Pirelli
When winter tires are discussed, Pirelli is often not mentioned at all. We don’t know why. Maybe because as a European brand, Pirelli has sort of been a late comer in the winter tire market. Pirelli has always been known as a brand of high performance racing tires, mounted on cars like Ferrari and Maserati.
However, Pirelli offers some very respectable winter tires. As an example, let us take a look at their two main winter tires offered here in the US.
Pirelli Winter SnowSport Performance tires perform in true Pirelli tradition. The emphasis is on high-speed winter driving performance, combined with good snow and ice traction. Pirelli SnowSport tires are for those of you who drive a high performance car and require good traction on both bare and snow-covered roads.
The Pirelli Winter SnowSport tires feature an asymmetric tread pattern with variable blocks and high performance style longitudinal grooves. The rounded shoulder design is derived from racing technology. The tread blocks feature slightly different sizes and shapes, and sipes that supply biting edges to help grip snow and ice without the use of metal studs. A silica tread compound is used to combine winter traction with high speed durability. If the majority of your driving is on paved surfaces prone to black ice, you will love these tires.
Pirelli Winter Carving Edge and Winter Carving radials have been developed with metals studs in mind. Although these tires were designed to accept studs for improved peformance on packed snow and ice, you can also use them without studs if you happen to live in an area where studded tires are not allowed. Winter Carving radials are designed to perform well in both wet and dry conditions, as well as in snow and on ice.
Winter Carving radials use Pirelli’s Adaptive Compound Technology (ACT) to deliver great winter performance, while also giving you good wear resistance. The tread design is directional with rounded shoulders to give better hydroplaning resistance on wet and slush-covered roads while performing well on dry surfaces. The Carving tires have the same sipe design as the SnowSport tires with lateral sipes across the face of the tire. Optional alternating rows of metal studs increase traction on icy roads.
Both Pirelli Winter Snowsport Tires and Pirelli Winter Carving radials are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol.