THE SCORPION FAMILY HAS THE MOST ‘ELECT’ HOMOLOGATIONS FOR ELECTRIC OR HYBRID PLUG-IN CARS

Milan, 16 February 2022 – Pirelli has unveiled the new Scorpion tyre range dedicated to Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs): the vehicle segment that is set to become the most popular in the world. The latest range marks a complete renewal of the family that has specialised in the SUV market for more than 35 years, with the range tailor-made for premium models and featuring specialised tyres for different seasons. The new Scorpion has been developed specifically to cater for the heavier weight, high centre of gravity and unique mechanics and driving dynamics that are the main characteristics of modern SUVs.

These characteristics differentiate SUVs from more traditional car designs and therefore demand high-quality bespoke tyres. The new range of Scorpion tyres respond to this need, transferring many of the technological innovations recently introduced by Pirelli in the new Cinturato to the SUV world, with specific adaptations and technologies to match the characteristics of these vehicles. The result is a Scorpion tyre range featuring the most modern technologies available, with the ability to better adapt themselves to the performance of today’s vehicles: including those with ‘green’ powerplants. The Scorpion range has the highest number of homologations for electric or plug-in hybrid cars in the entire Pirelli portfolio, a process that began with the previous generation and continues today with the latest products. These tyres are recognisable through the ‘Elect’ marking on the sidewall. Among the cutting-edge technologies offered by Pirelli’s newest range of tyres, a number of optional extras are available: Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) helps reduce road noise inside the vehicle, while Run Flat and Seal Inside help drivers to continue travelling even after a puncture.

The technical characteristics of the upgraded range – with the summer Scorpion, the Scorpion All Season SF2 and the new Scorpion Winter 2 – were presented today by Francesco Sala, Pirelli’s Executive Vice President for Europe; Aldo Nicotera, the Chief Commercial Officer for Europe; and Paolo Brivio, Chief of Product Development, at an international press conference streamed online.

AN ECO-SAFETY DESIGN

Key to the development of the new Scorpion range has been Pirelli’s ‘Eco-Safety’ design approach, which aims to combine a low environmental impact (thanks to decreased rolling resistance, reduced road noise and high mileage) with the best possible performance and safety (shorter braking distances, higher grip, better vehicle stability and decreased risk of aquaplaning) thanks to the innovative materials and cutting-edge modelling used during the development process.

The new Scorpion is also more efficient when it comes to reducing fuel consumption (or battery consumption in the case of electric cars). The new tyre is also quieter and lasts longer compared to the previous generation: advantages that all contribute to greater sustainability. These improvements were made thanks to the use of fresh tread compounds with new materials in the structure, as well as the development of innovative tread patterns that allow longer-lasting performance.

Following the Eco-Safety approach, the structure of the tyre has been reinforced to cope with the dynamics and weight of SUVs during emergency manoeuvres, such as sudden direction changes or braking; ensuring greater control. The new Scorpion is also able to cope with significant loads through the tyres, guaranteeing the correct distribution of pressure throughout the footprint to allow a balanced and controllable dynamic response.

The entire new Scorpion range aims to achieve more than 400 original equipment homologations, with more than 50% of these for the latest electric vehicles.

PERFORMANCE CERTIFIED BY THE TÜV

The latest tyres in the Scorpion family rank among the very best in the market in all sorts of different driving situations. Tests were carried out by prestigious German certification body TÜV SÜD, which has awarded the new tyre its coveted Performance Mark ⁽¹⁾.

NEW SCORPION: A SAFE AND QUIET SUMMER TYRE DEDICATED TO SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

The latest Pirelli Scorpion summer tyre features a new asymmetrical tread pattern which – thanks to the improved stiffness and shape of its longitudinal and lateral grooves – allows better braking both on dry and wet surfaces compared to the previous product. The more even footprint of the new tyre tread, achieved thanks to the particular curvature of the profile, together with the stiffness of the tread and compound, ensure reduced rolling resistance and decreased fuel or battery consumption. All the different sizes of Scorpion are in the A or B classes of the European tyre label when it comes to rolling resistance.

