Pirelli has prepared tires for the BMW iX3
The company Pirelli has developed two summer tire models for the new BMW iX3 electric crossover: Pirelli P Zero and P Zero E, both of which are made using the Elect technology, i.e., they differ from standard tires in increased durability and reduced noise, as well as lower rolling resistance, which extends the range of electric vehicles between charges.
Pirelli P Zero of the fifth generation is the current flagship of the brand's sports line, and P Zero E is called the company's most high-tech model to date, which, for example, received the highest rating in all three parameters of the European marking - grip on a wet surface, noise and economy - and is also made using more than 55% of renewable and recycled materials. Thanks to this, last year P Zero E became the first tire in history to receive the international Compasso d'Oro award, which is considered the oldest and most prestigious in the field of industrial design.
The P Zero tires for the iX3 have been modified to better handle the instantly available torque of the powerful electric powertrain, and the modified design, as Pirelli says, provides high sensitivity of control and stability at high speeds. In addition to this, Pirelli engineers, using AI, have developed a new rubber compound that improves handling and braking properties of the tires, which has been confirmed in tests on a racing track.
In turn, P Zero E is created in accordance with the approach that Pirelli calls "eco-safety", i.e., a high level of safety is combined with durability and a reduction in environmental damage throughout the product's life cycle. As the company notes, the tires for the iX3 not only reduce noise in the cabin and energy consumption but also improve the responsiveness of the chassis and the smoothness of the electronic dynamic control system.
During development, technologies of the Pirelli Virtual Development Center (VDC) in the German town of Broyberg and the BMW Driving Simulation Center in Munich were used, which, in combination with new rubber compound ingredients and design modifications, allowed for an improvement in the balance between handling, economy, and performance on wet roads, according to Pirelli. In addition, virtual modeling and testing enable a reduction in development time and the number of physical prototypes required by a third.
P Zero is supplied for the iX3 in sizes with a diameter of 20 and 21 inches, and in the latter case, it is installed in a different width configuration, while P Zero E is mounted on the crossover in sizes with a diameter of 22 inches and different profile widths. The fact that the tires were developed in collaboration with BMW is indicated by the star symbol on the sidewalls.