Zero Winter. The latter is available for the Porsche Taycan in 19-inch and 20-inch sizes.

Winter tyres are also recommended for electric and hybrid cars, if they are driven a lot in winter conditions, and their drivers require the best possible performance even in the harshest conditions. As autumn turns into winter and temperatures drop below seven degrees centigrade, summer tyres are no longer able to perform at their best and so discerning drivers prefer winter tyres. Thanks to their softer compound, which still works well even when temperatures drop below zero and surfaces offer particularly low grip, winter tyres deliver excellent roadholding and traction – which is particularly challenging with electric cars – as well as secure braking, all to the advantage of safety. This is achieved with a tyre that has been specifically conceived to suit the unique performance characteristics of electric cars. These bespoke winter tyres are distinguished by M+S symbols accompanied by the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) logo, which can be easily recognised and guarantees the tyre’s conformity with winter traffic laws in a number of different countries.

Published on: 25 November 2020, 11:28 CET

RIV IS THE DEDICATED MARKING THAT WILL IDENTIFY PIRELLI’S TIRES FOR RIVIAN; ELECT MARKINGS WILL IDENTIFY EV TIRES

PIRELLI’S 21-INCH TIRES FOR RIVIAN HAVE A WORLD-UNIQUE SIZE

Milan, 2 November, 2020. The EV startup Rivian has chosen Pirelli Scorpion range to fit its highly anticipated R1T pickup, which begins production in June 2021, and its R1S electric SUV.

Pirelli has developed special versions of its Scorpion Verde All Season, Scorpion Zero All Season and Scorpion All Terrain tires (Pirelli’s dedicated range for SUVs and pickups) to meet Rivian’s specifications, and to enhance the vehicles’ unique characteristics following the “Pirelli Perfect Fit” strategy. Indeed, all Pirelli tires developed for Rivian have a special marking on the shoulder: RIV and Elect.

“Elect” is the marking that identifies Pirelli tires for electric vehicles. Tires play a crucial role in EV performance – they are a key safety, performance, and range optimizer.

Pirelli tires marked “Elect” offer a number of advantages for electric vehicles, thanks to a specific set of technical characteristics. Low rolling resistance helps to maximize each car’s range. In electric cars, reduction in noise accentuates one of the key advantages of electric driving: silence. Finally, the Pirelli tires marked “Elect” offer improved traction in line with the intense demands from the transmission. Electric motors deliver the maximum torque available right from the bottom of the rev range, and so they need tires that can bite into the asphalt instantly.

Pirelli and Rivian co-developed these products over almost two years, and this collaboration has resulted in three special tires: 20, 21 and 22 inches. In particular, the Scorpion Verde All Season in 21 inches have a very special tire size, unique in the world, introduced in the industry by Pirelli specifically for Rivian: 275 55R21.

The technical partnership with Rivian underlines the focus of Pirelli on sustainable mobility and American car brands.

PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE ALL SEASON: THE “LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE” TIRE

The Scorpion Verde (Italian for green) All Season is Pirelli's eco-friendly Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire developed for the drivers of crossovers, sport utility vehicles and pickups.

The main challenge Pirelli’s technicians had to face to develop a dedicated version of these tires for Rivian was to meet their low rolling resistance targets.

Pirelli’s engineers worked on a higher-silica compound that decreases the vehicles’ energy consumption. Then, they worked on a dedicated design of the mold, narrowing the tread pattern of the tires and keeping an optimal footprint pressure distribution. In this case reducing surface-to-ground contact translates into less energy dissipation.

Pirelli’s Scorpion Verde All Season tires for Rivian are constructed from lighter raw materials that don’t compromise durability or performance. The Scorpion Verde All Season also presents a special size, unique in the industry: 275/55R21.

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season for Rivian increases efficiency and range. It is also designed to combine dry and wet road handling, comfort and year-round capabilities, including all-season traction in light snow.

PIRELLI SCORPION ZERO ALL SEASON: THE “GRIPPY” TIRE

If “Verde” in the Pirelli vocabulary defines its environmentally friendly tires with low rolling resistance and weight, “Zero” definitely indicates its high-performance range.

In particular, the Scorpion Zero All Season tires are developed for the drivers of powerful crossovers and SUVs, as well as sport-tuned and performance pickup trucks looking for a combination of high-performance capability with all-season utility, including the ability to drive in snow.

For its vehicles, Rivian asked Pirelli to develop an even “grippier” version of its Scorpion Zero All Season tires. To achieve this request, Pirelli’s engineers introduced nano-composite compounds to ensure maximum grip and stability. Then they focused on the tread pattern, introducing a dedicated mold with a larger tread width, able to provide more contact area and, consequently, leading to a better handling performance.

All of that, without compromising the low rolling resistance targets needed to support a longer vehicle range.

PIRELLI SCORPION ALL TERRAIN: THE OFF-ROAD TIRE

Pirelli’s 275/65R20 off-road tire, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus, was also specifically developed for the R1T and R1S with electric adventure in mind.

The Scorpion All Terrain Plus is Pirelli's On-/Off- Road All-Terrain light truck tire developed for drivers of pickup trucks, crossovers, and SUVs who want a balanced blend of on-road civility with off-road capability. The Scorpion All Terrain Plus is designed with a focus on optimizing durability, traction and wear resistance, in addition to providing snow traction: it gained indeed the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

The Scorpion All Terrain Plus is molded into a symmetric, high-void pattern. This pattern is designed to provide smooth and quiet on-road operation along with aggressive looks and confident off-road traction. Deep grooves and independent tread blocks help provide the clawing action needed to find grip in loose terrain, and conical stone ejectors resist punctures by forcing small rocks from the tread.

In this case, the challenge to create a dedicated version of these tires for Rivian has been to match their low rolling resistance targets with the off-road applications of the Scorpion All Terrain.

To achieve this result, Pirelli’s engineers designed a dedicated mold in order to reduce the weight of the tire, adding then a special compound for light trucks that made the tires more resistant to cuts and lacerations.

Published on: 2 November 2020, 15:24 CET

WINTER FOR DYNAMIC DRIVERS

Winter tyres are definitely preferable if many kilometres are driven in winter – either for business or pleasure – or if maximum performance is needed in every winter conditions. With the lower temperatures of autumn and winter below seven degrees, summer tyres are no longer able to perform at their best, and so winter tyres are better for drivers who demand more performance. Thanks to their softer compound, which performs strongly even when temperatures dip below zero, winter tyres guarantee optimal roadholding, traction, and braking even on low-grip surfaces: all of which adds up to improved safety, as well as increased comfort. The chemical properties of winter compounds reduce braking distances both in the wet (by up to 15%) and on snowy surfaces – by up to 50% in comparison to a summer tyre. The specific tread pattern for winter tyres also improves performance, especially thanks to the tread blocks designed to trap snow and increase grip with the friction provided by ‘snow on snow’ contact – without the need for snow chains. The large channels also allow water to be rapidly and efficiently dispersed when it’s raining, reducing the risk of aquaplaning to ensure safer driving in the wet. Winter tyres are distinguished by M+S or also M&S and M-S markings (which stand for mud and snow). This is often accompanied by the 3MPF symbol (which depicts a mountain and snowflake, as it stands for ‘three peak mountain with snowflake’). Think of it as a hallmark for winter tyres.

PIRELLI’S WINTER RANGE

For drivers with more powerful cars, Pirelli has the P Zero Winter range: tyres that are developed in collaboration with car manufacturers according to Pirelli’s ‘perfect fit’ strategy, which denotes tyres made to measure for the cars they are fitted to; a characteristic of P Zero. Top of the range premium cars have the Winter Sottozero 3 available to them, providing high levels of performance, while the Cinturato Winter is for drivers of city cars, urban SUVs and crossover vehicles. For the latest-generation SUVs and crossover vehicles, the Scorpion Winter is ideal, while the Carrier Winter is designed for vans and light trucks.

ALL SEASON FOR CITY DRIVERS

If the car is used primarily for city driving away from mountainous regions, with temperatures that range from -5°C to +25°C, and covering less than 25,000 kilometres a year without needing sport performance, all season tyres are the best choice. An all season tyre is characterised by a design and tread pattern that is balanced enough to work well both in low and high temperatures, on both wet and dry asphalt. Overall performance is good, as is all-round versatility. It’s important to remember though that this type of tyre won’t ever quite match the performance of summer tyres in summer or winter tyres in winter, although they represent an excellent compromise in all the situations described.

PIRELLI’S FOUR SEASONS

Pirelli’s all season range is a wide one, covering all sorts of vehicles. The Cinturato All Season Plus is designed to meet the needs of drivers who have tyres between 15 and 20 inches, and use their cars mostly in cities. For drivers of Crossover vehicles or SUVs, Pirelli makes the Scorpion Verde All Season SF, while completing the all season range is the Carrier All Season, for vans and light commercial vehicles. The Cinturato All Season Plus and Scorpion Verde All Season SF are also available with Seal Inside, which allows drivers to keep going even with a puncture of up to four millimetres. The Scorpion Verde All Season additionally has Self-Supporting Run Flat tyres as an option.

Published on: 22 October 2020, 12:27 CET

RAPID LAP TIMES IN PERFECT SAFETY

The new McLaren 765LT announces its sporting intentions with a 765-horsepower engine that puts out 800 Nm of torque to deliver the ultimate in performance, as well as aerodynamics that place plenty of load through the bespoke P Zero Trofeo R tyres. To meet McLaren’s brief for a tyre that is bespoke to the 765LT, Pirelli’s engineers have worked on the structure and profile of the tyres, increasing the contact patch to generate more mechanical grip and improve traction, particularly in dry weather. Another fundamental element in achieving McLaren’s objectives was the tread pattern compound. The design of the tread pattern has been designed to guarantee the best possible roadholding both in a straight line and through corners, reducing braking distances and maximising lateral grip. All this extra performance from the tyres, allied with the innovative capabilities of the new 765LT itself, has allowed the car to go faster round a circuit than any other car ever produced in Woking.

PIRELLI AND McLAREN

The new P Zero Trofeo R created for the McLaren 765LT represents the latest tyre born out of the long collaboration between Pirelli and McLaren, which also draws on the extensive lessons learned from motorsport by both companies. Every vehicle leaves the McLaren Production Centre with its own specific Pirelli tyre, tailor-made for that particular car and distinguished by a distinctive ‘MC’ marking on the sidewall. Some of these tyres are additionally equipped with other Pirelli technologies such as PNCS – Pirelli Noise Cancelling System – which guarantees maximum acoustic comfort inside the car.

Published on: 30 September 2020, 11:40 CET

A survey carried out by Pirelli showed that 85% of drivers in Italy would consider All Season tyres for their next tyre change, especially those who don’t live in mountainous area. That interest is backed up by a high level of knowledge: around 97% of respondents were familiar with the concept of All Season tyres.

NEW SIZES OF ALL SEASON TYRES FOR A GROWING MARKET

Over the last three years, there’s been a big increase in interest from consumers throughout Europe in All Season tyres, meaning that the market for them doubled between 2016 and 2019. Pirelli is expanding the range of these tyres with 22 new sizes – between 16 and 19 inches – in the Cinturato All Season Plus and Scorpion Verde All Season SF families. These are available for the aftermarket with Seal Inside technology as well: a system from Pirelli that allows motorists to keep driving even with a puncture. Thanks to these new sizes, Pirelli will be able to cover around 90% of the potential All Season market.

ALL SEASON TYRES ALONGSIDE TRADITIONAL SUMMER AND WINTER TYRES

Winter tyres are still recommended for more powerful cars and extreme winter conditions, but Pirelli’s All Season range is designed to cater for people who prefer to use just one set of tyres all year without having to change between summer and winter, because of the way they drive and how they use their cars. That demand has increased greatly throughout Europe, with All Season tyres offering a great balance between the characteristics of a summer tyre and the specialisation of a winter tyre.