Safety was also central to the design of the new Scorpion. Thanks to the stiffness of the tread, as well as the innovative design of the blocks and compound, braking on dry and wet surfaces has been improved by seven per cent compared to the previous Scorpion Verde.

When it comes to wet braking, all Scorpion tyres score either A or B on the European tyre label.

The compound of the new Scorpion contains new-generation synthetic rubber capable of providing a perfect blend of characteristics: low rolling resistance, excellent braking performance in the wet, and uniform tread wear throughout the life of the product. The compound of the new Scorpion originates from the technical know-how already applied to the new Cinturato P7 but stiffened to cope with the particular demands of SUVs. The compound is enriched with silica, specific resins that increase grip, and bespoke polymers: innovative elastomeric materials that improve the interaction with the silica itself. These polymeric materials are able to alter themselves depending on operating temperatures. As a result, this new compound has a form of ‘mechanical intelligence’ (thanks to a better distribution of the silica particles and improved interaction between them) which means that it can vary its behaviour according to driving conditions and temperatures, giving the driver a very wide operating window. The innovative Scorpion compound was developed using a Pirelli-patented process derived from motorsport, maximising the uniformity of the compound components and enhancing the performance of the tyre for longer on different road surfaces; especially in the wet when driving conditions become critical.

This new summer tyre is now available in Europe in 26 sizes, from 18 to 21 inches, with more than 48 homologations already, of which over 75% are for electric vehicles. The new Scorpion is also very quiet, emitting up to three decibels less than the previous-generation tyre, according to the European tyre label. This means that the latest Scorpion tyre also comes with significant environmental benefits.

SCORPION ALL SEASON SF2: AN ADAPTIVE TREAD PATTERN WITH REINFORCED BLOCKS

The new Scorpion All Season SF2 is aimed at people who want to comply with winter tyre regulation but don’t want to bother with seasonal tyre changes. It’s available in 33 sizes between 17 and 21 inches in this launch phase. On the shoulder, the M+S symbols accompanied by the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) marking certifies excellent performance even in winter conditions. Tyres with this 3PMSF marking are covered by European legislation as a  guarantee of compliance with winter tyre traffic regulations.

The Scorpion All Season SF2 features a compound and a tread pattern inspired by that of the Cinturato, with some unique peculiarities to cater for the specific characteristics of SUVs. The directional tread pattern of the Scorpion All Season SF2 is characterised by prominent V-shaped grooves that retain snow (improving vehicle control on snowy surfaces) while draining water from the footprint when driving on wet roads and helping to prevent sudden aquaplaning.

When driving in winter and low temperatures, the sipes in tread pattern remain open to facilitate better braking on snow, while when braking on dry or wet surfaces they close up, increasing the stiffness of the blocks, to generate greater grip. This adaptive behaviour is down to the 3D sipe technology, meaning that a winter tread pattern can automatically turn itself into a summer pattern, allowing better control of the vehicle in all dry and wet conditions. The design of the lateral grooves, combined with a continuous central groove, guarantees the efficient expulsion of water when it rains, improving safety and aquaplaning performance.

To cope with the driving dynamics and weight of SUVs, there are reinforced blocks in the tread (in a larger size compared to the Cinturato All Season SF2). The geometry of the tread pattern is also laid out so that these blocks reduce road noise.

The tread compound of the Scorpion All Season SF2 is dual purpose: soft and adaptable for cold and wet conditions but rigid and stable for dry conditions. This happens thanks to the innovative components of the compound itself, which includes polymeric materials bonded to the silica particles. As well as effective performance at low temperatures, this guarantees low rolling resistance, ensuring lower fuel consumption or longer battery life. All the different sizes of Scorpion All Season SF2 (with the exception of those using run flat technology) are in the A or B classes of the European label for rolling resistance: an improvement over the previous product. The compound also has a wider temperature operating window than the previous Scorpion, thanks to a more rigid compound. This means reduced tread wear and better performance from the tyre throughout its life, as well as a higher mileage: all of which is good news for the environment.

