Pirelli Scorpion winter tyre tops ‘Autozeiting’ test

Pirelli’s Scorpion Winter tyre, a premium winter tyre for SUVs, has won a test against all its biggest rivals conducted by Germany’s prestigious ‘Autozeitung’ magazine.

The Scorpion Winter tyre was originally launched in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2012 by American extreme sports star Ken Block.

The tyre has now dominated its rivals in this latest test from ‘Autozeitung’, scoring 404 points overall compared to its nearest rival, which scored 380. In total, eight tyres from the best-known global manufacturers were put through a variety of assessments in sub-zero conditions in Finland, including braking, handling, traction, and snow performance.

“The Pirelli Scorpion Winter gives top results under all conditions,” concluded the magazine, which tested it in 235/65 R 17H size, using an Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Quattro. “It is a successful product that gives strong performance on snow as well as stability through corners.”

The Scorpion Winter is designed for cold weather below seven degrees centigrade, but “it is at the top again in rainy conditions,” according to Autozeitung. The magazine, headquartered in Cologne, is one of the most prestigious and respected automotive publications in Germany, making it a reference for comparative tests.

The Scorpion Winter was developed in close collaboration with the best-known SUV manufacturers in order to work in perfect harmony with their vehicles and the modern ABS and traction stability systems that go with them.

Pirelli UK managing director Dominic Sandivasci commented: “We’re delighted that the Scorpion Winter has emerged on top so convincingly in this very important and comprehensive test. We recommend the use of winter tyres in the months where average temperatures are seven degrees centigrade or below, and the Scorpion Winter is ideally suited to the characteristics of modern SUVs, as this latest test has highlighted.”