CINTURATO ALL SEASON PLUS

The Cinturato All Season Plus, for cars with 15 to 20 inch wheels, is designed for people who primarily drive in cities without having to worry about weather or regulations that oblige winter tyres. This evolution of the original Cinturato All Season range benefits from a special directional tread pattern design that optimises water expulsion through two wide longitudinal and lateral channels, reducing aquaplaning. The innovative design also means reduced noise, both on the inside and the outside, enhancing driving pleasure. Another distinctive trait of the new Cinturato All Season Plus is its 3D blades. The pattern is designed to optimise the movement of the tread blocks to guarantee better performance under braking and through corners. This also makes the wear profile of the tyre more even, while extending tyre life. In snowy weather, the blocks open out and capture snow, delivering excellent roadholding. That’s why the All Season Plus is marked with the M+S symbol as well as the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol: the hallmark of total safety in winter conditions.

SCORPION VERDE ALL SEASON SF

Pirelli offers the Scorpion Verde All Season SF for drivers of SUVs or crossovers: a tyre well-suited to both summer and winter that’s also marked with the M+S as well as the three-peak mountain snowflake symbols, guaranteeing safety in cold weather. The specific design of the tread pattern and blocks delivers excellent handling both in snowy and wet conditions, with perfect traction and lateral stability, along with low road noise. Completing the attributes of this tyre is a long life and low rolling resistance, helping to save money on fuel.

CARRIER ALL SEASON

The All Season range is rounded off by the Carrier All Season for vans and light commercial vehicles. This tyre is very easy to drive, with a long life, low rolling resistance and excellent performance in all conditions. Furthermore, the Carrier All Season is a class leader in wet conditions and equipped with the M+S and three-peak mountain snowflake symbols to guarantee performance in moderate winter conditions.

SEAL INSIDE TECHNOLOGY: NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT PUNCTURES

The Cinturato All Season Plus and Scorpion Verde All Season are also available with ground-breaking Seal Inside technology, which allows drivers to keep going with no loss of tyre pressure, in case of punctures up to four millimetres. It works thanks to a special mousse on the inside of the tyre, which instantly wraps around any foreign object puncturing the tyre and so prevents a loss of air pressure. Once the object is removed, the mousse expands to further plug the gap. This mousse is in turn covered in a special film that also protects it before the tyre is fitted to the wheel. The Seal Inside option extends the mobility of the car with no worries, guaranteeing performance in all conditions and protecting against punctures.

RUN FLAT TECHNOLOGY

Scorpion Verde All Season tyres are also available with Pirelli’s Self-Supporting Run Flat option, guaranteeing safety without compromising driving pleasure. These tyres are specifically designed to keep the car stable in the event of a puncture, allowing motorists to drive another 80 kilometres safely at a maximum speed of 80kph. It works thanks to reinforcements built in to the tyre’s sidewall, which are capable of supporting the weight of the car as well as all the forces acting on it: even with no internal tyre pressure.

Published on: 8 September 2020, 11:49 CET

A HIGH TECHNOLOGY TYRE

For all the different versions of the Fiat 500 that were made from 1957, Pirelli has recreated the Cinturato CN54 in 125 R 12 size, which was originally launched in 1972. This is a radial tyre with a tread pattern design and sidewall that is similar to the original, but made with modern technology. Pirelli Collezione tyres make use of contemporary compounds to offer increased grip and improved road holding on wet surfaces, guaranteeing reliability and high safety standards without compromising on the original style. Throughout the tyre’s research and development programme, Pirelli’s engineers used the same parameters that the original vehicle designers used, in order to perfectly complement the suspension and chassis settings of the car when it was new. To achieve this, they referred to original materials and designs housed in the Pirelli Foundation archives in Milan.

PART OF THE FIAT 500 STORY FROM THE START

The Fiat 500 was born in 1957, at just 2.95 metres long with a 479cc engine that put out 13 horsepower and delivered a top speed of 85kph. The tyre size was a conventional 125 12, featuring either the Cisa tread pattern or the tried-and-trusted Stelvio, not to mention the Rolle design that was available for the larger Fiat 600 as well. The Fiat 500 range would expand over the years, from the original N version to the D that was presented in 1960. This version was the first car to adopt Pirelli’s Sempione ‘Safety Shoulder’, featuring more rounded sidewalls for better road holding through corners. The Fiat 500F came out in 1965, followed by the L in 1968, both with Pirelli 12-inch tyres. When the R version was launched in 1972, the Pirelli Cinturato range was sufficiently wide that Fiat’s runabout could also be had with a radial CN54 tread pattern, in 125 R 12 size. This is the tyre that Pirelli is making again for owners of this classic Italian icon. The CN54 of the time was directly derived from rallying experience, maintaining the tread pattern design of the classic CA67 – which made the Cinturato name famous all over the world, thanks to a new belted structure that improved both comfort and tyre life.

PIRELLI COLLEZIONE, HISTORY ON THE ROAD

The Pirelli Collezione family was born with the goal of preserving automotive history through tyres that serve a dual purpose: maintaining the look and driving feel of the original versions, but improving efficiency and safety thanks to modern technology and production processes. The range starts with the legendary Stella Bianca, first launched in 1927, then takes in the Stelvio, brought back to life in 2018 to exclusively supply the Ferrari 250 GTO – the most expensive car in the world – as well as the CA67 (1955), CN72 (1964), CN36 (1968), CN12 (1968), Cinturato P7 (1974), P5 (1977), P Zero (1984) and P700-Z (1988).

Throughout the development process of these reborn tyres, Pirelli’s engineers used the same vehicle parameters that the original designers would have relied upon at the time, but making use of all the know-how and experience when it comes to materials and production processes that have been built up in the meantime. The result is a compelling mix of performance, style and authenticity. The images, plans and other materials supplied by the Pirelli Foundation archive were a fundamental part of this process. The Foundation has kept all documents relating to the design, development and production of every Pirelli tyre over the years: including homologation certificates, mould designs, tread pattern studies and testing results, as well as price lists and catalogues. Pirelli Collezione tyres are available from specialised classic car tyre dealers, such as Longstone Tyres, as well as from Pirelli’s flagship P Zero World stores in Los Angeles, Munich, Monaco, Dubai and Melbourne.

PIRELLI CINTURATO: A STORY OF SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY THAT DATES FROM THE 1950s

Seventy years ago, Pirelli’s engineers tried out the first prototype of an innovative tyre that gave birth to an entire family. At the time, it wasn’t yet called Cinturato, but it was hiding a genuine industry revolution underneath the tread pattern. Throughout the history of tyre-making, there have been relatively few truly radical changes, yet one of them was definitely the introduction of radial tyres that Pirelli developed using textile and metal reinforcements. The “fabulous new tyre with its own safety belt inside” – as the Cinturato was described by Pirelli’s marketing department at the time – went on to equip the most important cars of its era. From the beginning, the ‘367’ tyre was chosen by manufacturers such as Lancia but the next evolution of this landmark tyre would introduce the Cinturato to the world’s most desirable cars. With the introduction of the Cinturato CA67, CN72 and CN73 covers, Pirelli invented the concept of the sporting tyre for the road – which was needed to provide as much grip as possible for epoch-defining supercars such as the Ferrari 250 GT and 400 Superamerica, Lamborghini 400GT and Miura, Maserati 4000 and 5000.

By the mid 1970s, the next big revolution in the Cinturato family had made its presence felt. Created for rallying in general and the Lancia Stratos in particular, the first Cinturato P7 contained ground-breaking innovations such as a zero-degree nylon belt and above all an ultra-low profile. The first cars to adopt it on the road were the Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, Lamborghini Countach and De Tomaso Pantera. The P7 was swiftly followed by the P6: a tyre that was less sporty, but with a wider range of potential applications. Then there was the P5, created specifically for Jaguar, which had asked Pirelli for the quietest possible tyre with maximum ride comfort. In the 1980s, the P600 and P700 were born, the successors to the P6 and P7 respectively. These focussed on safety improvements, such as wet grip and cornering. By the time the 1990s came round, the P6000 and P7000 were on the market, improving safety and performance still further. In the meantime, Pirelli’s engineers had worked on yet another revolution, to equip the mighty Lancia S4 rally car. This beast needed bespoke tyres to cope with the brutal power it was able to generate , and so the P Zero was born. But that’s another story entirely…

In 2009, the Cinturato P7 name made a comeback, headlining on its ability to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emissions, its use of ecological materials, and improved handling and braking. The family grew with the introduction of Winter and All Season versions, which remain part of the range today and have racked up more than 400 homologations. This just goes to show how the Cinturato P7 has always been a favourite among carmakers, thanks also to its ability to follow the latest automotive trends. The Cinturato P7 has kept up with all the game-changing innovations introduced in recent years: advanced electronics, driver assistance systems, hybrid and electric cars. Today, the new Cinturato P7 builds on this heritage and launches with 60 homologations to its name already. More than ever, it showcases the two guiding principles that have shaped its development from the 1950s right up to now: safety and efficiency.

Published on: 19 August 2020, 11:56 CET

At the wheel of Pirelli’s uniquely-liveried Citroen C3 WRC test car will be Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen, co-driven by his compatriot Anders Jaeger. The former Volkswagen, Citroen and Hyundai factory driver will be spearheading the development of the latest-generation Pirelli Scorpion tyres for gravel and P Zero tyres for asphalt, which will be exclusively supplied to the World Rally Championship from 2021 to 2024.

Although the test programme has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pirelli is still on course to deliver its new tyres for next year’s championship, which will kick off with the world-famous Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 18-24.

Overseeing the test programme is Pirelli’s rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni, leading a select team of researchers on the ground in Sardinia developing the tyres, backed up by many more experts at Pirelli’s research and development facility in Milan.

Pirelli’s objective from these first tests will be to establish a baseline and assess how the increased power and downforce of the latest World Rally Cars affect tyre wear, performance and degradation.

“That’s going to be particularly important when it comes to gravel,” explained Testoni. “On the world championship around 80% of the events are on gravel. Luckily, the gravel roads we are testing on – which were previously used on the Rally d’Italia – are among the most demanding gravel stages in the world.”

Intense heat, in excess of 30 degrees centigrade, will add to the challenge. The choice of former world championship stages is a deliberate one, providing an established reference point when the team returns to those stages later in the development programme.

“It’s important that we work methodically in order to measure our progress accurately,” added Testoni. “We start with the basis of a tried and trusted tyre, then we’ll be running a series of prototypes to see where we can add performance and durability. The task is particularly tricky when it comes to rallying, because unlike a circuit, the road and grip conditions are constantly changing. But we’ll come back to these roads in future, to see how the changes we make to the prototype tyres improve their performance.”

Pirelli’s test team aims to cover around 200 kilometres per day, comfortably surpassing the daily distance seen in a World Championship rally. Following the two-day Sardinia test, Pirelli’s engineers will analyse the resulting data before the programme continues next month.

Published on: 14 July 2020, 11:48 CET

The writers and visual artist involved in the project have thus looked at that capacity to react, change and improve which constitutes resilience. A capacity that typifies also those companies that, as has happened at Pirelli for almost 150 years, have been able to maintain and strengthen their identities by constantly adapting their business model, products and services to the evolution of the context in which they operate. Conceived before the changes imposed by Covid-19, the idea of resilience on which the project is based inevitably melds with the emergence of the pandemic, and takes the form of deep reflection which also touches the emergency we are living through in the pieces “Noon at our door” by Carrère and “The Zoom brigata” by Seabrook.

