Porsche and Pirelli set new records

The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package has set new records for production electric vehicles at the Nürburgring track in Germany, the Laguna Seca track in the USA, and the Shanghai International Circuit in China. In all three cases, the sports car was equipped with semi-slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires Pirelli, which were specially developed in conjunction with Porsche engineers.

The joint project was launched in 2021, with the goal of developing tires that would provide optimal road grip while also withstanding the loads associated with high downforce and the electric vehicle's power of around 1100 horsepower, as well as its improved aerodynamic characteristics.

The basis was the serial Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tire, and the developers modified the design, increasing the stiffness of the two-layer carcass, which guarantees the necessary stability when driving at high speeds. In addition, the composition of the rubber compounds was optimized, taking into account the fact that powerful electric motors provide extremely rapid acceleration, and the multi-component tread was designed to enhance grip over a wide range of temperatures, including on wet roads.

The tread pattern has also been changed, which, in particular, allowed reducing noise and rolling resistance. The contact patch area in the outer zone was maximized to increase stability, while the rest was modified for rapid heat dissipation.

Design and testing were carried out in a digital environment, which reduced the development time by 30%. Real-world testing was also conducted, evaluating factors such as tire wear resistance. The tires are produced at the Brescia plant south of Frankfurt, and the Elect marking indicates that they are adapted for use on electric vehicles. According to the manufacturer, this is currently the Pirelli model with the highest level of grip on racing tracks among tires developed for electric car owners.