McLaren W1 equipped with Pirelli tires made from eco-friendly materials
For the McLaren W1, three Pirelli tires of different types were approved, more than 50% made from biomaterials and recycled materials, which was confirmed by the independent organization Bureau Veritas. All eco-friendly tires - P Zero R, P Zero Trofeo RS and P Zero Winter 2 - were created in exclusive versions specifically for the W1, and Pirelli is the sole tire supplier for the supercar.
The McLaren W1 is equipped with a hybrid power unit with a power output of 1275 hp and a torque of 1340 Nm, and it has a rear-wheel drive. Acceleration to 300 km/h takes less than 12.7 seconds, and a Race mode is also provided, in which a downforce of up to 1000 kg is generated. Thus, Pirelli faced quite challenging tasks, and the developed tires must meet all the requirements of buyers: P Zero R is designed for daily use, P Zero Trofeo RS is optimized for racing tracks, and P Zero Winter 2 is designed for the cold season. All tires will be produced at the Pirelli plant in Settimo Torinese (Italy).
As noted by Pirelli, within the framework of this project, the research departments of the two companies closely collaborated from the earliest stages of development, and after working in a virtual environment using the latest simulation technologies, engineers moved on to physical tests to evaluate the tire characteristics in various weather conditions and on different types of surfaces. The tests were conducted, among other places, at the Nardò and IDIADA tracks in Italy and Spain, respectively, as well as at the Sottozero Centre testing center of the tire company in Sweden.
As a result, the first tires for supercars with such a high proportion of eco-materials were created, and Pirelli says their development was an important part of the company's plan, according to which by 2030, tires consisting of 80% "green" raw materials should be released. As part of this strategy, in 2023, the Pirelli P Zero E was presented - the first UHP tires on the market containing more than 55% eco-materials and receiving the highest "A" rating by the EU labeling system in all three parameters: economy, wet grip, and noise. The P Zero E was also the first to receive a logo that the company now uses to mark all tires with an eco-friendly raw material content of at least 50%.
In the tires for the W1, the proportion of bio-based and recycled materials is from 14.5% to 15% and from 34.9% to 35.4%, respectively. Natural raw materials include natural rubber, bio-chemicals, and bio-tars, while recycled materials include, among other things, steel and technical carbon obtained from recycling old tires.