Among the advantages of Pirelli Ice Zero, the manufacturer promises good grip on ice both during acceleration and during braking, as well as improved grip on snow due to an increase in the number of transverse sipes. And if the first statement is justified by the specific shape of the stud, then the second should be read adjusted for the age of the model - after all, enough time has passed since 2013, when these tires debuted. However, the density of lamellas on winter tires ah is not growing as rapidly as the power of video cards or the bitcoin rate, and a clear proof of the bus's success is the fact that since 2013 it continues to find its customers. Let's see what exactly attracts them.
First meeting
Large blocks of the tread pattern, a well-defined shoulder area, a really high density of transverse sipes, as well as "toothy" edges of the beginning of these sipes with an increased width - this is what immediately catches the eye in addition to the shape of the spike. Meanwhile, it is on the thorns that the manufacturer focuses on the main attention - and his statements look justified. The spike is made in the form of a "cut arrow" looking in the direction of the picture: during acceleration, it rests against the surface with two sharp edges, and slows down with a wide "cut" front part. At the same time, at the lateral shift, it is also sharp, but narrow - apparently, the emphasis is placed on the edges, which should effectively bite into the ice. Well, to ensure wear resistance and stability performance characteristics the wide base of the thorn, hidden under the "stamp" around it, is called for.
All this sounds and looks in combination with the traditional clarifications about "testing in the harshest winter conditions" quite well: the deep and large tread should really provide good self-cleaning on the snow and decent cross-country ability - especially since the tire is addressed to both owners passenger cars and owners of SUVs. A wide “directional” spike should also perform better than a conventional “normal” one. It remains only to check whether this is so.
Road test
Already the first "running-in" hundreds of kilometers, passing at near-zero temperatures, made it possible to understand that the rubber is really soft, and large tread blocks have a positive effect not only on driving on snow, but also on water drainage from the contact patch. Rubber does not "float" at any city speed and does not fail in snow and mud, and braking on wet asphalt always remains predictable, even in spite of studding.
The drop in temperature and the end of the run did not bring disappointment: Ice Zero brakes very confidently on clean cold asphalt, without, of course, canceling out the need to keep the distance adjusted for ice “bald spots”.
But the difference in the dynamics of acceleration and braking on an icy road, adjusted for the asymmetry of the spike, could not be felt with the “back”: in both cases, the decisive factor was not the shape, but the width. But I was pleased with the behavior of the car on new tires when cornering: the demolition was achieved only with a clear overestimation of the capabilities of the car itself at the entrance to the turn. The predictability of slip stalls remained entirely on the choice of speed: if the car did not "crawl" outward at the entrance to the turn, then until the very end of the maneuver it remained on a given trajectory.
However, there were some remarks - the main and, perhaps, the only one was the noise background. Despite the standard stud heights and quite "urban" tread pattern, the noise from the tires subjectively seemed a little higher than expected. Perhaps this should be attributed to the "age" of the tires: since 2013, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, and Ice Zero may simply not be the quietest in the lineup. However, noise on clean asphalt is an inevitable scourge of all studded tires, and in our case there is no question of any outstanding level of this noise: you just need to take into account that it will directly depend on the sound insulation of a particular car. But even a subjectively noticeable background noise did not add to itself the equally noticeable vibrations - according to this indicator, the Pirelli test subjects are in complete order.
Off-road tests
Off-road tests in our case, of course, ended in a few "unpaved" kilometers from hard asphalt - count on a full-fledged off-road on "civilian" tires and low passenger car it would be too naive. But it was possible to check the behavior of the tires both on rolled and loose snow - and in both cases it did not cause concern. Rolled snow is delivered by Ice Zero as uniformly as ice: acceleration and deceleration are predictable and confident. On loose snow, fresh rubber clearly makes a fresh track until it hits either the maximum ascent angle or the maximum depth of the snow cover. True, in the first case, it simply slips, hinting that the section can be overcome by the move, but in the second it starts to dig in - therefore, it is not worth slipping "to the last", hoping for self-cleaning of the tread and a miracle, and not only on this one, but and on any other sensible winter tires.
