In a two-year collaboration with Hyundai, Pirelli has developed a specially adapted version of its P Zero tyre for the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai’s first high-performance electric car.
The specially adapted P Zero Tyre has been developed to meet the dynamic requirements of a sporty electric car to give driving performance, reliability and comfort for everyday use.
Tested on the demanding Nürburgring circuit, the P Zero needed to prove its performance and consistency under extreme driving conditions, which the track was able to offer.
Pirelli has equipped the bespoke P Zero with its Elect technology, which has been developed specifically for electric cars and plug-in hybrids so as to meet the specific characteristics of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
Fitting EVs with the P Zero Elect gives a number of advantages which is down to innovative compounds, tread patterns and structures. For example, the tyre’s reinforced structure and materials can withstand the stresses associated with the weight of the batteries as well as the high torque immediately applied by the electric motor, so as to increase the tyre’s durability. Then there is the use of functionalised polymers in the compound which gives the tyre improved grip and handling in wet road conditions.
The omission of engine noise in electric vehicles means that you can get a lot of road roar inside the cabin and so the new P Zero Elect for the IONIQ 5 N features the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) to enhance the overall driving experience, reduce the noise inside the car by using a sound-absorbing material on the inside of the tyre.
Pirelli’s engineers paid particular attention to driving dynamics in developing the tyre, refining every detail, including the tread design and construction. The groove depth and tread block dimensions were optimised to improve traction and stability as well as give excellent grip on different surfaces. The stiffness of the tyre was precisely tuned for a responsive and controlled driving experience both on the track and on normal roads.
As well as the standard summer tyre, Pirelli has also developed a special version of the Winter Sottozero 3 tyre to meet the different driving requirements of the IONIQ 5 N. While the Winter Sottozero 3 gives the car optimum traction and control in cold temperatures, if you want even more performance, then you can always opt for the Pirelli P Zero Corsa, which offers high performance both on the track and the road with excellent traction and braking capabilities.
The new tyre has a special ‘HN’ marking on the sidewall to show that it has been adapted for the IONIQ 5 N and is another example of Pirelli’s engineers working closely with leading car manufacturers to develop customised tyres for each of their models, precisely tailored to the technical requirements of that particular vehicle.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of Pirelli
Be the first to comment