Mention the Pirelli tyre brand, and one thing immediately comes to mind - Formula One. The brand and its P Zero brand of tyres have been synonymous with the pinnacle of motorsports for almost a decade and a half. And even before that, it has an illustrious history of being the tyre of choice for some of the most iconic performance and race cars that has ever been made.
Naturally, I had some really high expectations when we were told that we were invited to Kuala Lumpur for the official launch of the latest generation of P Zero tyres. The fact that the itinerary includes not just driving, but driving on the sweeping Karak Highway, and the curvy Genting Highland roads, as well as a track experience on the famed Sepang Circuit, has got me properly excited.
40 years of keeping performance cars in control
Before we get to the latest P Zero, I feel like it is important to explore the history of the Pirelli P Zero brand of tyres.
In 1985, after displaying the brand's prowess in creating tyres for the Lancia Delta S4 Group B rally car, Pirelli was chosen to develop a road-going tyre that can handle the exceptional performance of the road-going version of the car. And this led to the creation of the world's first Ultra High-Performance (UHP) tyre, the P Zero, which debuted 40 years ago on the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale. The P Zero brand of tyres then continued to be found on legendary cars such as the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Diablo, and Pagani Zonda.
The original P Zero's concept was to combine the three core attributes of racing tyres into a single tread pattern: the inner shoulder had grooves for wet roads, the outer shoulder (inspired by slick tyres) provided immense dry traction, and the central part of the tyre balances the two extremes. This has resulted in an innovative tyre that surpassed the boundaries of tyre design.
Pirelli's original P Zero is a performance tyre that offers the best of all worlds with little compromise, and as I've found out, the theme is still the same for the latest generation.
The new generation of Pirelli P Zero has been improved without compromise
With the latest generation, Pirelli's P Zero now consists of four distinct models: P Zero Trofeo RS, P Zero R, P Zero (PZ5), and the P Zero E.
The P Zero Trofeo RS is a road legal semi-slick tyre that is created for the ultimate track driving experience. These tyres are made for maximum dry performance and has benefitted from Pirelli's new materials and motorsports experience.
The new compound emphasises on lap times and endurance on track - an instructor who was driving the Lotus Emira for our taxi ride experience has shared with me that they managed to complete over 60 laps of Sepang Circuit before there was any apparent deterioration in performance.
The P Zero R is a Supersport tyre meant for driving pleasure for supercars and super SUVs. Built with new compounds and a new design, the tyre offers a wide working range in terms of dynamic performance, both on wet and dry conditions.
Features such as wider internal shoulder blocks, drop shaped lateral cuts with variable width, narrower longitudinal grooves and minimised width and depth of cuts, result in precise handling and excellent braking performance while keeping noise in control.
The Trofeo RS and P Zero R are specialised tyres that are meant for track machines and supercars. Both models have an emphasis on handling and dry performance, and are mostly improved in those fields.
However, the P Zero (PZ5) has received an incredible all-round upgrade with no compromise. By using a new compound, Pirelli has managed to reduce the trade-off between dry and wet grip as well as rolling resistance. At the same time, wear resistance has also been improved with the latest generation of polymers. New tread pattern improves braking and handling performance, while the structure of the tyre allows better pressure distribution and a lighter weight for equivalent stiffness to result in better wear rate and lower rolling resistance.
As a result, the P Zero (PZ5) offers substantially improved dry handling and wear resistance, along with improved dry braking, wet handling, wet braking, noise and rolling resistance characteristics when compared to the previous generation of P Zero (PZ4).
The revolutionary P Zero E - sustainably made for sustainable performance vehicles
The P Zero E is a new addition to the P Zero family that deserves a closer look. Designed for high-end electrified vehicles, the P Zero E is perfect for many contemporary EVs that put out incredible torque and performance.
Dubbed the 'AAA' tyre, the P Zero E has managed to achieve a triple 'A' grade on the European standard tyre label - the best scores possible for efficiency, wet braking and noise. Typically, there is always a trade-off: Tyres with good grip tend to be noisier and less efficient.
However, with the use of Pirelli's next generation wet-enhancing tread compound, asymmetric sidewall reinforcement, special tyre structure and new tread pattern, a tyre with no compromise has been created. The P Zero E offers excellent durability, is able to handle the vast weight and incredible torque of performance electric vehicles and grip well on the roads without creating drastic rolling resistance.
The P Zero E is also equipped with the brand's latest RunForward technology that allows you to continue driving up to 40km at speeds up to 80 km/h with a puncture. And above all, the tyre is made of more than 55% bio-based and recycled materials - in line with the sustainable nature of the EVs that it is designed for.
No disappointments - the new Pirelli P Zero tyres live up to their expectation
To show us what the tyres can do, we got behind the wheels of a few cars that were fitted with the new generation of P Zero tyres. Throughout the sweeping curves of Karak Highway and the sharp corners on the way up Genting, the P Zero E fitted on the Mercedes-Benz EQS500 and GLC350e managed to offer absolute confidence with their stiff sidewalls and excellent grip. But what really stood out was just how quiet the tyres were: We've driven at speeds over 100km/h and yet the wind noise easily overcame the light hum that the tyres were producing.
At Sepang Circuit, I was the passenger in a Lotus Emira and a Ferrari 488 GTB, and both cars were able to corner at incredible speeds, and put down their hefty power and torque through the grippy P Zero Trofeo RS semi-slick tyres.
We've got to drive some cars fitted with the P Zero (PZ5) and the P Zero R, which in my case, was a BMW 530i and a Porsche Taycan 4S respectively. During the drive with the Porsche, the convoy was driving at a considerable pace, and we could push the tyre with absolute confidence. The tyres gave excellent feedback and were precise, with a high level of grip that never let go. Even on heavy braking at the end of the long straight, the ABS system never came on, which indicated exceptional braking grip from the tyres as there weren't any slippage.
My second drive was with the BMW, while the pace is considerably slower this time round, the tyres still gave very positive feedback and was responsive as well - likely due to the stiff sidewalls on these tyres. Even though it was a rear-wheel drive, I could accelerate hard out of corners without the tail stepping out - the grip on these tyres was clear. And in the same vein as the P Zero E drive, I too noticed how quiet the P Zero (PZ5) are - even on the rough tarmac of a race track, the tyres remained markedly quiet.
Like the original Pirelli P Zero, which offered exemplary wet and dry performance, the latest generation of P Zero manages an amazing all-round offering with no compromise. While the 'Zero' in P Zero originally signified a fresh beginning for the UHP tyre lineup, I can confidently say that it now stands for zero compromise.
The new generation Pirelli P Zero PZ5 and P Zero E are available in sizes from 18 to 22-inch, while the P Zero R and P Zero Trofeo RS is available in sizes from 19 to 21-inch. Selected sizes are currently available for purchase in Singapore, with the rest of the range to be introduced to the market.
