Pirelli unveils the third generation of the Scorpion, the tyre designed specifically for SUVs

Back in 1986, when they were barely around and we had no idea of the huge boom that vehicles classified as SUVs would enjoy, Pirelli launched a tyre it called Scorpion, and fitted it for the first time as original equipment on the legendary Lamborghini LM002. Today the Pirelli Scorpion range has expanded to cover everything from SUVs to on-road and motocross enduro motorcycles, and even mountain bikes.

Now Pirelli is in a position to present the third generation of the Scorpion, a summer tyre specifically for SUVs that stands out for its safety, ride comfort and longevity, all thanks to technologies such as its reinforced casing, wider centre blocks in the tread, and an optimised profile. It even uses materials that were employed in the new generation of the Cinturato presented to us at the beginning of last year, the tyre designed for use on passenger cars and crossovers.

Like any other type of vehicle, SUVs have also evolved over the years, but mainly we find a steadily increasing weight and a raised centre of gravity compared with a passenger car, characteristics that Pirelli had to address anew for this third generation. This has meant the new Scorpion comes with a new tread compound that delivers high performance in a variety of conditions, while improving the always critical grip on wet roads and extending the useful mileage of the tyre. In this respect the casing has had to be reinforced and incorporates a new blend of compounds, so that uniform wear is also achieved, while the profile and tread pattern improve handling and acoustic comfort.

To arrive at this third generation of the Scorpion, Pirelli relied heavily on the use of virtual processes, which make it possible to simulate countless conditions over countless kilometres that would be very difficult to achieve in real life. Among these processes, the mileage prediction tools stand out, allowing more than 20 technological variants to be evaluated in digital environments, in which different compounds and tread designs are combined. Added to this is the support provided by driving simulations, which optimise handling, dry performance and driving pleasure, before the improvements over the previous generation are confirmed through tests with physical prototypes.

The new Pirelli Scorpion has received the Premium Quality Mark awarded by the independent institute TÜV1, earned by taking first place in the dry braking and wet handling tests, and by ranking among the top positions in wet braking and aquaplaning on a straight. In addition, it holds an A rating on its energy label for wet grip, an A-B rating for acoustic comfort, and a B rating for rolling resistance. It is also intended for plug-in or electric SUVs, featuring ELECT technology, which can increase range by up to 10%.

The new Pirelli Scorpion will be available in an initial range of 16 sizes for rims ranging from 18 to 22 inches, and will reach the market in a short period of time.