In his piece Carrère shares his reflections and reactions while writing a book during the pandemic: “We were all stunned by the fall of the Twin Towers, the mightiest historical event that had ever happened in our lifetime, but no writer, I think, thought that his novel about a love triangle or the first disillusions of his childhood had become obsolete after September 11, 2001. So what then? So it doesn't matter: I'm continuing, correcting, putting the finishing touches to my book on yoga. It may sound ridiculous but - if yoga is what I think it is -, it's not, and neither is trying to describe, not so much a little life, but through a little life, the aspiration to be who you want to be and the destructive forces that prevent you from being: our struggle, more or less, all of us. I go on like this: this is my form of resilience ».

John Seabrook sketches, on the other hand, a dialogue between friends on a virtual platform during the pandemic, like a story about the plague like the Decameron strictly linked to a fruitful epoch like the Renaissance: “Did you know that The Decameron was one of the first books printed?” “But what does The Decameron have to do with the Renaissance?” one of the brigata asked. “Only everything,” I replied. “Think of it: the world is ending, and five years later comes the first epic prose masterpiece of modern western literature. The canon begins with Boccaccio. And the moral of his story is, ‘As long as there is storytelling, humanity will go on.’ Even the Black Death couldn’t quench that life force. Is there a better example of human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity than the Decameron?”

The two authors’ texts are accompanied by eight illustrated panels by Hoşgör, known for his colourful, playful and dynamic style, always able to surprise, entertain and move. Each of his panels one of the key words that identify Pirelli: Artificial Intelligence, Changes, City of Future, Connection, Resilience, Smart mobility, Sustainability and Velocity.

Pirelli’s collaborations with writers and artists is part of a long tradition which has led, over the years, to the involvement of many international personalities from the worlds of art and literature who have enriched Pirelli’s annual reports which creative content. The 2010 annual report, for example, was illustrated by photography students from Naba di Milano, who were asked to interpret the theme of sustainability. In 2011, it was the turn of the designer Stefan Glerum, who interpreted values typical of Pirelli such as trustworthiness, speed, technology and innovation. In 2012, instead, the Annual Report was enhanced by the work of New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly, who interpreted in graphic form ten words chosen by a group of university students from around the world embodying the values they considered most significant for their future. In the 2013 annual report, on the other hand, the author and scriptwriter Hanif Kureishi coordinated 10 young international talents who reworked the idea of the “wheel” in the project “Spinning the Wheel”.

In 2014 it was street art’s turn in Pirelli’s integrated annual report, with three works by the Brazilian Marina Zumi, the German Dome and the Russian Alexey Luka, who examined themes typical of street art such as the road, mobility and multi-culturalism. The following year, in 2015, Pirelli engaged the Russian artist Pokras Lampas, an exponent of modern calligraphy, to represent the value of “uniqueness” (hence the volume’s title “Every Mark is unique”) using graphic elements and fingerprints. The Annual Report featured the text “Like the sentinel moon” by the writer Javier Marias.

In 2017, the Annual report “Data meets passion” told the story of Pirelli’s digital transformation with the volume’s artistic and written contributions coming from the artist Emiliano Ponzi and three writers of international fame: Mohsin Hamid, Tom McCarthy and Ted Chiang. In conclusion, the 2018 annual report, was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of ‘Power is nothing without control’, the slogan with which Pirelli is identified worldwide. To mark the occasion, the volume included images that evoked the concept ‘Power without control’ and with pieces from three authors of international fame: Adam Greenfield, Lisa Halliday and J.R. Moehringer.

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Published on: 18 June 2020, 15:15 CET

Pirelli will offer rapid testing, through needle prick to the fingertip, and, should the result call for it, conduct at the same time venous exams and swabs as well. The serological screening will be carried out with the maximum level of safety inside company areas with the support of qualified health workers.

The scheme, employee participation in which will be voluntary, is one of a number measures Pirelli has adopted for the restart of activities aimed at protecting the health of all employees, which is the company’s priority.

Published on: 05 June 2020, 11:01 CET

SAFETY IS AN EVEN BIGGER PRIORITY

A survey commissioned by Pirelli, which took place between the end of April and beginning of May among drivers using tyres in 18-inch size or higher, highlighted the tendency for increased car use in future – especially while social distancing measures are in place. In China, 68% of respondents said they would use their cars more, in Italy the figure was 31%, and in Germany 20%.

More than 50% of people surveyed said that they wanted to change tyres before the end of the year to ensure optimal safety for their cars. The criteria governing their choice showed increased attention to tyre reliability and quality: the percentage of respondents prioritising safety characteristics increased to 59% in Germany, 78% in Italy and 86% in China.

THE NEW PIRELLI CINTURATO P7

Starting from the previous generation launched in 2009, which has become a homologation leader, the Cinturato P7 has been constantly updated and improved thanks to the close partnerships between Pirelli and the world’s premium car makers.

The latest generation of Pirelli Cinturato P7 highlights what the biggest priorities are for today’s modern motorists: safety and efficiency. Pirelli’s engineers, through an intense programme of research and development, have come up with a product featuring high levels of technology able to overcome the typical compromises associated with tyres. The new technologies created for the Cinturato P7 are capable of reconciling conflicting requirements, such as performance in the wet and low rolling resistance, achieving a new technological standard to satisfy drivers and car makers all over the world. The technical innovations on the latest Cinturato include a new compound equipped with a type of ‘mechanical intelligence’ that can change according to ambient temperatures: a bit like having two compounds in one.

SAFETY ABOVE ALL, BUT ALSO COMFORT AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Safety is the key characteristic of the new Pirelli Cinturato P7. As well as improving on the dry handling of its predecessor, Pirelli’s new tyre for premium cars also greatly improves wet handling, aquaplaning and braking in particular: taking four metres less to come to a stop from 100kph. The innovations introduced by Pirelli’s engineers also improve acoustic comfort (thanks to less road noise) and ride comfort, with the new tyre better able to absorb bumps in the road. Overall tyre life increases by six per cent, meaning that tyres have to be changed less frequently. Rolling resistance also goes down by an average of one class (minus 12%), improving fuel consumption by four per cent (measured on the WLTP cycle) as well as CO₂ emissions.

THE ‘INTELLIGENT’ COMPOUND THAT ADAPTS TO TEMPERATURE

The new-generation Cinturato P7’s innovations start with the key element to every tyre: the tread pattern, which is contact with the road. The tread pattern specifically created for the new Cinturato P7 is enriched with silica and specific resins that help to increase grip and enhance the function of the tyre’s polymers. These are synthetic elastic materials that are chemically modified to improve the interaction with silica – and these polymers can change according to the tyre’s working temperature. This means that the new compound benefits from a sort of ‘mechanical intelligence’ thanks to better distribution of the silica particles and more effective interaction between them. As a result, the tyre’s characteristics can alter according to driving and temperature conditions, giving the driver an extremely wide optimal working range.

A TREAD PATTERN BORN OUT OF VIRTUAL REALITY

Every part that makes up the tread pattern of the new Cinturato P7 has a specific function: from the lateral and longitudinal grooves whose pattern is specifically intended to evacuate water in the most efficient way possible, to the specific shoulder blocks designed to deliver the minimum possible stopping distances both in the wet and the dry. Not only that, but the actual design and rigidity distribution of these blocks allows the new Cinturato to have the biggest possible contact patch through corners, delivering a safe and precise driving experience in all conditions (which also benefits comfort). Having been brought to life virtually on computer and then tested physically, the design process optimises both ride and acoustic comfort for the driver.

REDUCED BRAKING DISTANCES THANKS TO DIALOGUE WITH ELECTRONICS

Another area that Pirelli’s engineers have worked on is the tyre’s capability to ‘talk’ with existing electronic driver aid systems. In the case of ABS, for example – assuming the same car and tyre size – a tread pattern optimised to work in synergy with the car’s own electronics is able to brake sooner. Tests carried out when braking from 100kph have shown that the new Cinturato P7 needs an average of four fewer metres to stop: a reduction of between seven and 10%. The development of the new Cinturato in collaboration with the world’s leading carmakers, through virtual tyre models, has meant that the tyres can be optimally tuned to work together with existing driver aids. One good example is lane control systems. If twinned with an ‘unknown’ tyre, these systems can potentially make continual corrections, as they are not familiar with the specific dynamics of the tyre. If the same car is equipped with a new Cinturato P7, complete with the marking that distinguishes it as having been made for that particular manufacturer, the car’s lane departure system will not request these continual corrections, as it will know the tyre ‘by heart’.

MORE GRIP AND LESS WEAR THANKS TO NEW MATERIALS

The materials created for the new Pirelli Cinturato P7 offer greater mechanical resistance as well as guaranteeing better grip in all sorts of different driving situations. The reduced wear from this ‘high mileage’ compound means that a longer distance can be covered on a set of tyres and motorists can save money. This is thanks to the use of polymers in the compound that have a high molecular weight: in other words chains of chemical elements that are very long and so give the tyre certain mechanical properties such as greater resistance to abrasion and increased durability. The tread pattern compound was designed alongside the tyre as a whole, to deliver an optimum balancing of the tread system, that optimises the tyre’s footprint to the road, reducing heat generated while driving and contributing to an increase in grip yet reduction in wear.

LOWER FUEL CONSUMPTION AND DECREASED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITH A LIGHTER AND MORE EFFICIENT STRUCTURE

Having increased the mechanical resistance of the compound, not only is less material needed for the tread pattern (while maximising the overall tyre life) but also the overall weight of the tyre is reduced thanks to a complete review of all the materials used. Less material means less weight, decreased rolling resistance, and a more mindful use of resources. All this leads to lower fuel consumption, which saves every motorist money and reduces the impact on the environment. Pirelli’s engineers also worked on the reinforcement materials, without compromising the structure of the new Cinturato P7. The use of cords that are highly resistant to traction means that fewer of them can now be used, additionally contributing to weight reduction. Getting overall weight down was one of the key requests from car manufacturers, helping them meet increasingly stringent emissions targets worldwide.

ELECT, RUN FLAT AND SEAL INSIDE: PIRELLI’S TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP EVERY CUSTOMER

The new Cinturato P7 is born with Pirelli’s best-known technologies, adapted for all the different new car models that the tyres are homologated for – or to answer the needs of motorists who have specific requirements. These include the recently-launched Pirelli Elect range – a package of technologies specifically tailored for electric or plug-in hybrid cars – featuring instantly available grip to suit the strong performance characteristics of electric engines, lower rolling resistance to maximise battery range, and reduced noise to benefit from the quietness and comfort of electric power. The new Cinturato P7 can also include Run Flat and Seal Inside technologies, which allow drivers to keep going even after a puncture. The first system uses reinforced sidewalls to support the weight of the car; the second deploys a special mousse that can instantly plug holes that are up to four millimetres wide.

CINTURATO P7: THE CLASS LEADER CHOSEN MOST FREQUENTLY BY PREMIUM CAR MANUFACTURERS

Development of the new Cinturato P7 started around three years ago. Before the aftermarket versions, the original equipment tyres homologated by manufacturers were created, for cars that will hit the road in the coming weeks. The new P7 arrives with more than 70 homologations to its name already, and by the end of 2020, that figure is expected to grow to over 100. Each one of these specific homologations requires a specific research and development programme, carried out in tandem with every carmaker involved. In particular, with ‘marked’ tyres created for cars with 17-inch rims or bigger, the Cinturato P7 already has 23 homologations alongside the 100 plus gained by its predecessor. This confirms Pirelli’s Cinturato P7 as being the class leader, most commonly chosen by premium carmakers.

Published on: 25 May 2020, 16:09 CET

PSYCHOPHYSICAL SUPPORT THROUGH MINDFULNESS PRACTICES

“CYCL-E AROUND” ELECTRIC BICYCLE SERVICE TO FAVOUR SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Milan, 22 May 2020 - Play-educational activities for employees’ children, mindfulness practices, yoga courses, pilates and workouts as well as a virtual family care window with useful advice for managing the day-to-day. All strictly online. These are some of the welfare initiatives that Pirelli has launched during the Covid-19 emergency to help its employees engage with the new mode of work, manage their families and the gradual return to activities in the forms dictated by the pandemic.

