Ford taps Pirelli for OE fitment on Mustang Mach-E GT Performance

DETROIT—Ford Motor Co. has selected a newly developed version of the Pirelli P Zero as the OE fitment on the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, considered the most powerful version of Ford's first all-electric SUV.

According to Pirelli Tire North America, the tires developed for the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition offer a number of advantages: low rolling resistance to increase driving range, reduced noise levels to improve driving comfort, immediate grip to cope with the instant torque generated by electric motors, and a specific structure to support the weight of a battery-powered vehicle.

The tires—available in size 245/45R20 103Y XL—carry "Elect" markings on the sidewall, which denote Pirelli products dedicated to electric and hybrid vehicles, Pirelli said.

With 480 horsepower and 634 lb.-ft of torque supplied by two electric motors driving all four wheels, the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition delivers 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds while also delivering an EPA-estimated range of 235 miles per charge, according to Ford.

Pirelli said it took the Mach-E GT's particular performance characteristics—all-wheel drive and power from separate electric motors driving the front and rear tires for more reactive acceleration and sharper handling compared to the standard rear-wheel drive—in designing tires for the vehicle.

In addition to the bespoke P Zero Elect tires, the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition features 20-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, 385-millimeter front rotors with red-painted Brembo-branded calipers and MagneRide Damping System to help improve handling performance.

In its literature for the vehicle, Ford cautions owners that the Pirelli tires are summer-designated products designed to optimize driving dynamics and provide superior performance on wet and dry roads. It recommends customers use all-season, mud-and-snow or snow tires if the vehicle is to be driven in conditions when temperatures drop below approximately 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) or in snow or ice conditions.