Pirelli developed tyres for the extreme Bentley Supersports
Company Pirelli developed exclusive versions of two sports tires for the Bentley Continental GT Supersports coupe, named in honor of the Super Sports roadster, which premiered in 1925,and radically different from other models in the lineup, partly because it became the first car in the family (excluding the racing Continental GT3) to feature rear-wheel drive.
As Pirelli says, developing tires for the Supersports posed a series of genuinely challenging tasks for engineers. The shift to rear-biased torque distribution, the addition of an electronic limited-slip differential, active rear-wheel steering, and a 16 mm wider rear track required tires capable of handling completely different load distributions compared to the all-wheel-drive Continental GT Speed. Additionally, the aerodynamic package increases downforce by 300 kg, significantly altering the vertical loads on the tires as speed builds up.
Taking into account the vehicle's specific characteristics, both the tyre construction and tread pattern design as well as the rubber compound have been refined. Pirelli specialists worked in close collaboration with Bentley engineers at every stage—from virtual simulation to track and public road testing—with the goal of ensuring stable performance across all driving modes, from Touring to Sport.
Designed for everyday use as well as long-distance driving, 22-inchPirelli P Zero, whose design and compound have been optimized to enhance ride comfort and reduce noise, but the manufacturer emphasizes that the tires' sporty character remains intact, still improving steering responsiveness while providing the level of grip necessary for the vehicle's power.
Although the Supersports is significantly lighter than the Continental GT, the tyres are subject to no less demanding requirements due to the Supersports' extreme performance characteristics, and the P Zero tyres have been specifically refined "to harmoniously interact with the suspension and dual-chamber dampers, delivering precise steering response and exceptional stability."
For those intending to use the Supersports on a race track, Pirelli has prepared 22-inch semi-slicksPirelli P Zero Trofeo RS, and this is the first time that tyres of this model have been produced in a special version for Bentley.
P Zero Trofeo RS are road-legal and developed using Pirelli's motorsport experience, with the Supersports version made from a modified rubber compound and reinforced internal structure to withstand high aerodynamic loads. It is on these tyres that the coupe can corner at 1.3 g of lateral acceleration and approximately 30% faster than the Continental GT Speed. The extreme grip level is evident from the fact that during the first track test, lateral grip exceeded the thresholds set by the car's electronic systems, triggering the seatbelt pre-tensioners.
The "footwear" for the Supersports was developed by Pirelli under the Perfect Fit program, through which the company creates custom tires for specific car models in close collaboration with the manufacturers' engineers. Initially, virtual simulation technologies are applied, followed by joint testing. Pirelli states that this approach allows optimizing every aspect—from rubber compound and construction to tread pattern and casing stiffness—ensuring the tires perfectly match the vehicle's specific characteristics.
Pirelli and Bentley have been collaborating since the early 1980s, when exclusive tyres were developed for the Mulsanne Turbo R and RT. Since then, the company has supplied tyres for a wide range of Bentley models, from the Arnage and Continental GT to the Bentayga SUV, for which special 23-inch P Zero tyres were created. Tyres have also been developed for various racing Bentleys, including the Continental GT3, and the companies continue to work successfully together in numerous championships.
Pirelli tyres have also helped Bentley set new speed records. For example, they were fitted on the Bentayga, which became the fastest production SUV at Pikes Peak, and later on the Continental GT, which broke the record among all production cars. Quite recently, in 2024, Pirelli equipped the Continental GT Speed, which set a speed record in an underwater tunnel in Norway.
Photo: Bentley