To help parents working from home manage their children, Pirelli has launched the “Pirelli Smart Kids” program, weekly online “edutainment” activities for employees’ children between the ages of 3 and 11, divided by age group and subject areas. These include workshops to stimulate creativity, for English, one dedicated to technology and innovation and many others. In the context of this program, the Fondazione Pirelli and Pirelli HangarBicocca are taking a particularly significant role, putting to use their experience in the educational field through workshops and digital teaching activities linked to entrepreneurial culture and art.

Pirelli, in addition, for the psychophysical wellbeing of its employees, has launched an offering of free online courses in ‘Mindfulness’, conducted by specialists in the area, and wellbeing (yoga, stretching, pilates, physical exercise) with the possibility of doing exercises at home with a dedicated trainer. From the beginning of the emergency, these instruments have been accompanied by a family care window where employees can get useful support in the management family and social situations. There is also a listening centre to support "caregiver" employees who are involved, for example, in the care of a non-self-sufficient relative or people experiencing moments of significant change within the family nucleus.

To support homeworking, in addition, Pirelli is offering, via its online company training platform “Learning Lab”, two new sections to give employees – through videos, tutorials and guidebooks – information for the better use of the digital instruments already available to them for homeworking.

To encourage sustainable mobility and facilitate the home-office commute, Pirelli will offer its employees some Pirelli CYCL-e around electric bicycles, a rental service for high-end assisted-pedaling bicycles. The initiative is also a pilot test for the development of the initiative on a large scale and aimed at other companies as well. Always attentive to the theme of mobility, Pirelli already provides employees who cycle to work a changing area with showers.

To complete the offering of welfare and HSE services, in recent weeks Pirelli sent to the homes of all its employees in Italy a set of facemasks so they can carry out their daily activities safely and, from the beginning, provided a hotline for eventual needs.

Welfare has a long tradition at Pirelli and the company provides a variety of services. These include the in-house medical centre at the company headquarters, which offers specialist visits free of charge; a company concierge service for a variety of daily needs, such as dry-cleaning, tailoring, postal and package collection point. At all its Italian sites – Milan headquarters, Settimo Torinese and Bollate factories - there are libraries for employees.

Published on: 22 May 2020, 11:38 CET

NEW INITIVIATES FOR DEALERS, WHICH BEGAN WITH ONLINE TRAINING, SET TO CONTINUE

Milan, May 21, 2020 – Pirelli has released a new video that contains useful information about making the its retailers places where drivers can always feel safe. This information, delivered to Pirelli’s entire dealer network, expands on new measures designed to ensure that drivers feel completely secure when they change their tyres. As business starts up again, customers need to feel confident that their health is being prioritised, so Pirelli - among other initiatives to help dealer networks fulfil their obligations to look after their clients – has put together a series of reccommendations to help retailers sanitise and re-organise their premises. These measures have been handily summarised in a short film for the dealer network.

The new organisational processes for workshops and sales processes will help dealers to offer an even warmer welcome to their customers. These range from a fresh delineation of working areas, to a maximum number of people allowed in waiting areas, to the sanitation of cars and premises. New online booking systems are also explained, with customers using contactless payments: part of a general move towards greater use of digital systems. There are also suggestions about how to clean car keys and other items handled during maintenance, along with hygiene rules for staff to follow during each working day (hand-washing, temperature checks, plus the use of gloves and masks).

In addition to the video, which will be distributed on the internet as well as via social media channels belonging to Pirelli and its retailers, Pirelli has also sent a series of recommendations to all of its points of sale, adapted to different national legislation. This will help to ensure consistently clean and well-organised dealerships, meaning that customers will always feel safe and at home.

PIRELLI’S INITIATIVES FOR DEALERS

The video release is part of a series of actions implemented by Pirelli since early March. These include digital training courses for tyre dealers and the sales force, support in re-organising dealerships, as well as a suite of digital and traditional communications to help support retailers during these challenging times. Pirelli has also released some valuable information targeted at end users, with five handy tips to help drivers maintain their tyres and get back on the road safely.

Published on: 21 May 2020, 16:49 CET

Milan, 21 April 2020 – If your car has been standing for a while, it’s worth checking the tyres to make sure you can get going again safely. There are some checks you can carry out by yourself, but others are best done by a tyre specialist. There are more than 450 expert tyre dealerships throughout Italy in the Pirelli Driver network, and they are at your disposal for a check of tyres and pressures, allowing you to get back on the road safety.

Pirelli’s experts recommend in particular:

1. Checking tyres visually to see if there are any lumps or deformations caused by the car standing still for a long time, or by the weather conditions. Check also for damage, cuts, abrasions and the tyre bulging – and ensure that the valve caps are tight.
2. Checking tyre pressures, also the spare tyre, ideally at a tyre dealer with professional monitoring equipment. This helps guarantee optimal performance and safety, as well as the correct rolling resistance to enhance fuel economy.
3. Tyre wear to be above the legal limit of 1.6 millimetres tread depth. This can be checked using the tread depth indicator on the tyre itself: which is a 1.6 millimetre-high ridge of rubber within one of the main tyre grooves – just above the TWI (Tread Wear Indicator) marking in six points on the extreme part of the sidewall. If that rubber ridge is at the same level as the groove itself, then the tyre is down to the legal minimum.
4. Paying close attention to any vibrations could be felt through the steering wheel after the car has been standing for a long period of time. If these don’t go away after the first few kilometres, get the car looked at by professionals as soon as possible.
5. Switching to summer tyres if the car is still on winters by the time you use it again. However, the law allows you to keep using winter tyres even in summer as long as the speed rating matches what is shown on the car’s documents. If the speed rating for the winter tyres is lower, they must be swapped before May 15.

Published on: 20 April 2020, 16:12 CET

Milan, 15 April 2020 – Throughout its Driver networks of tyre dealerships in Italy as well as other associated independent retailers in Europe, Pirelli has launched a suite of initiatives for motorists wanting to carry out tyre and vehicle maintenance during the Covid-19 pandemic, in complete safety while respecting social distancing.

A CLEAN AND ORGANISED ENVIRONMENT

The sales points of the Driver network have high levels of welcoming and management with the maximum attention on the subject of health and safety of operators and clients. With this objective Pirelli has recommended to its dealers to adopt the procedures of welcoming, organisation and hygienisation of its premises in respect of the recent indications of the most important national and international institutions. New agreements with specialist suppliers are also providing access to protective equipment for sales points at dedicated condition for affiliates, in accordance with the latest health measures. These are now added to the hygiene services already available in many dealerships, including ozone cleaning.

CONTACTLESS TRANSACTIONS FROM HOME

The use of new digital platforms helps to minimise direct contact between customers and sales personnel. Slots for tyres and other maintenance can be booked over the dealership’s website for a specific time and date, meaning that customers are only in the dealership for the minimum time necessary. As well as sometimes paying in advance from home, it will also be possible to choose tyres, book a tyre change from winter to summer, as well as book specific checks on the battery and engine if the car has been stationary for a long time.

NO QUEUES AT THE DEALERSHIP

Thanks to the quick and easy online booking process, there will be no need to queue or wait at the dealership, with staggered appointments designed to anticipate periods of maximum demand. Some dealerships are already offering car collection and delivery services, and there are also dedicated valet services, in accordance with the latest regulations, with tyre changes taking place at home – such as the ‘Driver on the Go’ facility that is already in place at selected dealerships.

NEW WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

Commercial strategies are additionally being studied to help customers keep their distance through special offers and promotions, such as the discount offered by Pirelli dealerships in Spain for online bookings. Pirelli’s Driver outlets in Europe are implementing measures that respond to the specific needs of each local market, such as the reorganisation of public spaces in the dealership, as well as new digital services for customers and training for staff.

Mattia Bussacchini, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every area of the economy and changed the usual interaction between dealers and consumers. So we are supporting our Driver network of dealerships with new digital services as well as other ways to meet the needs of their customers. This is thanks to some fresh thinking and new standards of excellence, which will allow motorists to carry out any required car maintenance in comfort and safety.”

Published on: 15 April 2020, 11:39 CET

Regular maintenance and tyre monitoring are important to guarantee the safety of both people and merchandise. Tyres at the correct pressure also help contribute to a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. But keeping tyres in top form usually requires an important investment in resources as well as time.

Pirelli’s Cyber technology drastically reduces the time needed to check tyre pressures by utilising sensors within the tyres, making it easier to plan scheduled maintenance. Thanks to this integration with Golia – the only fleet platform in Europe that offers complete management of tachograph data – fleet managers can remotely monitor driver hours as well as vehicle data, including the condition and maintenance status of tyres.

Daniel Gainza, chief commercial officer of Pirelli Cyber, said: “Pirelli’s Cyber technology means that we can now integrate tyre data into a suite of connectivity platforms. We’ve also designed our system to make it extremely easy and convenient to use.”

Infogestweb managing director Claudio Carrano added: “Our fleet telematics and management services are already a key ingredient in our customers’ success. Now we can offer the added bonus of tyre monitoring, underling how safety and sustainability are at the very heart of our corporate values.”

About Pirelli:

Pirelli was founded in 1872 and is now one of the world’s leading tyre-makers, specialising exclusively in tyres for cars, motorbikes and road bikes, as well as associated services. Pirelli enjoys a unique space in the High Value tyre sector, thanks to products with advanced technological content, which have obtained more than 2700 homologations in partnership with the world’s most prestigious car manufacturers. Pirelli is constantly engaged in cutting-edge research and development, re-investing 6.1% of its High Value revenue to maintain the highest levels of performance, safety, and environmental respect. Pirelli has been active in motorsport since 1907 and from 2011 has been exclusive supplier to the Formula 1 World Championship, recently renewing its agreement until 2023.

About Infogestweb:

Infogestweb is a software house that has been active for more than 30 years, as well as a training centre certified by the Italian transport ministry. Its Golia software is the most popular web platform in Italy for technology and services that help fleets conform to regulations and operate more efficiently. It offers tachograph monitoring solutions, geolocation and journey planning, plus consultancy, training, and legal and operational assistance. From today, tyre monitoring via dedicated sensors forms an important part of the package.

Published on: 08 April 2020, 10:20 CET

NEW DIGITAL TRAINING FOR TYRE DEALERS

This new initiative aimed at tyre dealers will feature an interactive email sent out every week with content focussed on the best commercial strategies to keep customers loyal during lockdown, more details on the characteristics of the latest Pirelli tyre range, activities to highlight Pirelli campaigns (such as sustainability, natural rubber supply chains, and brand value) as well as new processes to streamline sales and service management.

Thanks to the use of different digital communications channels such as email, the B2B site, the e-learning platform, webinars, and virtual meetings, a number of different articles, manuals, interviews, video tutorials and technical courses are at the disposal of both car and moto tyre dealers. This will allow them to undertake training activities whenever they like by connecting remotely. These materials are available in the native languages of all the major countries where Pirelli is present, starting in Italy and then moving on to the rest of Europe, as well as America and Russia. In 2019, Pirelli’s e-learning initiatives involved around 6000 tyre dealers around the world, thanks to a multilingual interactive programme.

VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR PIRELLI’S COMMERCIAL STAFF

For the salesforce and all other staff working in the commercial department, there are five digital marketing and client management webinars available. These make it possible to maximise digital opportunities for client interaction even during the current restrictions, with the objective of building a new working relationship when business activities fully resume.

