Pirelli Scorpion Winter 3, the new high-tech winter tyre designed for SUVs
Now in its third generation, it is designed specifically for SUVs. It is engineered to deliver grip, comfort and durability. It has already taken first place in an initial test.
With the arrival of the colder season, Pirelli presents the Scorpion Winter 3, a third-generation tyre developed to meet the specific needs of SUVs and crossovers, offering a balance between high load capacity, stability and safety on challenging road surfaces. The Scorpion Winter 3 completes the revamp of the brand’s winter range and aims to deliver grip on snow and wet roads, ride comfort and even wear, whilst maintaining consistent performance. This balance was confirmed in initial testing, where it came top of the rankings.
Targeted tread repairs
All sizes available at launch have been awarded Class A for wet grip on the European tyre label, whilst noise levels fall within Classes A and B. The development of the new winter tyre required targeted modifications to the internal structure and tread pattern, designed to cope with the weight of SUVs and distribute pressure evenly across the contact patch. The design incorporates a central water drainage channel, Snow Keeper Teeth that trap snow in the grooves to improve grip on snow, and reinforced blocks to enhance both handling precision and wear resistance. The compound, developed on the basis of experience gained with the P Zero Winter 2, utilises specific polymers to ensure optimum grip in a variety of weather conditions.
30 measures planned
Virtual design, supported by static and dynamic driving simulators, was followed by a testing phase at the Pirelli Sottozero Centre in Lapland, where the product was tested on snow, ice and other winter surfaces. Finally, the range comprises 30 sizes, with diameters from 18 to 22 inches, and includes additional technologies: Elect, designed for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, can help increase range by up to 10 per cent, whilst PNCS reduces perceived noise inside the cabin. Finally, Seal Inside has been designed to maintain tyre pressure in the event of a puncture caused by an external object. (C.Ca.)
