Pirelli tires are designed for speed, comfort and expert handling. These tires are well-known in automotive industry. But, are they right for you?
This review will discuss Pirelli tires in detail, including their quality, popular models and costs, customer feedback and more. We will also discuss which brands are best for different types of drivers.
Our review team has compiled a list containing the most popular tires and brands. You can compare prices for a range of highly-rated brands including Pirelli at TireRack.com.
Pirelli Tires Overview
Pirelli, an Italian tire manufacturer founded in 1872 is best known for its high performance models. Pirelli tires are used in luxury cars such as Porsche, Lamborghini and Audi. It is headquartered in Milan, but the North American headquarters are located in Rome, Georgia. It is the seventh-largest tire manufacturer in the globe.
Pirelli tires are available for cars, light trucks and SUVs as well as motorcycles and bicycles. These tires may not be the best for daily commuters, but they are a great option for sport vehicles. Pirelli tires are synonymous for performance. These models are designed for speed, handling and grip in both wet and dry conditions. Pirelli also makes significant efforts to ensure sustainability by sourcing plant-based materials as well as synthetic rubbers.
Pirelli Tires Industry Ratings
Pirelli is one of the many passenger tire brands that use an evaluation system developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Uniform Tire Quality Grading is also known as UTG. It grades tires based on treadwear, traction and temperature resistance.
Here is a description of the UTQG grading process:
Treadwear This grade determines the life expectancy of your tires. Tires are compared to a 100-rated control tire in order to calculate treadwear. A tire with a 500 treadwear rating means that it lasts five times as long as the control. According to SaferCar.gov, most passenger tires have a treadwear rating between 300 and 500.
Traction: This grade indicates how well your tires “grip” a wet surface. On a scale from AA to A, B, C or D, traction grades are assigned. Good day-today passenger tires usually receive an A rating.
TemperatureThis rating evaluates a tire’s heat resistance using a scale from A, B, and C. Tires must withstand different temperatures depending on their specialization. For example, performance tires move at higher speeds than regular tires and require higher temperatures ratings.
Important to remember that the NHTSA doesn’t oversee UTQG testing. Manufacturers perform tire testing and report.
Below are the top-rated Pirelli tires and their treadwear and traction ratings. We also have temperature ratings based on data from SaferCar.gov.
You can find out more information about the Pirelli tires you own by checking the sidewall.
Pirelli’s Most Popular Models
Pirelli manufactures both replacement and original equipment models and tires for many well-respected car manufacturers. Pirelli tires that are most popular are performance-oriented. Although there are a few good winter and all-terrain models from Pirelli, they excel on open roads and around the track.
Below are some of the most well-respected Pirelli tires, based on customer data from Tire Rack. These models are highly regarded within the industry and have received many positive reviews.
- Pirelli Winter Sottozero : This is a reputable winter tire that has a performance design that makes it often on the top winter tires lists.
- Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus This is a grand touring all-season tire that comes with a 70,000 mile tread life warranty. It also has an eco-friendly design
- Pirelli Zero : This quiet, maximum performance summer tire has exceptional dry handling and excellent noise insulation.
- Pirelli Verde All Season Plus : All-season touring tire that offers improved fuel efficiency and remarkable wet and dry handling performance
Pirelli has one of the longest treadwear warranties in the business – a 90,000.-mile treadwear warranty on the P4 Four Seasons Plus. However, most treadwear warranties are standard. This is not surprising considering the manufacturer specializes only in high-performance tires.
These are just a few examples from the treadwear warranties Pirelli tires offers for replacement models.
- Pirelli Scorpion ST: 65,000 Miles
- Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus: 70,000 Miles
- Pirelli All Season: 45,000 Miles
Pirelli’s limited warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship within the first year of purchase, or until the tire wears down to 2/32 inches of its original tread.
Cost of Pirelli Tires
Most Pirelli tires cost well over $100 per piece. Although this is more expensive than Michelin or Goodyear tires, it is still affordable. Pirelli tires are highly specialized, so drivers often don’t mind paying more because they’re made for premium brands.
Below is a breakdown of the average price for a few Pirelli tires.
| Pirelli Tire Model | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Pirelli P4 Four Seasons plus | From $88 to $135 |
| Pirelli Scorpion Asimmetrico | From $165 to $453 |
| Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain plus | $150 to $292 |
Pirelli Customer Reviews
You can get a better idea of how Pirelli tires perform in various driving conditions by reading customer reviews. The 2020 J.D. awarded Pirelli top marks. Power Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction StudySM for passenger tires. Pirelli was the top-scoring tire, scoring 788 points out of 1,000.
Below are both positive and negative customer reviews to give you an overview of Pirelli’s pros & cons.
Positive Customer Reviews
“[In] October 2016, Pirelli Cinturato P7s were installed on the factory tires. I was immediately puzzled why I had waited so long before replacing the tires. The highway tire noise dropped to almost nothing, and the handling of dry, wet or [in] ski was an improvement. The fuel mileage also improved by about 0.5 mpg em>
– via Tire Rack
“The Pirelli Scorpion Snow Ice and Snow are hands down the best winter tires I have ever driven. These tires performed well in all conditions, from five inches of ice and three feet of snow to three feet. They are very comfortable, do not wear quickly, and are quiet .”
– via Tire Rack
Negative Customer Tires
“If there is a lot of rain, the Scorpion Verde All Seasons are very bad. Traction is terrible. They don’t have a lot of tread. In heavy rain, I had to slow down to 55 MPH on the highway em>
– via Tire Rack
“[Pirelli 6000] OEMs can be very bad. The tire noise is so loud you feel like you’re driving a truck, rather than an Audi A6 4.2… Audi must have received a payment from the OEM in order to get rid of these tires. These tires were not put on the car .”. I can’t see any engineer doing so.
– via Tire Rack
Our Final Thoughts on Pirelli Tires
Pirelli is a solid choice for performance tires. Their low noise and dry handling are often praised by customers. They also make quality models that are eco-friendly. Pirelli tires can be expensive, and they often cost more than $100 per tire. You might consider other brands if you are on a tight budget or need a tire that is more suitable for daily commute.