Mattia Bussacchini, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, said: “We think it's important to offer our colleagues and dealers digital tools that will be useful even in the current situation. The use of the most modern and innovative communications methods is a something in which Pirelli has always invested and shared with its commercial partners. This new initiative will allow staff working in sales, as well as tyre dealers, to discover new ways of promoting our products and doing business digitally, reinforcing the relationship with customers and offering a better service.”

Published on: 06 April 2020, 15:24 CET

"The production of the Pirelli Calendar has been stopped before, in 1967 and then from 1975 to 1983. The unprecedented Covid-19 emergency has forced us to do so again today. We will return to the project when the time is right, together with the people who today were working on it with us", said the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera.

Published on: 24 Mar 2020, 15:37 CET

Published on: 15 March 2020, 13:08 CET

CINTURATO FAMILY EXPANDS: NOW AVAILABLE FOR E-BIKES AND SET FOR CONNECTIVITY TO 5G, ENHANCING FUTURE MOBILITY

Milan, March 6, 2020 – The Pirelli Cinturato is 70 years old. It was born when mass mobility was just taking off, but now it’s ready to expand with the imminent debut of the latest Cinturato P7, which benefits from seven decades of continuous technical development. Cinturato is also the most versatile tyre in the Pirelli Velo range, and it’s additionally set to equip Pirelli’s Cycl-e Around e-bikes, a bike-sharing service conceived to promote sustainable mobility. But not only that: development of intelligent tyres connected to the 5G network continues apace, with the new Cinturato P7 getting ready for the future of mobility and smart cities.

THE NEW CINTURATO P7: SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT

The new generation of Cinturato P7 highlights the key priorities for everyday road users: safety and efficiency. Thanks to an intense research and development programme, Pirelli’s engineers have come up with a high-technology product that’s able to overcome many of compromises traditionally associated with tyres and reconcile seemingly conflicting requirements, such as performance in the wet and low rolling resistance. This is a direct result of the technology locked into the new Cinturato P7, benefitting both drivers and car manufacturers.

This new tyre for premium cars, as well as carrying over the dry-weather performance from its predecessor, improves the whole driving experience when it comes to wet handling and resistance to aquaplaning. Wet braking takes a step forward in particular, with up to four fewer metres needed to stop from 100kph. The innovations introduced by Pirelli’s engineers also improve acoustic comfort (courtesy of less road noise) and ride comfort, with the new tyre now able to absorb more bumps in the road. Overall tyre life increases by 6%, meaning that drivers can go longer before swapping tyres. Underlining the efficiency of the new Cinturato P7, rolling resistance goes down a class thanks to a reduction of 12%, improving fuel consumption by 4% (on the WLTP cycle) and reducing CO2 emissions.

The new P7 can benefit from Pirelli’s other specialities as well, such as Run Flat and Seal Inside, which allow motorists to keep driving even after a puncture. There will also be an Elect version, which identifies Pirelli tyres specially made for electric cars or plug-in hybrids.

CINTURATO: READY FOR THE 5G NETWORK TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

The new Cinturato P7 will additionally be part of Pirelli’s ongoing Cyber research programme, with the Italian firm already having been the first to connect a tyre to the 5G network. This technology is currently being developed for future use in the smart cities that are just around the corner. Pirelli was the first global tyre firm to share information collected via intelligent tyres over the 5G network, capitalising on the tyre being the only part of the car to come into direct contact with the road, with the capability to warn of potentially dangerous situations such as aquaplaning. In the near future, the 5G telecommunications infrastructure will be able to collect all this information gathered by tyres and inform other vehicles of situations as they arise, directly improving road safety. All this elevates the tyre to an important communications tool that can ultimately benefit the entire transport ecosystem, actively contributing to future mobility and autonomous driving systems.

CINTURATO FOR PIRELLI CYCL-E AROUND

New forms of alternative mobility are springing up in cities all over the world, with the common aim of improving sustainability. In 2019, Pirelli launched its Cycl-e Around programme: an all-inclusive premium e-bike hire service (which are pedal bikes with electric assistance) on Pirelli tyres. The latest range of these e-bikes uses Pirelli Cinturato Gravel tyres, specially designed to cope with all sorts of weather and surface conditions both in and out of town. The Pirelli Cinturato Gravel tyre, launched at the end of 2019, responds to the increasing demand for more comfortable and adaptable bikes than the traditional racer, complete with the capacity for light off-road work. Pirelli created the new SpeedGRIP compound especially for the Cinturato Gravel tyre, which is designed to safely tackle every situation a cyclist is likely to find, both in the wet and the dry.

PIRELLI CINTURATO: A STORY OF SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY THAT DATES FROM THE 1950s

Seventy years ago, Pirelli’s engineers tried out the first prototype of an innovative tyre that gave birth to an entire family. At the time, it wasn’t yet called Cinturato, but it was hiding a genuine industry revolution underneath the tread pattern. Throughout the history of tyre-making, there have been relatively few truly radical changes, yet one of them was definitely the introduction of radial tyres that Pirelli developed using textile and metal reinforcements. The “fabulous new tyre with its own safety belt inside” – as the Cinturato was described by Pirelli’s marketing department at the time – went on to equip the most important cars of its era. From the beginning, the ‘367’ tyre was chosen by manufacturers such as Lancia but the next evolution of this landmark tyre would introduce the Cinturato to the world’s most desirable cars. With the introduction of the Cinturato CA67, CN72 and CN73 covers, Pirelli invented the concept of the sporting tyre for the road – which was needed to provide as much grip as possible for epoch-defining supercars such as the Ferrari 250 GT and 400 Superamerica, Lamborghini 400GT and Miura, Maserati 4000 and 5000. The CN12 marked the beginning of low profile tyres, capable of delivering even more performance. The game moved on yet again with the introduction of the CN36, which was born for road cars but also made its mark on rallying. Using this experience, other evolutions of the Cinturato such as CN54 were subsequently created.

FROM THE FIRST CINTURATO P7 TO THE P ZERO

By the mid 1970s, the next big revolution in the Cinturato family had made its presence felt. Created for rallying in general and the Lancia Stratos in particular, the first Cinturato P7 contained ground-breaking innovations such as a zero-degree nylon belt and above all an ultra-low profile. The first cars to adopt it on the road were the Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, Lamborghini Countach and De Tomaso Pantera. The P7 was swiftly followed by the P6: a tyre that was less sporty, but with a wider range of potential applications. Then there was the P5, created specifically for Jaguar, which had asked Pirelli for the quietest possible tyre with maximum ride comfort. In the 1980s, the P600 and P700 were born, the successors to the P6 and P7 respectively. These focussed on safety improvements, such as wet grip and cornering. By the time the 1990s came round, the P6000 and P7000 were on the market, improving safety and performance still further. In the meantime, Pirelli’s engineers had worked on yet another revolution, to equip the mighty Lancia S4 rally car. This beast needed bespoke tyres to cope with the brutal power it was able to generate , and so the P Zero was born. But that’s another story entirely…

THE P7 IS BORN AGAIN

In 2009, the Cinturato P7 name made a comeback, headlining on its ability to reduce fuel consumption and noxious emissions, its use of ecological materials, and improved handling and braking. The family grew with the introduction of Winter and All Season versions, which remain part of the range today and have racked up more than 400 homologations. This just goes to show how the Cinturato P7 has always been a favourite among carmakers, thanks also to its ability to follow the latest automotive trends. The Cinturato P7 has kept up with all the game-changing innovations introduced in recent years: advanced electronics, driver assistance systems, hybrid and electric cars. Today, the new Cinturato P7 builds on this heritage and launches with 60 homologations to its name already. More than ever, it showcases the two guiding principles that have shaped its development from the 1950s right up to now: safety and efficiency.

Published on: 6 March 2020, 11:05 CET

Created by FTSE Russell, a company controlled by the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE4Good indices measure the ESG performances – environmental, social and governance - of companies in the world’s major markets and are a point of reference for investors to create and evaluate responsible investment funds and other related investment products.

Published on: 31 Jannuary 2020, 15:14 CET

Pirelli was the only company of the auto components sector, worldwide, to obtain the "Gold Class Distinction". The rankings are prepared each year based on the SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the Dow Jones Sustainability indices, on which Pirelli in 2019 also achieved world sector leadership with a total score of 85 points compared with a sector average of 33.

Published on: 31 Jannuary 2020, 13:08 CET

AUSTRIAN ICE: A TOUGH TEST FOR PIRELLI’S STUDS – AND ICE TYRE TECHNOLOGY

Pirelli will supply both the historic and modern cars taking to the icy track at Zell am See with its Sottozero Ice tyres equipped with seven-millimetre studs, as well as its Sottozero Snow tyres with two-millimetre studs. These tyres feature a tread pattern characterised by robust blocks and tungsten-tipped studs, which guarantee optimal traction, handling and performance on snowy or icy surfaces. Pirelli’s winter tyre experience derived from motorsport is regularly transferred to the road, underlining the company’s ‘race to road’ philosophy, which has utilised the knowledge obtained from more than 110 years of motorsport to develop technologies that improve safety and performance for everyday motorists. The ‘Sweden’ Sottozero Ice makes full use of Pirelli’s proprietary technologies: for this tyre, the studs are incorporated into the tyre during the actual vulcanisation process, rather than being inserted afterwards. This technology is used only by Pirelli and favours stud retention, which helps to maximise performance in competition.

Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s head of rally and offroad activities, commented: “The GP Ice Race is an important international event for fans of motorsport and the world’s most iconic cars. The icy track provides a spectacular arena for cars from different eras to compete against each other, with Pirelli tyres designed specifically for these conditions helping to make the action even more thrilling.”

PIRELLI: FROM RALLYING SUCCESS TO PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD

Pirelli has been present in rallying since the championship started in 1973, claiming 25 world titles and 181 rally victories. Highlighting this hard-earned experience is the company’s return to the World Rally Championship as sole supplier from 2021 to 2024. In the recent past, Pirelli was sole supplier from 2008 to 2010, while since 2018 it has supplied tyres to the WRC2 and Junior WRC categories.

Rallying has helped to create products and technologies that are still present in the Pirelli range today. First and foremost is the P Zero: a tyre that was originally designed in motorsport for the Lancia Delta S4: a formidable beast whose performance demanded a tyre especially made for it. The P Zero name was subsequently transferred to the road and represents the very hallmark of Pirelli, complete with some technical concepts that were born back in those days of Group B rallying. Pirelli’s presence in the World Rally Championship will sit alongside the company’s campaign in Formula 1, where it has been sole supplier since 2011.

Published on: 31 Jannuary 2020, 13:45 CET

AT THE TOP OF MOTORSPORT: IN F1 AND WRC

Pirelli’s latest engagement in the top class of rallying sits alongside the similar exclusive agreement that the Italian company has enjoyed with Formula 1 since 2011: the world’s top single seater category. These successful campaigns confirm Pirelli’s leadership in world motorsport, thanks to the experience gained through more than 110 years of motorsport.

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s senior vice president of prestige and motorsport, said: “Technology and passion are two key elements that Pirelli bring to motorsport, and these have allowed us to secure the single tyre supply for the World Rally Championship. We’ve supported young drivers in the Junior category for many years and now we’re returning to the top class as well.” Pirelli’s commitment to supporting the careers of young drivers is set to continue as well. Alongside the continued supply to the Junior WRC, Pirelli will also carry on equipping the Junior ERC3 class on the European Rally Championship.

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s head of F1 and car racing, said: “Our return to the top level of rallying is something that we were considering for a while, and it’s particularly fitting that this appointment from the FIA comes in the year that Ott Tänak – a graduate of the Pirelli Star Driver programme – was crowned world champion. Supplying the WRC alongside F1 will enable us to improve our products still further by putting them against some of the most varied and demanding conditions seen in motorsport.”