SCORPION WINTER 2: THE NEW WINTER TYRE WITH EXTENDABLE SIPES

The new winter tyre for SUVs focuses on safety in all types of seasonal conditions: from snowy to wet surfaces as well as slippery surfaces and dry roads at low temperatures. The innovations pioneered by the new Cinturato winter tyre are carried through into the world of SUVs, with a tread that features ‘extendable’ variable geometry sipes. Thanks to the 3D structure, these sipes change shape according to the state of wear of the tread, going from a linear shape to a sinusoidal (zig zag) pattern, which increases their surface area and effectiveness. This technology allows the Scorpion Winter 2 to perform on snow, wet or dry surfaces even when worn. There are roughly 51 metres of sipes that deliver greater grip on snow: an increase of 20% of useful area in compared to the previous Scorpion Winter. The tread blocks are also reinforced and larger than those on the Cinturato, to meet all the demands of modern SUVs and deliver greater grip, which leads to excellent braking and driving performance both on snow and wet surfaces.

The remarkable compound of the Scorpion Winter 2 was developed through the use of an innovative system of liquid polymers, capable of increasing performance on rain and snow compared to the previous product. This works in combination with another Pirelli-patented process derived from the company’s motorsport experience, which maximises the uniformity of all the compound elements: enhancing the performance of the tyre for longer on snowy and wet surfaces, and lengthening tyre life.

SCORPION: CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS

Pirelli produced the very first Scorpion tyre, capable of maximising performance on a wide variety of road surfaces from asphalt to sand, in 1986. Intended for the innovative Lamborghini LM002 off-roader that was commissioned by the government of Saudi Arabia, this tyre had to deal with all the particular qualities of power, acceleration, top speed and roadholding of this unusual 4x4, both on asphalt and sand or dirt roads. The tyre was equipped with lateral ‘fins’ to improve its performance on desert sand, both in typical driving situations as well as in run flat circumstances. The result was excellent traction and superlative handling. The first generation of Scorpion was also equipped with a zero-degree nylon steel belt, featuring a robust and flexible structure to minimise vibrations from the road, as well as to improve impact resistance and respond quickly to any sudden manoeuvres.

As 4x4 specialists, Pirelli’s Scorpion tyres have been characterised by three attributes – safety, performance and strength – for more than 35 years. During the 2000s the range was updated with increasingly environmentally-friendly technology, as performance followed the demanding requirements of the main car manufacturers. The result was a truly complete offering, which included the development of Scorpion tyres for every possible type of terrain: from extreme off-roading to mixed land and road conditions, not to mention more road-based solutions as well as those specifically for snow and ice.

The Scorpion brand at Pirelli is now synonymous with performance in all types of conditions: even in the Moto and Cycling range, with bespoke products created for the most specialised applications from motocross to mountain bikes.

(1)    The TÜV SÜD Tire Performance Mark is a mark of excellence and confidence when buying a tyre. Performance Mark nr Z2 082041 0005 Rev. 00 (Scorpion); nr Z2 082041 0004 Rev. 00 (Scorpion All Season SF 2); nr Z2 082041 0006 Rev. 00 (Scorpion Winter 2) – Obtained by achieving the essential technical performance requirements of the independent certification body TÜV SÜD following tests carried out in January and February 2022 with tyres size 235/55R19 (Scorpion) and 235/60R18 (Scorpion All Season SF 2 and Scorpion Winter 2). More information on https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/scorpion-tuv-certificate.pdf. Test report no. n. 713234207-SS (Scorpion); n. 713234207-SA (Scorpion All Season SF2) e n. 713234207-SW (Scorpion Winter 2). Valid until: 2027/02/09.

