Pirelli develops exclusive tyres for DTM
For the 2026 season, Pirelli, the sole tire supplier for DTM, will develop new tires specifically designed for the popular touring car championship, the tire manufacturer's press service reported.
Pirelli notes that the new tires will be produced using innovative materials and processes developed with the championship's specifics in mind and will be equipped with state-of-the-art radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Additionally, the tires will feature the "Made in Germany" label, as their production will be handled by the factory in Breuberg, one of Pirelli's most modern facilities among its 18 sites. The plant has its own development department, which directly collaborates with Pirelli's headquarters and other research centers.
"DTM is a racing championship for GT and touring cars that has specific requirements for tires. For this reason, exclusive tires will be created for the championship by Pirelli," said Thomas Voss, director of motorsport at ADAC, the series promoter. "The new tires will also ensure fair competition among participants and allow for effective compliance with testing restrictions. The introduction of exclusive tires is an important step towards achieving DTM's goals, and we are pleased to take it together with Pirelli."
The expansion of the partnership with DTM will not only be technical but also involve Pirelli more actively utilizing its collaboration with the championship in its marketing activities.
According to Mario Isola, head of Pirelli's motorsport department, the development of cooperation with ADAC speaks to the "high quality of our tires and the excellent work of our team," and the championship can continue to rely on the support of the company's technical specialists during races, while the "launch of tire production in Germany will be a significant advantage for the series."
"Pirelli and DTM continue to move forward, developing a successful partnership that began in 2023," he stated. "For us, this is a source of pride and also a responsibility. We will continue to provide comprehensive support to one of the most prestigious racing championships in the world, offering unique technological solutions. This partnership imposes serious obligations on us, but also opens up valuable opportunities for further growth of our team."
In the coming years, Pirelli will also continue to collaborate with the ADAC GT Masters series, for which tires will be developed separately along with other Pirelli tires for GT racing. In particular, the championship will use Pirelli's P Zero DHG slicks, introduced in 2025. Pirelli has been supplying tires to ADAC GT Masters since 2015.