Tires are one of the most critical components of your car, and few make a better tire than famed Italian rubber-slinger Pirelli. The brand makes tires for some of the most sought-after sports cars in the world, which may soon include the new 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and continues to be at the cutting edge of tire technology across the car spectrum. From all-season tires to bespoke sports car tires, Pirelli does it all. But its newest offering is quite unlike any other, in that it has been developed exclusively for America. Called the 'Weather Active' range, it's going to become prevalent across the USA, as Pirelli claims it to be a true all-weather tire unlike any other.
According to Pirelli, this new range of tires has been engineered to perform better than your traditional all-season tire and is backed by the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating (3PMS), which essentially means that it offers outstanding performance in heavy snow, as well as warm and dry conditions.
But what is the secret behind this new tire, and why should we even care? Pirelli has used a new type of compound technology that increases grip and pliability in cold temperatures, thus improving grip during snow or rainy seasons. Developed for the North American market, which means it was tested in the Canadian cold and the Mexican heat, with everything the US has to offer mixed in between.
Pirelli hasn't forgotten about comfort and claims that these all-weather tires are quiet and keep road noise to a minimum. The unique tread pattern uses a special siping design that gives the tire more uniform stiffness, which increases durability and greater overall mileage.
These computer-designed rubber bands also used virtual simulators to optimize performance, and advanced software systems were used to simulate hydroplaning and to help optimize void distribution.
"The introduction of the WeatherActive confirms our strategy of developing more products specifically for the North American consumers, who usually drive in a variety of weather conditions and want to have the peace of mind to count on just one type of tires," said Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli North America.
According to Zanardo, that magic mix of range and performance in all weather conditions is "what American consumers are looking for."
Pirelli will sell the new tire in two versions: the Cinturato WeatherActive for sedans and available in 16 sizes, and the Scorpion WeatherActive for SUVs and light trucks in 23 sizes. Key fitments for this tire include the BMW 3 Series, Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and GMC Yukon.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Pirelli teamed up with athletes who like to stay active under all kinds of weather conditions, including Olympic gold medal snowboarder Hannah Teter, race-car driver Lindsay Brewer, runner Mirna Valerio, and surfer Austin Keen to showcase what the tires can do in harsh weather conditions. The campaign will be launching soon on social media, and we look forward to seeing what America's first dedicated all-weather tire can do across this beautiful nation of ours.
All tires will come with a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, which bodes well for long-term ownership.
It's worth noting that while Pirelli's new all-weather tires have the potential to be great, they'll never provide the grip and performance of a P Zero tire in summer. But for those who need a proverbial one-size-fits-all solution for changing weather conditions, you might have your new rubber right here.
