Pirelli crafts custom P Zero tire for Hyundai EV

MILAN, Italy—Hyundai Motor Co. has selected a version of Pirelli's P Zero tire as original equipment on the Korean car maker's electric Ioniq 5 N vehicle.

The tire—which meets the requirements of a sporty electric vehicle (EV) while also offering drive performance, reliability and comfort for everyday driving—was developed in a two-year collaboration with Hyundai.

The tire was tested on the Nürburgring racing circuit "to prove its performance and consistency under extreme driving conditions," Pirelli said.

The bespoke P Zero is made with Pirelli Elect technology, developed by the tire maker for EVs and plug-in hybrid cars.

The P Zero Elect has several advantages for EVs:

• The tire's reinforced structure and materials can withstand the stresses associated with the mass of a battery-powered vehicle;
• The tire is designed to withstand the high torque immediately applied by the electric motor, increasing durability;
• The use of functionalized polymers in the compound for improved wet grip and handling.

The tire also uses the Pirelli Noise Canceling System (PNCS), which reduces the noise inside the vehicle by using a sound-absorbing material on the inside of the tire.

Pirelli said its engineers "refined every detail of the tire," with optimized groove depth and tread block dimensions for improved traction and stability and excellent grip on different surfaces. They stiffness of the tire was designed for a responsive and controlled driving experience both on the track and on normal roads.

Pirelli used virtual simulation tools to develop the P Zero for the Ioniaq 5 N, in particular to optimize the tire's structure.

The tire has an HN marking on the sidewall to note its bespoke nature.

Pirelli also developed a custom version of the P Zero for the Porsche Cayenne.