Latest news with #ScorpionXTM
Auto Blog
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
New Pirelli P Zero Tire Was Designed Using AI and Tested Virtually
Modernizing the tire-making process Pirelli's P Zero, now 40 years old with over 3,000 versions, has long been synonymous with high-end cars and discerning drivers. For the tire's fifth iteration, Pirelli eschewed traditional design and testing practices, instead opting to lean into artificial intelligence and its own bespoke algorithms to craft its best tire ever. The company calls its efforts 'groundbreaking,' and it might be right. In addition to algorithms and artificial intelligence, Pirelli says it tested the new P Zero virtually, too. Its 'virtual prototype testing' helped Pirelli trim development and testing time and 'optimize' resources. For Pirelli, it's another step toward rapid advancement and improvement in an area of cars many overlook: the tires. Pirelli P Zero tires on a Lamborghini Urus The benefits of virtual testing and design Where years of design and testing might ultimately produce an interactive update to a tire, Pirelli now has decades of data influencing its in-house algorithms and data sets to help produce better tires faster. By focusing on tire structure (Pirelli is incredibly proud of its compounds) and tread design, Pirelli feels it created a tire with enhanced grip, particularly when cornering. Another one of its newest tires, the Scorpion XTM, shows the company's efforts on sidewall tread and durability as well. Pirelli P Zero tires on a BMW The P Zero also shares an enhanced contact patch with the Scorpion. Pirelli claims that the P Zero's new contact patch increases braking performance and the tire's wear rate, which is meant to help it perform optimally throughout its lifecycle. The P Zero is rated 'A' on the European Label for Wet Grip. The new AI-crafted tire will be available homologated for the Lamborghini Urus SE, Audi A5, BMW M5, BMW M5 Touring, Mercedes GLE, Mercedes GLS, Lucid Gravity, Polestar 4, Nio ET9, and Xiaomi SU7. The robust nature of the Pirelli P Zero The P Zero currently has over 50 fitments available in sizes from 18 to 23 inches. It's worth noting that the P Zero family of products is expansive, with the flagship P Zero serving as the hallmark of performance for the lineup. Pirelli notes that across its entire P Zero lineup, it is able to provide 'complete coverage' for premium and prestige vehicles across every segment. This includes electric vehicles, where Pirelli's Elect branding means the tire is specially designed for the weight and rigors of EVs. The company says 'most' of the lineup is available as an Elect tire, which it claims adds 10 percent more range due to reduced rolling resistance and 'solutions specifically designed' for high torque driving while reducing noise from the tires. Pirelli P Zero tires on a BMW Final thoughts Pirelli P Zero tire Pirelli tires cost a bit more than most of the competition across segments and fitments, but it's nice to see the brand not resting on its laurels. The company is investing heavily in research and development to meet the demands of our electrified future, where rapid technological improvements will place different demands on tires. A.I. and virtual prototype testing may sound like gimmicks, but they're subtly brilliant moves by Pirelli.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is the New Pirelli Scorpion XTM the Tire You Should Buy?
Pirelli is not a brand known for off-road tires. People turn to Pirelli for carving city streets, not sand dunes and washed-out river beds. The company's new Scorpion XTM tire aims to change that perception and earn the same fervor from off-road drivers as its other tires have from street performance drivers. We recently had the chance to test Pirelli's Scorpion XTM in Death Valley, where the unforgiving terrain evolves as the wind blows. Across several vehicles and fitments, the Pirelli Scorpion XTM made its case and might have won us over. With a three-peak mountain snowflake rating, a 55,000-mile warranty, and fitments for ICE, plug-in hybrid, and EVs, the Scorpion XTM cements itself as a serious player in the off-road tire market. An aggressive tread design with high void areas that bleed down the sidewall and a rigid base with advanced compounds that adapt to the climate and conditions help create impressive grip on and off-road. There are 20 sizes available as of now, many of them part of Pirelli's 'ELECT' tire program for EVs, and 17 additional fitments rolling out in the next year, most of which will be for ICE vehicles. Pirelli took over three years to create the Scorpion XTM, ideating the perfect off-road tire with fresh optimism. Pirelli's off-road endeavors began with the Scorpion Mud in 1998, followed by new iterations every few years. In 2017, Pirelli introduced the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus, a great tire that seems to have left Pirelli knowing it could do better. As it's wont to do, Pirelli set out to beat its competitors at every measurable and immeasurable point, from snow to sand. It tested the tire in many geographies and conditions, including how it "chunks" and wears down over time, to ensure it's as durable as buyers expect. Off-road performance matters for those purchasing this tire, but it's not the entire tale. Pirelli also crafted a tire that is a joy to drive on pavement. This matters, too, as no matter how dedicated you are to going off-road, you probably spend most of your time driving on paved roads. Having a tire that performs anywhere is essential. Typically, great off-road tires hum and drone on the pavement as air moves through the tread. The Scorpion XTM has some noise, but its frequency is non-abrasive to the ear. You may get more noise from your truck or SUV than you will from the Scorpion XTM. It also has low rolling resistance, which makes for a more comfortable ride and helps with overall MPGs. The Scorpion XTM shines off-road, too. Where you expect slippage, the tire grips. When you expect abrasive feedback, the XTM softens the blow. The tread pattern digs deep in soft sand to get you out of trouble and passes with flying colors over rocks, down embankments, through sand, around dunes, and through riverbeds. The aggressive sidewall is a point of pride for Pirelli, but also not something we can adequately test. In sand, the Pirelli Scorpion XTM felt like it helped correct our line during slippage - and the sidewall should take some credit for this. It likely helps with gripping rock, too, but we didn't go rock climbing. In testing, we didn't deflate tires for the simple reason that if someone with an F-150, Jeep, or other off-road-ready vehicle wanted to go off-grid for a weekend, they'd likely hop in their vehicle and go. Worrying about tire pressure isn't something most want to do in the middle of nowhere. We also didn't test mud performance, mainly because Pirelli feels mud has too many variables to be assessed fairly for any tire. In desert conditions, sand over firm terra is still variable but far more reliable as a testing ground than mud. Here's something you might not know: When tire or auto companies want to show off in the off-road world, they often invite media to staged, curated courses. Pirelli led us through areas of the desert, but the most guidance we got was to avoid sharp rocks and to accelerate smoothly through the sand. We were pleasantly surprised with the Scorpion XTM on paved roads and off-road. Pirelli's decision not to carefully manicure the environment in which it showcased its new Scorpion underscores its confidence in this tire. Upending an entire product line after leaving it untouched for eight years is bold, but it seems like a tactic that is paying off for Pirelli.
