MILAN, Italy—The latest iteration of Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.'s Cinturato P7 summer performance tire line, which is rolling out in Europe and Asia this year, features a breakthrough in rubber compounding technology that Pirelli claims can adapt to changes in ambient temperatures.
The latest version of the Cinturato — Italian for "belted" — P7 incorporates a range of technologies that Pirelli claims is capable of reconciling conflicting requirements, such as performance in the wet and low rolling resistance.
Among the innovations is a compound equipped with a type of "mechanical intelligence" that can change according to ambient temperatures: a bit like having two compounds in one.
The tread compound is enriched with silica and specific resins that help to increase grip and enhance the function of the tire's polymers, Pirelli said, referring to improved distribution of silica particles and more effective interaction between them as "mechanical intelligence."
As a result, Pirelli claims the tire's characteristics can alter according to driving and temperature conditions, giving the driver an extremely wide optimal working range.
The tread pattern of the new-generation Cinturato P7 features lateral and longitudinal grooves arranged to evacuate water in the most efficient way possible and individual shoulder blocks designed to reduce stopping distances in wet and dry conditions.
Pirelli said the latest P7 version reduces dry braking distance from 62 mph by up to 13 feet, cuts rolling resistance by 12% (which translates to 4% better fuel economy) and 6% longer tread life.
The new P7 launches in the replacement market with over 70 OE homologations already secured, with 30 more expected by year-end.
As a summer UHP tire, the Cinturato P7 is considered a "niche" product in North America and therefore is available in only a few sizes.