Tag: Pirelli
Functional design or identity crisis?
Directional or v-shaped treads offer several advantages on wet and snow-covered roads. Such patterns provide good levels of traction and also effectively remove water from the contact patch, thus offering stability and protection against aquaplaning. These characteristics make directional patterns an obvious choice for winter and all-season tyres, and it’s no surprise that the v-shaped tread is well-represented in these segments.
10th tyre test success for Pirelli Scorpion Trail II
Pirelli is happy about the “tenth important recognition” its Scorpion Trail II has gained in a comparative test. It says the tyre’s strong performance in the test conducted by Austrian motorcycling publication Motorrad Magazin (issue 5/2019) “confirms its position at the top of the enduro street segment.”
Pirelli adapting its electrifying performance for mobility changes
Pirelli may be synonymous with traditional ideas of high performance, but in 2019 the tyre manufacturer is increasingly adapting what this segment of the market can mean. Earlier in 2019, Pirelli reported that tyres made according to the company’s Green Performance strategy had risen from 20 per cent a decade ago to 29.8 per cent in 2018 – not only that, but Green Performance tyres accounted for 57.5 per cent of Pirelli’s High Value product sales. Now the manufacturer is embracing another “electrifying” direction in which to develop its high performance tyres in 2019.
Pirelli celebrates biggest family day with Burton Albion FC
Pirelli celebrated 90 years of manufacturing at its UK headquarters in Burton upon Trent with its biggest Family Day celebration yet, held jointly with Burton Albion Football Club. The Family Day took place at the Pirelli Stadium, which is located a few hundred metres down the road from Pirelli’s UK headquarters in Burton. Pirelli UK Chairman and CEO, Dominic Sandivasci, along with Burton Albion FC Chairman, Ben Robinson, and club captain, Jake Buxton, opened the event.
Tyre makers honoured with GM & Ford supplier awards
Several tyre makers have received new silverware of late, with OEM partners in the vehicle manufacturing sector handing out awards to honour their suppliers. We’ve already shared news of awards Hankook Tire received from Honda and General Motors; more recently, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Maxxis and Pirelli have commented on the accolades they’ve gained.
Pirelli at Paul Ricard for Blancpain GT endurance
Pirelli is bringing its rubber to Paul Ricard as it plays host to the third round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and the fourth round of the overall championship this weekend. The GT4 European Series and Blancpain GT Sports Club will feature too, both of which also run on Pirelli tyres. The endurance grid will feature 49 cars piloted by 147 drivers during the six-hour race, whichever comes first. There will be 10 manufacturers on the grid: Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes and Porsche. All will run on Pirelli’s P Zero DHD2 slick tyres for the dry and the Cinturato WH for the wet.
Pirelli plant to close as part of Brazil investment
Pirelli is investing in production modernisation in Brazil, and as was recently the case at Goodyear in Germany, there are winners and losers. The latter includes the workforce at the company’s motorcycle tyre plant in Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul, which is expected to close sometime in the next couple of years.
McLaren makes 20,000th car
McLaren Automotive made its 20,000th hand-assembled car at its McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey. The 20,000th car built was a right-hand drive 600LT Spider in Chicane Grey from the brand’s Sports Series line-up. Launched only last summer as the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ story, all production slots for the Coupe variant have already been filled. It has been fitted with Pirelli Trofeo R tyres.
Paolo Roversi to shoot 2020 Pirelli Calendar
Paolo Roversi has been given the remit of snapping pics for the 2020 Pirelli Calendar. The Italian-born, Paris-based photographer brings half a century of experience to the role. Pirelli comments that Roversi is “considered one of the most talented contemporary photographers, above all for his style which is personal and highly recognisable.”
Formula 2: Pirelli supplying 18” tyres from 2020
In 2021, Formula 1 will bid farewell to 13-inch rims and tyres with chubby sidewalls, with the switch to an 18-inch dimension taking place that season. The onus falls upon exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli to develop rubber for the 2021 F1 cars, and Pirelli says its development will be greatly aided by the adoption of the 18-inch tyre size in ‘feeder’ series Formula 2 from 2020.
Pirelli at Silverstone Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup round 2
Silverstone will host the 3 Hours of Silverstone this weekend, round two of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, exclusively supplied by Pirelli. This follows the opening round of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe, which took place 160km down the road at Brands Hatch last weekend. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo will feature too, and the entire grid will also run on Pirelli rubber.
McErlean wins Pirelli International Rally double
Pirelli-equipped Junior British Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean won his second straight win in the category on the Pirelli International Rally. McErlean and co-driver Keaton Williams followed their asphalt triumph on the West Cork Rally by leading the way on the gravel stages of Kielder Forest. The Peugeot 208 R2 pair took victory by 53 seconds.
Pirelli supported Ferrari Challenge UK holds prologue test
The new Ferrari Challenge UK has held a prologue test at Brands Hatch ahead of its first ever season. 20 Ferrari 488 Challenge cars in action on the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch, many of them being driven by their owners for the first time. The Ferrari Challenge UK is the first national championship to be operated by Ferrari, alongside its European, North American and Asia Pacific series: all with tyres supplied by Pirelli. The inaugural season features rounds at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Croft and Silverstone.
UK hosts Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe opener, supported by Pirelli
The opening round of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe takes place this weekend at Brands Hatch in the UK, with Pirelli supplying the tyres. It will be the sixth outing of the sprint-format series at the circuit, which will host the event on its 3.9km grand prix layout, including the famous Paddock Hill bend, one of the track’s few overtaking spots.
Pirelli: ‘Green Performance’ now half of all tyre sales
A decade ago, around 20 per cent of Pirelli tyres were made according to the company’s Green Performance strategy – with new production systems, reduced environmental impact and low energy consumption. The tyre maker reports this figure reached 49.8 per cent of sales last year, up from 43.5 per cent in 2017. Green Performance tyres accounted for 57.5 per cent of Pirelli’s High Value product sales.