WEST SUSSEX, England — Pirelli & C. S.p.A. presented three of its newest tires in the Pirelli P Zero family — the P Zero E, the P Zero R and the P Zero Trofeo RS —during the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, dubbed as the "world's largest automotive garden party."
The event was held July 13-16 at the Goodwood House in West Sussex.
During the event, Pirelli emphasized that the P Zero products, with more than 1,300 homologations, were designed with input from manufacturers and consumers, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and efficiency. The products, Pirelli said, have been developed with Pirelli's 'Eco-Safety Design' approach: a process that uses "innovative methods and materials, including all the virtualization technology handed down from Pirelli's experience in motorsports."
Pirelli said the process helps "to overcome the inevitable compromises" of developing a tire design.
The P Zero brand began in 1986 to fit the Group B Lancia Delta S4 that competed in world rallying. The three products each address different needs of the sports cars throughout every season, Pirelli said.
The soon-to-be released P Zero E is the first UHP tire manufactured with more than 55% of materials of natural and recycled origin, certified by certification firm Bureau Veritas, according to Pirelli, giving it a triple A rating on the European tire label.
This tire was specifically developed for electric vehicles; the "Elect" marking on every tire in the range denotes a low rolling resistance and reduced noise. The tire also has run-flat "RunForward" technology that allows a punctured tire to be used until reaching a repair shop.
Research also shows a 24% reduction in CO2 emissions versus a previous generation Pirelli tire.
Pirelli P Zero E is made with specific compounds that help to increase the range of battery-powered vehicles and extend tire life thanks to reduced wear. The compounds, Pirelli said, play a role in enhancing car control throughout various different driving situations, particularly wet braking.
The tread is stiff enough for considerable torque generated by EVS, while being optimized for the position and size of the grooves that also help to reduce tire noise.
The P Zero E tire will be available in September alongside the existing lineup. Initially, it will be available in 17 sizes for the aftermarket from the second half of 2023. Development of specific versions for selected models is already underway.
Meanwhile, the P Zero R, a road tire for sports cars, was designed for driving control in both wet and dry conditions, and offers better rolling resistance, less road noise and increased consistency.
Pirelli said its engineers have maximized the footprint of the P Zero R, the only point of contact between the car and the road, providing balanced and predictable characteristics.
Pirelli said it developed special resins for the new tire that activate themselves within a specific temperature range. These materials react to different driving environments, offering sporting performance in ideal conditions, driveability in normal conditions, and safety in wet or cold conditions, Pirelli said.
According to Pirelli, the P Zero R has been designed to combine effectiveness and efficiency, even on the track where it delivers consistent performance without fading. The product features a multi-compound tread, which offers a longer tire life thanks to a tread pattern design that is stiffer in the middle to reduce wear, paired with a softer compound at the edges for better cornering support during sports driving.
The P Zero Trofeo RS, which was released previously, is semi-slick tire homologated for road use, Pirelli said, and is intended as original equipment for hypercars, with bespoke versions developed for each car.
