Pirelli at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Pirelli takes part in the "Festival of Speed", which is currently taking place in Goodwood, UK, and the main themes of the company's exposition this year are ecology and the development of "smart" tire technology equipped with sensors. 

Its "smart" tires are called Cyber Tyre by Pirelli, and they are, for example, included in the equipment of the Pagani Utopia hypercar, for which, taking into account its unique features and enormous power, exclusive versions of three tire models were prepared: summer P Zero Corsa and P Zero Trofeo RS, as well as winter P Zero Winter. 

Sensors installed in the tires are connected to the electronic control unit via Bluetooth and provide useful information for selecting the most optimal mode and maximizing the use of available potential. Such a dialogue between the car and the tires became possible thanks to the software developed by Pirelli, which works in conjunction with the car's electronic "brain". For example, if winter tires are installed, the ABS will be "instructed" on how to use them best to reduce the braking distance, and if the car is equipped with semi-slick tires, the stabilization and anti-skid systems will be informed about the availability of additional traction. 

According to Pirelli, without the information collected by the sensors, the car's control systems will work less efficiently, not using the data on the tire characteristics that can help improve the car's dynamics and safety.

"Cyber Tyre is a unique tire that is already being installed on some cars available on the market, but now it has also received a new feature that increases the level of specialization of automotive electronics, including when used on unmanned vehicles," add Pirelli.

In Goodwood, the company also announced that by 2026, all natural rubber used in European factories will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the transition to certified raw materials has already begun (natural rubber accounts for about 15% of the weight of the tires). The FSC certificate means that rubber plantations are managed with consideration for the need to protect biodiversity and the interests of people living and working in the region. Additionally, it is guaranteed that all raw materials have been carefully selected and are not mixed with non-certified materials throughout the supply chain, from the plantation to the tire factory. 

In 2021, Pirelli produced the first road tire in the industry using FSC-certified natural rubber and viscose, and yesterday it was announced that the company will begin supplying tires with the corresponding marking to Jaguar Land Rover, which will equip its luxury cars with them. In addition, since the start of the 2024 season, Formula 1 has been using tires made from FSC-certified rubber, and a few weeks ago, bicycle tires with the Council's symbol on the sidewalls were presented - Pirelli P Zero Race RS.

The festival also featured the P Zero Winter 2 winter tire, which consists of 50% eco-friendly materials. Last year, the Pirelli P Zero E - the first UHP class tires on the market, made from more than 55% recycled materials (the share ranges from 25 to 27% depending on the tire size) and biobased materials (29-31%) - went on sale. The tires received the highest "A/A/A" rating according to the European classification system, and the list of eco-materials includes, for example, natural rubber, bio-resins, and lignin, as well as recycled steel, etc. The fact that Pirelli's environmental claims are true was confirmed by Bureau Veritas (according to the requirements of the ISO 14021 standard), and in order for buyers to be able to identify a tire made from at least 50% "green" raw materials, a special marking was created. 

Both the P Zero Winter 2 shown in Goodwood and the P Zero E also have the Elect marking, which indicates that they have been adapted for use on electric vehicles and, for example, have reduced rolling resistance and noise. According to Pirelli, the company is one of the leaders in the premium electric car tire segment, which has become possible thanks to new virtual modeling and artificial intelligence technologies that have accelerated the product development process. In total, Pirelli invests around 5.5% of its premium tire market revenue in research and development every year.