New McLaren supercar features Pirelli's Cyber Tyre system

WOKING, England — McLaren Automotive's latest supercar launch, the all-wheel-drive, hybrid-powered Artura, features an array of technical innovations, including the first fully integrated tire-data-transmission system, a partnership development with Pirelli Tyres.

The Artura's system, an extension of Pirelli's Cyber Tyre research and development program, provides a range of data about the tires and road conditions, such as tire temperature and pressure, as well as the tires' prescribed pressure, load index and speed rating, Pirelli said, via sensors mounted to the tire innerliner.

This information—transmitted in real time to onboard software created by Pirelli and integrated into the car's electronics—is delivered with greater precision than that from traditional sensors on the valve, Pirelli claims. Some information can be seen on the dashboard and the central display; other information is used by the car's electronics to calibrate the driver alert systems based on the exact characteristics of the tires and their status.

The two-door supercar is powered by a 3-liter twin-turbo V6 mated to an "eMotor" electric motor that together generate 671 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, less than on other comparable McLaren models but a lighter overall weight delivers comparable power to weight.

McLaren offers three Pirelli options, all marked with MC-C on the sidewalls, for the Artura:

• P Zero tires developed specifically for this car in sizes 235/35Z R19 (front) and 295/35 R20 (rear). The tires have an asymmetric tread pattern designed to deliver braking performance suited to a car with type of power, particularly when it's wet, Pirelli said.
• P Zero Corsa tires, developed specifically for use on the track as well as the road, are also available, featuring a compound derived from Pirelli's motorsport experience.
• P Zero Winter tires specifically designed to match its characteristics, with a tailor-made compound and tread pattern designed for performance similar to the P Zero summer tire.

In addition to alerts related to pressure or temperature, the Pirelli Cyber Tyre system alerts the driver when the maximum speed for a specific tire type, such as winter tires, has been reached.

The Artura also incorporates functions specifically designed for use on a race track, such as allowing the driver to adapt tire pressures to obtain better performance on track based on his/her individual driving style.

The next step in the cyber-tire process will be to connect to a network with other vehicles and the surrounding infrastructure, Pirelli said.

In November 2019, Pirelli demonstrated that it was possible to share information relating to road surfaces over the 5G network at the 5G-enhanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) services showcase event in Turin.