Pirelli has renewed the company’s winter tyre range with the third generation Scorpion Winter 3 which has been designed and developed for the specific needs of SUVs in typical cold weather conditions, offering grip on snow and wet roads combined with both comfort and durability, while also maintaining consistent performance over time.
The new Scorpion Winter 3 was engineered using virtual development and driving simulators with a structure and tread pattern tailored to the specific requirements of SUVs with final testing taking place at the Pirelli Sottozero Center in Lapland.
Today SUVs now account for more than 50% of the global market and have distinctive characteristics, which include greater weight and a higher centre of gravity. This means that SUVs require tyres with dedicated internal structures and tread patterns which has guided the development of the Scorpion Winter 3.
This new tyre delivers a high level of performance balance across the different conditions drivers face during the winter season, including snow, ice, wet roads and dry surfaces.
During the development process, Pirelli examined tyre behaviour under heavy loads, redesigning the contact patch to optimise pressure peaks, a key requirement for both mileage performance and even wear on heavy vehicles such as SUVs.
This led to a major innovation of the new generation tyre. As the tread wears, the active edges within the contact patch and, consequently, grip on snow and wet roads, remain consistent over time. At the same time the structure of the tyre has been engineered to accommodate the heavier weight, with a dedicated internal carcass and tread design.
The tread geometry incorporates several solutions developed for the Cinturato Winter 3 tyre, including the zigzag central groove that helps evacuate water and supports lateral grip on snow. Pirelli’s patented Snow Keeper Teeth technology retains snow within the grooves to harness the grip generated by snow-on-snow contact along with a high void ratio which enhances performance on snow and wet roads while helping to counter aquaplaning.
The stiffer tread blocks specifically developed for SUVs, improve handling and wear resistance under high loads, as well as a carefully calibrated sipe density to maintain performance on dry roads.
The compound of the new Scorpion Winter 3 draws on the experience gained with the P Zero Winter 2, a tyre Pirelli developed to deliver winter performance for high-performance cars. It incorporates specific polymers, including Dual-Core Polymer, whose dual operating mechanism provides enhanced grip in a variety of conditions, while plasticisers broaden the tyre’s operating temperature range.
The Pirelli Sottozero Centre proving ground in Swedish Lapland played an important role in the development process, making it possible to test the tyre on a variety of surfaces, from snow to ice, throughout the year.
The new Scorpion Winter 3 offers drivers a range of 30 sizes, from 18 to 22 inches and including Elect technology, which can increase the range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. In addition, the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) reduces perceived rolling noise inside the cabin through the use of a special sound-absorbing material fitted inside the tyre. The tyre is also available with Seal Inside technology, which helps maintain air pressure in the event of a puncture from a foreign object.
With the requirement to carry winter tyres or snow chains coming into force on 15th November in several European countries, the Scorpion Winter 3 completes Pirelli’s Winter range. For more information on the third generation of the new Scorpion Winter 3, please visit: www.pirelli.com.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based motoring and travel journalist and editor, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of Pirelli
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