PIRELLI IN RALLYING

Pirelli has been present in rallying since 1973, claiming 25 world titles and winning 181 WRC events. More recently, Pirelli was sole supplier to the WRC from 2008 to 2010, and since 2018 it has supplied tyres for drivers in the WRC2 category. Rallying has always been a perfect open air laboratory for Pirelli’s engineers to test out new technologies that are eventually destined for road use, thanks to the extreme conditions that characterise the sport.

THE TYRE RANGE

Pirelli will supply the WRC with tyres that have already successfully been seen on different rally championships throughout the world. The P Zero RA is for asphalt, with different compounds available to suit the terrain and weather conditions. The Sottozero Snow (with or without studs) is used for snowy conditions, the Sottozero Ice J1 is specifically designed for Rally Sweden, while on gravel the reinforced Scorpion K is able to cope with a wide variety of loose surface conditions.

Published on: 21 December 2019, 17:15 CET

Together with a short art film, Paolo Roversi searches for the essence of Juliet

Verona, 3 December 2019 — Paolo Roversi’s 2020 Pirelli Calendar “Looking for Juliet” was presented to the public today at Verona’s Teatro Filarmonico.

Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s timeless drama, Paolo Roversi has tapped into the “Juliet that exists in every woman” with Claire Foy, Mia Goth, Chris Lee, Indya Moore, Rosalía, Stella Roversi, Yara Shahidi, Kristen Stewart and Emma Watson  as the protagonists of this 47th edition of The Cal™.

This year represents the first time the calendar merges photography with cinema as it is accompanied by a short film. In the 18-minute film, Paolo Roversi plays himself as a film director interviewing candidates for the role of Juliet, who pass one-by-one before the director’s lens to portray the multifaceted character with a broad gamut of emotions and expressions.

The scenario unfolds in two phases. In the first, the protagonists are shown arriving at the set, without makeup or costume. They sit and talk with Roversi about the project under way, each one vying to be chosen, telling the director about their personal experiences and how they envisage Juliet. In this way, the actresses reveal their intimate, personal side. In the second phase they put on the costumes devised to transform them for their personal interpretation of Shakespeare’s heroine. The idea is to portray a story in which reality and fiction dovetail and their distinctions blur, as in a hazy photograph.

“I was looking for a pure soul, someone full of innocence that combined strength, beauty, tenderness and courage,” observes Roversi. “I found this in the glimmer of an eye, in the gestures and words of Emma and Yara, Indya and Mia and in the smiles and tears of Kristen and Claire…in the voices and chants of Chris and Rosalía. In Stella we have the innocence. There’s a Juliet in every woman,” he concludes. “And I will never stop looking for her.”

The photo-shoot took place in May, and the 2020 Pirelli Calendar is the first to be created by an Italian photographer, who chose Verona for the setting, the city that is indelibly tied to the young woman’s fate; but also Paris, where Roversi has lived for the past forty years.

As a passionate opera-lover of long standing, Roversi wanted to create an object with a unique graphic design deeply inspired by the opera libretto. The 2020 Calendar comprises 132 pages, with the monthly calendar on the cover, along with sections of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and 58 photos in both colour and black-and-white capturing the story’s protagonists and the city of Verona. The cover opens to reveal a drawing of a firmament which represents the universe and, ideally, contains and envelops the story of Juliet, making it eternal. The front and back covers are emblazoned with the gilded letters of the calendar itself, highlighting the date of Juliet’s birth, her first meeting with Romeo, their wedding, and their death. These dates are complemented by the birth dates of the stars of the Calendar, whose names are scattered on the cover, among the constellations, creating a kind of poetic firmament.

The many behind-the-scenes moments during the photo-shoots and filming, along with the characters and backstage stories of the 2020 Pirelli Calendar can be found online at the dedicated site www.pirellicalendar.com, which also offers the chance to explore the over fifty-year history of The Cal™ with films, interviews, photographs, and hitherto unpublished texts.

***

Visit www.pirellicalendar.com.

For the characters and backstage stories of the 2020 Pirelli Calendar, along with the background history of the over fifty years of The Cal™

Published on: 3 December 2019, 18:37 CET

P ZERO FOR THE TRACK, SCORPION ZERO FOR OFF-ROAD, SCORPION WINTER FOR ICE AND SNOW

Milan, November 21, 2019 – Nearly three years of hard work in close collaboration with Aston Martin’s engineers have resulted in three different tyres to showcase the capabilities of the new DBX. This latest Aston Martin is equipped exclusively with Pirelli tyres, following to a painstaking development process designed to meet the exact requirements of the famous British manufacturer. The P Zero for the DBX has been developed to offer the best possible performance and handling, the Scorpion Zero AS to go off-road, and the Scorpion Winter to deliver safety and performance even in in winter conditions, with the same dynamic driving feel as experienced in summer.

This joint development work, which is a hallmark of Pirelli’s ‘perfect fit’ strategy, began with laboratory testing before moving onto outdoor testing in different conditions. The wet weather capabilities of the Pirelli tyres for the new Aston Martin DBX were refined at Pirelli’s test track in Vizzola near Milan, while tyre performance on ice and snow was honed at Pirelli’s winter test facility at Fleurheden in Sweden. Outright performance was developed at the famous high speed Nardo circuit in southern Italy. The final validation came at the epic Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany: the ultimate test for any car and tyre package.

P ZERO, A TYRE FOR GRAN TURISMO

The new Aston Martin DBX delivers the absolute maximum in performance thanks to P Zero tyres that have been developed especially for it. In particular, the compound is derived from tyres used for GT cars, to maximise the V8 turbo power of the new Aston Martin. The P Zero compound for the DBX also produces maximum grip on track. The zero-degree belt in the structure of this P Zero marked A8A on the sidewall (to identify specific tyres for the Aston Martin DBX) uses a new hybrid material that offers better steering feel to enhance pleasure behind the wheel. Furthermore, it brings the overall weight of the tyre down, reducing rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

SCORPION ZERO AS, FOR SPORTS PERFORMANCE OFF ROAD

The Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS is instead designed for those who also intend to use their DBX off-road. Aston Martin’s goal is to open up possibilities for their customers, by offering a vehicle that is as versatile as possible while maintaining the performance and emotion that is synonymous with their cars. To achieve this objective, the Scorpion Zero tread pattern has been redesigned to maximise its off-road capabilities, with more rigid blocks towards the outside of the contact patch that provide enhanced grip in tricky conditions.

SCORPION WINTER: MAXIMUM SAFETY ON ICE AND SNOW

The Scorpion Winter, Pirelli’s specialised winter tyre for SUVs, has been optimised for winter weather – right down to temperatures of minus 30 degrees centigrade – to guarantee maximum efficiency even in the most extreme conditions. Pirelli has modified the materials that make up the carcass of this tyre to provide the best possible steering feel even in winter. As a result, performance driving is not just a summer activity in the DBX.

PIRELLI AND ASTON MARTIN

Pirelli and Aston Martin have always enjoyed a long and close relationship. The arrival of the new DBX, which is only available on Pirelli tyres, means that the Italian firm now equips 50% of all new Aston Martins, including iconic models such as the DBS Superleggera and new Vantage.

Published on: 21 November 2019, 11:01 CET

Turin, 14 November 2019 – Pirelli is the first tyre company in the world to transmit information detected by intelligent tyres regarding the road surface via the 5G network. In Turin today, the company presented the “World-first 5G enhanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) services” use case. The demonstration took place during “The 5G Path of Vehicle-to-Everything Communication” event organized by 5GAA – Automotive Association, of which Pirelli is a member.

Pirelli, Ericsson, Audi, Tim, Italdesign and KTH together staged a demonstration that took place on the roof of the Lingotto building showing how a vehicle equipped with the sensor-fitted Pirelli Cyber Tyre and connected to the 5G network was able to transmit the risk of aquaplaning detected by the tyres to a following car. This was thanks to 5G’s ultra-high band and low latency.

The tyre is the only point of contact between the vehicle and road and, thanks to the technology which Pirelli is perfecting, it communicated with the vehicle, driver and, thanks to the potential of 5G, with the entire roadway infrastructure. The Pirelli Cyber Tyre, equipped with an internal sensor, will in future supply the car with data relative to the tyre model, kilometers clocked, dynamic load and, for the first time, situations of potential danger on road surfaces, from the presence of water to poor grip. This information will enable the car to adapt its control and driving assistance systems, greatly improving the level of safety, comfort and performance. In addition, it will provide the same information to other cars and the infrastructure. Thanks to the potential of 5G, Pirelli is able to place the tyre inside a wider communication context which involves the enter ecosystem of on-road transportation, actively contributing to the development of solutions and services for future mobility and systems of autonomous driving.

This year Pirelli also presented its Italia Track Adrenaline, a product for lovers of track days, which includes a line of sensor-fitted P Zero Trofeo tyres. Track Adrenaline is a true track engineer in virtual form, which monitors tyre pressure and temperature in real time and combines this information with telemetric data to provide the driver indications and suggestions on how to improve his or her on-track performance.

The “sensoring” of tyres is an integral part of Pirelli’s “Perfect Fit” strategy, focused on the development of “tailor made” products and services to meet the needs of carmakers, fleets and drivers in general, with a view to the future and the changes underway in mobility.

Published on: 15 Novembre 2018, 14:38 CET

A LARGE PART OF TYRES SOLD AT THE STORE, BORN IN COLLABORATION WITH MAG WHEEL TYRE, IS IN 18-INCH SIZE OR BIGGER

MORE THAN 5,000 PRESTIGE CARS REGISTERED IN AUSTRALIA SO FAR IN 2019, WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF TOP END CARS IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA

Melbourne, November 11, 2019 – After Los Angeles in 2016, Munich in 2017, Monaco in 2018, and Dubai at the beginning of 2019, Melbourne in Australia hosts Pirelli’s latest flagship store. The P Zero World concept – a powerful symbol of Pirelli’s brand positioning as well as the company’s retail strategy – now completes its world tour thanks to another opening on a new continent.

A BOUTIQUE FOR TYRES

The P Zero World concept can be accurately summarised as a “boutique store for tyres”: a facility in which customers can find Pirelli’s most exclusive products along with bespoke services for owners of sports cars and luxury cars. The global P Zero World stores are the only places where customers can discover the entire Pirelli range, such as the P Zero Trofeo R – the most performance-focussed tyre homologated for road use – as well as the Pirelli Collezione: tyres for classic cars that combine period looks with modern technology. It’s not just car tyres that can be found at P Zero World either. Motorbike and Velo road bike tyres are also available, not to mention Pirelli Design accessories, which are developed in conjunction with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, such as Montblanc, MV Agusta, Puma, Roger Dubuis and Tecnorib. Car valeting and courtesy cars are among the exclusive services offered to P Zero World customers, but it doesn’t stop there: Pirelli’s track expert is also on hand; a technician able to advise on the ideal set up for each car, whether for road or track use. The services and products offered at this unique store are designed to live up to the standards of automotive excellence showcased by the world’s prestige car manufacturers: a sector where Pirelli is market leader with more than 50% of cars fitting the Italian tyres as original equipment. While more than one out of every two supercars is equipped by Pirelli, the company is also prominent in the premium market, where the Italian firm supplies more than 20% of all original equipment, underlining its leadership of the very top of the automotive pile.

The Melbourne branch of P Zero World was born in collaboration with Mag Wheel Tyre, occupying a structure that covers more than 1200 square metres with five service ramps, located opposite the city’s premier shopping mall. Mag Wheel Tyre is a family business created in 2,000 that has been collaborating with Pirelli for several years already and serves around 40 cars per day. Current figures show that a large part of tyres sold in the store is in 18-inch size or bigger, in line with Pirelli’s high value strategy.

WHY MELBOURNE?

