The third-generation Pirelli Scorpion SUV tire is presented

Pirelli began sales of the new Pirelli Scorpion (S3) tire — the third generation of the summer model designed for crossovers and SUVs. The first Scorpion tires, introduced in 1986, were created specifically for high-clearance vehicles and were included in the equipment of the famous Lamborghini LM002 off-road vehicle, and now the line includes tires for both cars and motorcycles — enduro and cross-country — and bicycles.

Scorpion (S3) was also designed for vehicles with increased weight and high center of gravity, and at Pirelli, they say that the improvement in characteristics was achieved through a comprehensive approach to design, and, for example, the composition of the tread rubber mixture was modified for efficient operation in various conditions, improving traction on wet roads (using next-generation plasticizers) and increasing durability. In addition, the compound in combination with the reinforced construction prevents uneven wear, including when used on heavy vehicles, and the optimized profile and tread pattern with new groove geometry improve both handling and acoustic comfort.

The new tire was designed and tested using virtual simulation technologies. Thus, the resource forecasting tools developed by Pirelli engineers in Milan allowed evaluating more than 20 prototypes with different rubber compound compositions and tread patterns in a virtual environment to find the optimal way to extend the life of the tires. Virtual development technologies in combination with driving simulators also helped improve performance on dry pavement and, as the manufacturer claims, increase driving pleasure, and subsequent physical tests confirmed that the novelty surpasses the previous generation model.

Since Scorpion (S3) is intended for SUV-class vehicles, the carcass has been strengthened so that the tire can better handle loads, while the increased width of the central ribs and optimized profile provide even distribution of pressure and reduce deformation of the shoulder areas. In addition, a number of innovative materials are used in production, which previously helped the Pirelli Cinturato (C3) passenger tire become a leader in the Tyre Reviews test during its debut in independent tests, demonstrating a good balance between safety and economy.

Before its release, the new Scorpion was tested by the independent organization TÜV SÜD, which compared it with the Bridgestone Turanza 6, Continental PremiumContact 7, Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV, and Michelin Primacy 5 in the 235/55 R19 size and awarded the Pirelli tire the "Quality Mark". In the tests, Pirelli was the best in terms of braking performance on dry pavement and handling on wet pavement, and also entered the top three in the disciplines of braking on a wet surface and resistance to longitudinal aquaplaning.

Pirelli Scorpion (S3) tires are available on the market in 16 sizes with diameters from 18 to 22 inches, and Elect technology tires are available, which can increase the electric car's range by 10%. The model is designed for both the primary equipment segment and the secondary market, and work is currently underway on more than 40 homologations (the previous generation tire has around 300). According to the Euro marking system, in all sizes for the secondary market, the novelty received an A rating for wet grip, A/B for noise, and B for economy.