Third incarnation of Pirelli’s Sottozero released

Pirelli has launched the third generation of its Sottozero winter tyre. The Winter Sottozero 3 is designed for cars with medium to large capacity engines and places an emphasis on grip in all conditions and tyre longevity.

The first of these qualities benefits from a new compound developed by Pirelli’s research laboratories. Thanks to the use of specialised polymers that improve the mechanical, thermal and dynamic properties of the rubber, performance and road holding is said to be enhanced even on wet or icy surfaces. The profile of the Winter Sottozero 3 has also been optimised to guarantee a longer tyre life by way of a uniform footprint. The shoulder, by contrast, is more rounded to expel more water. The deep grooves on the tyre’s surface also help to improve the dispersal of water.

Tyre testing took place in the most extreme winter conditions of Italy, Austria, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand. Pirelli says the Winter Sottozero benefits from 3D grooves to capture more snow and therefore improve snow-on-snow grip. The contact patch of the tyre has also been enlarged, increasing grip in all types of winter conditions.

For the 2013-2014 winter season, the Winter Sottozero 3 will be globally available in 16 to 21-inch fitments in 11 different run-flat sizes.