Pirelli gambles on new UHP all-season passenger tire

LAS VEGAS—Pirelli Tire North America Inc. is gambling that its latest passenger tire, the P Zero AS Plus 3, will be a big hit for the North American consumer.

And the subsidiary of Milan, Italy-based Pirelli & C. S.p.A. found no better place to introduce its latest wager in order to increase market share in North America: Las Vegas.

Pirelli Tire North America CEO Claudio Zanardo, Chief Technology Officer Ian Coke and Chief Marketing Officer Andre Oosthuzien joined three executives from Italy to unveil the P Zero AS Plus 3, an ultra-high-performance all-season tire designed for premium vehicles.

Pirelli hosted about 20 journalists, photographers and social media influencers for a three-day event in Las Vegas that included testing its tires on various tracks at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as well as driving long distance to the Valley of Fire National Park.

A separate event was held for Pirelli dealers, also in Las Vegas.

The tire is available today in 31 sizes, fitting tires with rim diameters from 17 to 20 inches. According to Pirelli, it will fit the Ford Mustang, Genesis G80, BMW 3 series and the Mercedes Benz C-Class.

The tire, which replaces the P Zero AS Plus in tire maker's lineup, delivers comfort, durability and excellent handling while meeting the needs of North American drivers in all types of weather conditions, according to Pirelli. The product joins the Scorpion AS Plus 3, Pirelli's all-season tire for crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks, as well as the P AS Plus 3, for sedans and coupes, in the portfolio.

Zanardo calls the P Zero AS Plus 3 "a testament to Pirelli's focus on the North American Region and its commitment to develop products that answer to the specific needs of this market. We're confident that this tire will exceed our customers' expectations, providing a great driving experience and delivering exceptional performance in all conditions."

The tire features a new tread pattern, compound and construction, and it is backed with a 50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.

Pirelli engineers used horizontal 3D siping in the tread patten. The company said the 3D sipe interlocking system is designed to increase tread pattern stiffness, improving braking on wet and snow. It also features higher siping density to improve snow performance grip, while four wide longitudinal grooves help improve water displacement from the tire footprint, boosting wet performance and reducing the risk of hydroplaning, the compan said.

Functionalized polymers in the tread compound help enhance rolling efficiency and reduce rolling resistance by 10 percent, Pirelli said, compared to its predecessor. Pirelli said the tire delivers a 20-percent increase in tread efficiency.

With a focus on optimizing pitch sequence, Pirelli said cabin noise is minimized, ensuring a "comfortable driving experience."