The state of Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital, boasts Australia's highest number of vehicle registrations in the prestige sector. One of every three supercars sold in Australia is registered in Victoria. So far in 2019, more than 5,000 new cars at the very top end of the market were registered in Australia, where currently more than 50,000 prestige cars are on the road, with an average growth in this market sector of 8% compared to a 6% growth in the premium market and a 3% growth in general car sales across the country.

Melbourne is also a city that is home to more than 36% of Italians in Australia, meaning that the Italian community in Victoria is the biggest in the country. In particular, the Preston district, where the fifth P Zero World has just opened, is reckoned by review sites to have the best Italian food in all of Melbourne. With the addition of P Zero World, Pirelli brings another taste of Italy to the local area, serving the best cars on the planet.

The seas between Australia and New Zealand will furthermore play host to the 2021 America’s Cup, where the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is set to compete in two years’ time, with Australian James Spithill on board.

FROM ROAD TO TRACK TO P ZERO WORLD

The opening ceremony was preceded by a supercar parade, featuring models from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Maserati driving along the roads of Albert Park: which once a year transforms itself into the Australian Grand Prix venue. Pirelli has been the exclusive supplier to the pinnacle of motorsport since 2011, and the company can rely on more than 110 years of competition experience.

On top of that, with Lamborghini as a partner, Pirelli also organised a track day at Phillip Island on the same day. The high performance Aventador S and Huracàn Evo took to the circuit on P Zero tyres, while the Urus demonstrated its capabilities on an off-road track, underlining the quality and versatility of Pirelli’s tyre range. Pirelli in fact developed four different tyres for the Urus, all with bespoke markings on the sidewall to indicate that they are especially made for Lamborghini. There’s P Zero and P Zero Corsa for Urus drivers who predominantly use their cars on the road, while two different Scorpion tyres – Winter and All Season (with a dedicated All Terrain version) – cater for those who also want to take their cars off-road.

Published on: 11 November 2019, 10:55 CET

Milan, 4 November 2019 - In October of 1959, Pirelli launched an incredible new tyre at the Turin Motor Show, which would change the face of winter driving. Back then, as is still the case now, autumn was the time when people started to think about preparing themselves and their cars for the winter season ahead. But they never expected the invention from Pirelli that they were presented with in Turin 60 years ago, called the BS3.

In Italian, this stood for ‘battistrada separata’, or ‘separate tread’. The clue was in the name. This truly innovative tyre consisted of a carcass and tread pattern as usual, but these were not vulcanised (or ‘cooked’) together, which meant that tread patterns could be switched easily without even removing the wheel from the car, like taking on or putting off a coat.

This allowed the actual tyre to be conveniently adapted for either winter or summer conditions, depending on the season. It was an innovative concept that remained in production for a number of years: foreshadowing the idea of switching tyres for each season.

A TOUCH OF ITALIAN GENIUS

Nothing like it had ever been seen before in the industry, making this a truly disruptive technology at the time. The man who signed the Pirelli BS3 patent form was an engineer called Carlo Barassi, who at the time was head of technology in Pirelli’s technical office: a department now known as research and development. The actual idea was born a few years earlier: a product of the unstoppably creative mind of the engineer Giuseppe Lugli, who back then was head of the physics laboratory in Pirelli’s tyre department.

Lugli was a great lover of skiing and the mountains, so he was very familiar with the challenges of driving in winter. Up to that point, the best way of dealing with winter conditions for drivers was to strap on snow chains, which simply attach to the outside of the tyre to help provide more grip. But the difficulties associated with that were many and the advantages limited. This technique was something that was actually originally thought of for agricultural vehicles in muddy fields: hardly cutting edge stuff.

HOW DID THE BS3 WORK?

The way that the BS3 system actually functioned is as easy to explain as it is incredible to imagine. The tread was mounted on three rings of the same diameter as the actual tyre carcass. These were then attached to the tyre carcass and held in place simply by air pressure from the tyre. When the season changed, it was enough to take off the existing tread and replace it with one that was more suited to the weather conditions. The story of the incredible BS3 is also linked to the story of another iconic tyre from Pirelli, as the summer tread pattern for the BS3 was in fact borrowed from the Cinturato.

FROM SERVICE STATIONS TO RALLY STAGES

The arrival of the BS3 ushered in another innovation. Thanks to an agreement with Autogrill, Italy’s well-known network of service stations, Pirelli created dedicated workshops on the ‘Autostrada del Sole’ motorway that links north to south. There, Pirelli technicians were able to swap BS3 tread patterns, as well as look after any other tyre-related needs that motorists had.

The remarkable innovation that Pirelli introduced with the BS3 also made its presence felt in motorsport: the toughest proving ground of all. The BS3 was used on the 1961 Rallye Monte-Carlo with excellent results. A total of 28 crews started the rally on this game-changing tyre, with 23 of them finishing. Rallying subsequently helped to develop the very first dedicated winter tyre that Pirelli ever released: the MS35. Particularly devoted rally fans may even remember the TV adverts for this tyre, with Sandro Munari driving the Lancia Fulvia in which he won several rallies – including the 1972 Monte-Carlo – staying in control thanks to the Pirelli MS35.

SIXTY YEARS OF WINTER TYRES

The unprecedented story of the Pirelli BS3 shows how, even 60 years ago, there was a strong awareness of needing the right tyres to match the season. This need has now been frequently enshrined in law, with most countries stipulating that winter tyres have to be used during certain times of year.

As for the pioneering BS3, it then evolved into the BS, before the massive strides made in vehicle performance rendered the concept of a separate tyre and tread pattern obsolete.

Pirelli then focused its efforts on pure winter tyres, which brings us right up to the present day. Sixty years on, the Italian firm is now able to rely on a specialised family of winter tyres that ranges from the Scorpion Winter for SUVs all the way to P Zero Winter for performance cars, as well as the Cinturato Winter for compact and medium cars. All products sprinkled with the same Italian genius that gave life to the ground-breaking BS3.

Published on: 4 November 2019, 11:50 CET

Mugello, October 28, 2019 – Pirelli has presented the new Pirelli P Zero DHA tyre that will equip the new Ferrari 488 Evo from the 2020 season onwards on all four Ferrari Challenge championships (Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and UK). Racing supercars, hypercars from the celebrated XX programme, and historic Formula 1 cars – all on Pirelli tyres – also featured in the thrilling presentation.

PIRELLI AND THE FERRARI CHALLENGE, 27 YEARS TOGETHER

During the 27th Ferrari Finali Mondiali at Mugello, Pirelli presented the tyre for the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo. It’s a tyre that meets all the demands imposed by Ferrari, allowing the new racing machine to lap faster than its predecessor. Pirelli has been the exclusive supplier to the Ferrari Challenge since the series made its debut in 1993, in all the regions of the world where these championships run.

SEVEN MONTHS ON SEVEN CIRCUITS

Pirelli’s engineers worked in close collaboration with their counterparts at Ferrari for around seven months to create this latest tyre. The new tyre, available in 275/675-19 DHA size (at the front) and 315/705-19 DHA (at the back) was developed starting from a virtual model, which can also be used for driving simulators. Its characteristics were then validated through indoor laboratory tests, before real life testing was carried out on seven European circuits, including Vallelunga, Mugello, Le Castellet and Silverstone. These sessions helped to assess road holding and integrity in different driving and weather conditions, confirming the all-round performance of the new 488 Challenge Evo. The latest P Zero for it adopts a new tread compound and is made on the motorsport production line at Pirelli’s factory in Romania, where the tyres for Formula 1 are also born.

MOTORSPORT: AN OPEN AIR LABORATORY

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s head of F1 and car racing, said: “The Ferrari Challenge represents an important technical collaboration as it allows our engineers to develop solutions in extreme conditions that can then be transferred to our road car tyres. The latest evolution of our P Zero tyres for the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo demonstrates once again how Pirelli’s advanced technology combines with the best of the automotive industry in motorsport as well.”

This individual version of the P Zero was the result of the close cooperation between the development and testing departments of Pirelli and the BMW Group over several years. Applying Pirelli’s Perfect Fit philosophy, a version of the P Zero tailored to the driving characteristics of the BMW M8 was developed. It is precisely tuned to the chassis and characteristics of the M8 variants, which the BMW Group offers as a coupé and a cabriolet. The new BMW homologated tyres, marked accordingly on the sidewall, have the following dimensions: P Zero 275/35 ZR 20 (front axle) and P Zero 285/35 ZR 20 (rear axle).

Compared to the original P Zero, the variant specified for BMW delivers better performance in terms of lap time, dry handling, wet handling, consistency, braking performance, straight hydroplaning, lateral hydroplaning, weight, comfort, noise and mileage. In this way, the custom-made P Zero makes a decisive contribution to the BMW M8's enhancing its its potential to the full.

The new BMW M8 Coupé and the BMW M8 Competition Coupé, an even more powerful and luxurious version of this high-performance sports car, offer exclusive driving experiences on the road and on the race track. The new BMW M8 Cabriolet and BMW M8 Competition Cabriolet are available for open-drive enthusiasts. The high-performance Cabriolet offers an even better balance between comfortable everyday practicality and performance inspired by motorsport.

All models are powered by a 4.4 litre V8 biturbo petrol engine. The Competition models are equipped with 460 kW/625 hp. The top speed of all models is 250 km/h.

In order to adapt the P Zero's performance characteristics to the driving characteristics of BMW vehicles, Pirelli engineers modified the tread pattern of the tyre, among other things, in order to optimize the noise level while rolling. This also results in an even stronger grip and excellent wet performance. To achieve the best possible balance between the front and rear axles of the vehicle, the engineers used different layer constructions in the carcasses for the front and rear tyres. The front tyre has a symmetrical carcass structure, while the rear tyres have an asymmetrical structure. In conclusion, the custom-made variants of the P Zero achieve optimum performance on the BMW M8.

Published on: 14 October 2019, 15:03 CET

THE WORLD RECORD

The record drive began on 17 July 2019 at 19.00 on Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße (Glacier Road) in the Austrian Tyrol, under the strict supervision of the Hamburg Record Institute for Germany. At the wheel of the roadster was racing driver Cyndie Allemann, MX-5 Cup driver Jan Spieß, Auto Bild test driver Stefan Novitzki and rally driver Niki Schelle, alternating every hour. After 12 hours, the team had completed exactly 2,900 hairpin bends, far surpassing the 1,500 required for the record. The panoramic Austrian road is 26 kilometres long and has 29 hairpin bends in total, with an elevation change of almost 1,500 metres. It leads to the beginning of the Kaunertal glacier, at 2,750 metres.

A MODERN TYRE FOR VINTAGE CARS

The Mazda MX-5 was equipped with a set of P Zero Asimmetrico Pirelli 205/50ZR15 86W from the Pirelli Collezione range for vintage cars and modern classics. Jörg Schäfer, Head of Outdoor Driving Tests and Dynamic Instrument Testing at Pirelli Germany, said: “This tyre, manufactured with racing technology, features exactly the high performance required for the record in terms of strength, durability, grip, steering precision, performance and safety on wet roads. The tread pattern of the P Zero Asimmetrico is the original pattern from the P Zero tyre, which has been very successful for more than three decades. This tread pattern was used for rally cars as early as 1986, under a different name, and its design is optimised for high lateral loads".

To produce the P Zero Asimmetrico for Pirelli Collezione, Pirelli engineers use modern construction processes and compounds that are currently used in ultra high performance tyres to withstand the extreme loads during cornering.

THE VIRTUAL DRIVE BEFORE THE RECORD

In order to evaluate the durability of the tyre structure before the world record drive, experts from Pirelli recorded the route profile of the Kaunertal Gletscherstraße on computer and translated it into a digital test programme. After that, the tyres were physically tested in an indoor laboratory for maximum lateral acceleration, both in a straight line and through a variety of corners for 18 hours. The wheel load was also repeatedly tested at 150 per cent of its maximum capacity.

