Pirelli unveils Scorpion Winter 3 winter tire for heavy SUVs

Italian tire maker Pirelli has announced the Scorpion Winter 3, the new model that completes its winter range. The tire targets SUVs and CUVs, which place greater loads on their tires because of their high center of gravity and large body mass. According to Pirelli, the segment now accounts for more than 50 percent of the global market.

With the new tire, the brand aims to deliver balanced performance on snow, ice, wet and dry surfaces. All sizes offered at launch are rated A for wet grip on the EU tire label.

A structure designed for heavy bodies

Development of the Scorpion Winter 3 was based on the additional pressure that heavy vehicles exert on the tire shoulders during cornering and hard braking. The contact patch was designed to balance these forces, with the goal of preventing uneven wear and extending tire life. Pirelli says the sipes in the contact area continue to maintain grip even as the tread wears down.

The tread pattern uses solutions carried over from the Cinturato Winter 3, which finished first in ADAC winter tests. A zigzag central groove evacuates water more quickly, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. The patented Snow Keeper Teeth technology holds snow between the grooves, exploiting snow-on-snow friction to boost traction. High carcass stiffness prevents delayed steering responses under heavy loads.

The compound features a Dual Core Polymer structure developed with experience from the P Zero Winter 2, along with new-generation plasticizers. The combination helps the tire stay flexible in freezing temperatures.

Dedicated options for electric SUVs

The tire is offered in 30 sizes ranging from 18 to 22 inches. The range also includes dedicated versions for electric and plug-in hybrid models. Pirelli Elect technology lowers rolling resistance, contributing up to 10 percent to driving range. The PNCS system reduces the hum reaching the cabin by means of a polyurethane sponge fitted inside the tire. Seal Inside maintains air pressure in the event of punctures caused by foreign objects, allowing the journey to continue.

Dynamic driving simulators at the R&D center in Milano Bicocca were used during development, allowing dry-surface steering feel and acoustic comfort to be tuned in a virtual environment. Physical testing was carried out at the Pirelli Sottozero Center in Swedish Lapland.

The Scorpion family traces its history back to a tire developed in 1986 for the Lamborghini LM002. Today the line holds more than 1,200 original equipment homologations from manufacturers including Porsche, Aston Martin, Lotus, Audi, BMW, JLR and NIO.