Published on: 16 February 2022, 12:15 CET

MORE THAN 1000 DIFFERENT RUN FLAT TYRES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR MORE THAN 70 MILLION TYRES PRODUCED AND OVER 50 CAR MODELS TODAY ON THE ROAD WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY

Milan, 13 May 2021 – The principal benefit of Pirelli’s run flat technology – introduced to Pirelli’s road tyres in 2001 using the lessons learned from rallying – is to allow drivers to continue even with a puncture, rather than being stranded by the side of the road. Rallying is where this technology was tried and tested for the first time, with tyres featuring a reinforced structure that meant cars could continue driving after a puncture, which would otherwise cost several minutes in the heat of intense competition on a wide variety of roads.

NEW MATERIALS AND PROCESSES TO INCREASE COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Non-stop research and development into new materials and processes has helped Pirelli to improve driving comfort in recent years for cars equipped with Run Flat tyres. Thanks to new technology in the tyre’s structure as well as advances in the materials used, there i’s increased comfort for drivers and better rolling resistance, with less fuel consumed and fewer harmful emissions as a result. The way that these tyres soak up bumps in the road has been refined over time, to the point that they now offer the same levels of comfort as standard tyres, but with the key advantage of being able to drive on to the nearest tyre dealer – even with no air pressure. The particular suspension characteristics of vehicles that indicate Run Flat tires in their manuals, should invite the driver to always use tyres with this technology, even when changing at the end of life, so as not to compromise the performance of the car.

USEFUL TECHNOLOGY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE FUTURE

Spare wheels mostly do not feature in electric cars, in order to free up more space for batteries. That’s why several manufacturers choose extended mobility solutions such as Run Flat or Self-Sealing to minimise inconvenience in the event of a puncture. Bespoke Run Flat tyres allow motorists to continue driving safely, even with a puncture, on electric vehicles as well. Run Flat technology will also play an important role in future autonomous driving systems, by helping the vehicle remain under control even in an emergency situation.

OVER 1,000 DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND MORE THAN 70 MILLION RUN FLAT TYRES PRODUCED

Over the last 20 years, Pirelli’s engineers have developed more than 1,000 different types of tyre featuring run flat technology, which allows drivers to keep driving for 80 kilometres at a maximum speed of 80kph so as to eventually change the tyre in complete safety. It’s a solution that has been adopted by many different car manufacturers, who have requested run flat tyres as original equipment on their new cars – such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo. Throughout these two decades, Pirelli has produced more than 70 million run flat tyres, including summer, winter and all-season tyres – some of which have been fitted to the most powerful and prestigious cars of recent times, including the entire BMW and Mini range, a substantial part of the Mercedes range, the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi Q5 and Q7.

A WIDE RANGE AVAILABLE

There are more than a dozen premium and prestige car manufacturers that still use Pirelli tyres with run flat technology today, including Audi, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce. This technology is available on more than 50 models of Pirelli tyre homologated for use by car manufacturers. All these tyres carry ‘run flat’ markings on the sidewalls, together with markings denoting the individual car manufacturer they are intended for. On some tyres, this technology is combined with Pirelli Elect and PNCS noise-cancelling technology. The former is dedicated to electric vehicles and is focussed on low rolling resistance, reduced tyre noise, immediate grip, and a structure that can support the weight of a battery-powered vehicle. PNCS is instead focussed on reducing perceived tyre noise inside the cabin, thanks to the use of special sound-deadening material on the inside of the tyre. There is also another technology to guard against punctures available: Pirelli Seal Inside. In the event of a puncture of up to four millimetres, a specific substance inside the tyre forms a seal that wraps itself around the foreign object as soon as it penetrates the tyre, preventing air from escaping and the tyre from losing pressure. When the object is extracted, the same material seals up the resulting hole, meaning that drivers can carry on driving in safety and maximum comfort.

ROBOTISED TECHNOLOGY

Pirelli’s high-end Run Flat tyres are the result of Pirelli’s innovative MIRS production process, which is entirely controlled by computer with ‘raw’ tyres made using robots, guaranteeing a final result with high standards of quality and reliability. Pirelli’s self-supporting run flat system uses special reinforcements inserted into the internal sidewalls, which are able to sustain the lateral and transversal loads on the car even with no tyre pressure.

Published on: 13 May 2021, 11:27 CET