Published on: 3 September 2019, 10:18 CET

Evo, whose slogan is ‘the thrill of driving’, was founded in 1998 and is published in several international editions, making it the magazine of choice for performance car enthusiasts worldwide.

During its eagerly awaited summer tyre test, evo compared the leading performance tyres currently on sale, pitting the P Zero against seven other well-known rivals from established tyre manufacturers in a series of probing challenges.

These were designed to assess key aspects such as handling, acceleration and braking under a variety of different circumstances, both in the wet and the dry. The test included both objective measurements – with tyre performance measured in a controlled environment – as well as subjective assessments, where a variety of experienced evo road testers drove on the tyres to evaluate driver feedback and feel how they interacted with the car and surface.

THE FASTEST ON WET AND DRY

The Pirelli P Zero stood out as the overall test winner by a convincing margin. “Scoring no fewer than six top results, the Pirelli was especially impressive in the wet and by far the most impressive tyre subjectively,” wrote evo. “It set fastest laps in the wet and the dry and you could feel the grip.”

The evo tyre test was carried out with the latest P Zero in 18-inch size, one of the most popular measurements in Pirelli’s performance range – which will also be the diameter that FIA Formula One World Championship adopts with Pirelli from 2021 onwards. Pirelli P Zero sizes start in 18-inch size and go all the way up to 22 inches, equipping some of the most desirable supercars and hypercars in the world.

CHOSEN BY MAGAZINES AND BY PRESTIGE CAR MAKERS

The evo test win backs up another important test win for Pirelli earlier this year, when the P Zero was judged to be the best of 11 summer tyres by renowned German publication Auto Bild, which praised its: “excellent performance with no weak points.”

P Zero tyres are now chosen by more than 50% of the world’s prestige cars as original equipment, meaning that over half the world’s most desirable cars leave their factories on Pirelli tyres. Currently, there are more than 1.100 homologations of P Zero.

Published on: 27 August 2019, 10:15 CET

DEVELOPMENT LIKE FORMULA 1

Over and above the actual technical characteristics of the tyres (265/30 R20 at the front, 355/25 R21 at the rear) to cope with the performance levels desired by Horacio Pagani for his latest hypercar, there was a brand new development path as well. For the first time, the two Italian firms got tyre development underway by using modelling and predictive simulation; a virtual pre-development process that allows a computer model to accurately replicate the dynamic characteristics of the car without the need to actually make real tyres for it. This means reduced lead times, greater harmony between objective data and subjective impressions behind the wheel, as well as an end product that is even more closely matched to the car that it is intended for. It’s another step forwards for Pirelli’s renowned ‘Perfect Fit’ strategy, thanks to the same simulation techniques used to develop P Zero tyres for Formula 1.

A DEDICATED P ZERO TROFEO R

The joint development process between engineers from Pirelli and Pagani began by establishing a new size for the front tyre, with wider channels, a bigger cord, and larger rims. This offers an increased contact patch, which has the added benefit of greater strength to support the extra aerodynamic downforce loads. The driving dynamics have also been improved, thanks to less sliding from a stiffer tyre structure. The Roadster BC consequently benefits from a sharper turn-in, with a more linear driving experience and less tendency towards understeer. Another advantage of the increased tyre size is better braking: the latest Pagani now manages to pull 2.2g under braking. The work on the new P Zero Trofeo R front also meant that the rear tyre had to be revised, to maintain the right balance between the two axles. Pirelli’s engineers modified the tread pattern design – laying it out differently and increasing the size of the blocks as well as the longitudinal grooves – which has resulted in better traction under acceleration: a like-for-like improvement of 7%.

A DECADE-LONG PARTNERSHIP

“We’re proud to celebrate more than 10 years of mutual respect and partnership with Pirelli, in a shared mission for constant improvement,” said Horacio Pagani, the Founder and Chief Designer of Pagani Automobili. “One of the objectives that we set ourselves for the new P Zero Trofeo R was definitely for it to provide a good feel through the steering wheel; as if your hands were gripping the road. The know-how and ability of Pirelli’s engineers have made this a really communicative tyre, which lets you know exactly when you are approaching the limit of adhesion.”

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman, added: “Horacio Pagani always sets us some great challenges. Every time we work together, we find ourselves facing exciting new limits to overcome. This is an amazing inspiration, which allows us to carry out research and development with an extraordinary partner. Pirelli has innovation and the constant desire to improve at the very heart of its DNA, which is why we consistently look for technological excellence in each product. Every project with Pagani always brings us something new.”

Published on: 13 August 2019, 18:00 CET

These tyres have a lot in common with the P Zero covers supplied to Formula 1, underlining how the tyres for the XX programme are directly derived from the highest levels of Pirelli Motorport’s technology.

Milan, 8 July 2019 – At the latest Ferrari Racing Days event in the paddock at the Nurburgring in Germany, a very special tyre was on display: the 10,000^th Pirelli P Zero created for Ferrari’s XX programme. The FXX, FXX EVO, 599XX, 599XX EVO and FXX K (with its latest Evo variant) are the most exclusive cars in the world: derived from roadgoing models and developed for track use. The base cars are already incredibly quick, but circuit racing modifications from Maranello’s engineers then make them even more extreme. The FXX-K Evo, for example, already exceeds 1000 horsepower, and to equip cars with so much power, Pirelli has developed tyres specifically designed for each model. In Germany, the number of these special tyres made reached 10,000 since 2011: the year that Pirelli became exclusive supplier to the XX programme.

DEVELOPED LIKE F1 TYRES

From the very first car in the XX programme, the FXX, to the most recent FXX-K Evo, the development methodology has changed dramatically. In the beginning, the development process was more traditional, using the P Zero tyres created for the Ferrari Challenge one-make series as a starting point for the more extreme FXX tyres. For the latest cars, the development process now mirrors the methodology used to make P Zero Formula 1 tyres. As well as on-track testing, Pirelli’s engineers have also been able to rely on data acquired from Scuderia Ferrari’s simulator – which is also used at the very highest levels of motorsport.

With the tyre developed for the FXX K as a base, Pirelli’s engineers were able to create a tyre in fewer than six months that was capable of dealing with the enormous downforce loads generated by the latest Evo aerodynamic package (in excess of 800 kilograms at top speed). At the heart of this latest development path were new P Zero rear tyres that now feature a more even contact patch even when the Evo’s rear wing is generating maximum downforce. This helps to ensure excellent stability in terms of more balanced wear and more transparent drop-off, which contribute to more predictable handling and so greater safety, regardless of the driver’s experience. Furthermore, the tyres for the XX programme have to offer very wide working windows, in order to ensure similar levels of performance on very different circuits all over the world, with varying asphalt and often unpredictable weather. The 2019 programme, for example, began in February with the sandy corners of Bahrain and will conclude at the up-and-down Mugello circuit in Italy, at the end of October.

THE INTERMEDIATE ARRIVES

Another important innovation for Ferrari’s XX programme makes its debut at the Nürburgring: for more complicated driving conditions, the new Cinturato intermediate tyre will be available. This tyre uses the same construction as the slick tyre for dry conditions but introduces a directional tread pattern design as well as a new compound. This new tyre will allow drivers to get the most of these ultra-powerful cars from Maranello even on damp surfaces or in low temperatures.

THE P ZERO TYRES FOR THE XX PROGRAMMES

The cars for the XX programme feature special tyres for each model, which are different in specification and size. The range goes from a 255/650 R19 tyre for the front of the FXX to 345/725 R20 for the rear of the FXX K Evo. These can be distinguished visually as well, because each tyre bears the name of the car it’s destined for on the sidewall. Just like Pirelli’s other motorsport tyres for GT racing, these XX programme tyres are also made in a dedicated factory at Izmit in Turkey, where Formula 1 tyres were produced for many years.

Published on: 8 July 2019, 12:53 CET

Throughout all the decades of the Villa d’Este show, a lot has changed – but the passion for cars, elegance and competition remains the same. Along with these traditional values there’s a new-found interest in faithful conservation and respect for automotive heritage. This is an interest shared by Pirelli, through many different avenues. One resource is the Pirelli Fondazione, for example, which preserves documents, technical specifications, and other artefacts that chronicle a century and a half of history. But the main way this is expressed is through the striking Pirelli Collezione range displayed at the Villa d’Este Concours: tyres that combine vintage looks with modern technology, allowing owners to make the absolute most of their classic cars. Currently, the Pirelli Collezione range equips cars from the 1930s all the way through to modern classics from the 2000s.

PIRELLI COLLEZIONE, HISTORY ON THE ROAD

The Pirelli Collezione family was born with the objective of keeping classic cars on the road by creating dual purpose tyres, which preserve original looks and driving dynamics but add extra efficiency and safety compared to period tyres thanks to modern technology and production processes. The range begins with the legendary Stella Bianca tyre that was first launched in 1927, then the Stelvio that returned in 2018 to exclusively equip the Ferrari 250 GTO: the most expensive car in the world. Other tyres forming part of the Collezione range include the CA67 (1955), CN72 (1964), CN36 (1968), CN12 (1968), Cinturato P7 (1974), P5 (1977), P Zero (1984) and P700-Z (1988). Throughout the development process for these reinvented tyres, Pirelli’s engineers used the same vehicle parameters as the original designers had at their disposal. This helps to create tyres that work most effectively with the original mechanics and suspension set-up, while making the most of the latest developments in tyre technology. The result is a mix of performance, style and authenticity. In order to create these tyres, the images provided by the Pirelli Fondazione were essential. The techniques used to make them are similar to those employed to produce motorsport tyres, in a dedicated factory at Izmit, Turkey. Enthusiasts can find these tyres via specialised dealers all over the world, as well as at Pirelli’s P Zero World flagship stores (in Los Angeles, Munich, Monaco, Dubai and shortly Melbourne).

MARKED TYRES IN THE COLLEZIONE

Pirelli’s presence at the Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance also tells the story of the Italian firm’s close relationship with car manufacturers over the years, exemplified today by the Perfect Fit strategy. A shared development programme between vehicle and tyre engineers means that the best possible package can be formulated, in order to perfectly complement each car’s characteristics and maximise safety. This is how marked tyres, with specific symbols to identify the different manufacturers they are created for, are born. The methodology, which for a long time has been associated with modern cars, is now applied to classic cars too at the request of manufacturers who wanted to see Pirelli Collezione tyres for their most important classic models. One example is Audi with a bespoke P700-Z for the Sport Quattro, Jaguar with a specific P Zero for the XJ220, Lamborghini that asked for the CN12 for the Miura, and Ferrari – which gave the Stelvio new life exclusively for the 250 GTO. The latest initiative from this strategy, the 16-inch P-700 Z for the BMW Z1, was also on display at Villa d’Este. Currently, the Pirelli Collezione range takes in 34 sizes, only four of which are non-marked tyres, as well as eight more that are currently being developed.

THE ISOTTA FRASCHINI AND THE PIRELLI SUPERFLEX CORD

The car was exactly five metres long and underneath the extensive bonnet there was the first in-line eight-cylinder engine in history, making it the most powerful car on the road at the time. But the overriding characteristic of the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A was its unparalleled elegance, which made it the preferred choice of American high society. In fact, its technical specification and exorbitant price made it much more suited for the American than the European market, and it became the protagonist of a few Hollywood films, such as ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950), which won three Oscars. But the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A also won a prize of its own at the very first Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance in 1929. The tyre on the car that represented the very best that the automotive industry had to offer at the time was the Pirelli Superflex Cord, nicknamed the ‘tyre of victories’. These tyres were also seen on the Alfa Romeo P2 that won the very first grand prix, before the creation of the current Formula 1 world championship, at Monza in 1925. Elegance and performance: two characteristics that are still seen throughout Pirelli’s entire tyre range today.

Published on: 22 May 2019, 11:52 CET