Well, in urban conditions, the capabilities of the new Pirelli were more than enough: in the absence of heavy snowfalls, the courtyards have not yet turned into "ice battles", but the snow and ice have already taken their positions. Despite this, both the cross-country ability and, which is important, the maneuverability in cramped conditions turned out to be exhaustively sufficient for a confident visit to any adjoining territories. Braking at low speeds can be called exemplary at all - slippage is minimal.
Price
14 inch tire
from 3,000 rubles
It's too early to talk about the strength and wear resistance of rubber - for this you need to leave not a few months, but at least a full season. However, the primary confirmation of the strength of the sidewalls are several "baptisms of fire" at rigid joints and in large pits, which left no reason to doubt the quality of rubber and cord on the tires. By the way, the Ice Zero assortment also includes tires with Run Flat technology - this is especially important given the "versatility" for cars and SUVs and is aimed at expensive cars.
Financial samples
The focus on expensive cars, however, was not the only one for Pirelli: Ice Zero is available in sizes from 14 to 22 inches. At the same time, in any of the landing diameters, it turns out to be slightly above the middle of the price range, which is fully justified both by the age of the model and by its positioning. The cost of a 14-inch tire starts at about three thousand rubles - this is by no means the lowest indicator, but its "payback" after the first acquaintance is beyond doubt. It seems that this combination of good performance, average price, wide off-road-car positioning and availability of Run Flat versions provides Pirelli Ice Zero with a sufficient consumer audience. Case is closed!
Automotive passenger car tires Pirelli Winter Ice Zero is one of the best developments of the Italian tire concern. It combines advanced technologies designed to improve vehicle handling and dynamics on snowy and icy roads. Unique cleat design with pointed tips significantly increases flotation vehicle on ice and prevents uncontrolled drifts.
Increased density of lamelling
Compared to Pirelli tires of previous generations, this model differs in a denser arrangement of sipes on the tread area. The total number of these functional elements has been increased by almost 20%. Characteristic feature tires is that in the central part of the tread, the sipes are located at different angles relative to each other, forming a V-shaped pattern. Thanks to this arrangement, the tire confidently holds the road in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
Pirelli Dual Stud Studding Technology
Spikes used in winter tires Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, have a composite structure. They use double, elongated cores. The tips of the studs are made from a hardened metal alloy - tungsten carbide. This material is able to withstand colossal loads, so that the tips of the studs do not deform and do not wear out during prolonged intensive use.
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The innovative stud provides maximum safety when driving in icy and snowy conditions. Thanks to her, the car in such conditions remains as controllable and dynamic as on a dry road surface. Spikes prevent the wheels from slipping on the ice crust and densely packed snow, so the car owner does not risk getting into an accident due to loss of control on a slippery track.
Modified compound composition
Unique additives based on high molecular weight polymers have been added to the rubber compound. These components strengthen the interatomic bonds between the particles of the compound, and also ensure the constant elasticity and elasticity of the rubber. Therefore, the tires do not turn to stone even during a sharp cold snap, down to -30 degrees Celsius. They remain soft and flexible in any temperature conditions while maintaining its grip and traction characteristics.
Synonyms: Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero.
“A tire specially designed for harsh winter conditions ...”, - as a rule, the presentation of most tire novelties of the winter season begins with such a preamble. But in the history of Pirelli Ice Zero, the key word can be considered "specially", since, according to the developers, this is a 100% new product.
The master class on the ice of the lake was held by none other than the four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
It is no secret that our compatriots treat winter tires developed in the southern regions of the planet with prejudice. It is clear Scandinavia, where the whole process, from the idea to the tests of prototypes, takes place, as they say, in natural conditions determined by the "habitat". And what kind of winter is it in Italy? But Pirelli engineers strongly disagree with this opinion. And at the same time, they refer to the rich sports experience of the company. In this case, we are not talking about the company's participation in the "royal" races of "Formula 1" (although this fact speaks of the serious scientific potential of the Italian company). This refers to Pirelli's 40 years of experience in the design and manufacture of rally tires. The value of such experience cannot be overestimated, since a winter tire must have a number of innovative solutions that provide a high level of grip on snow, ice and mixed surfaces. And rally is exactly the kind of motor sport where battles take place in natural and weather conditions and on public roads. And it is not surprising that Ice test Zero took place in Lapland, Kuusamo, where the driving academy of the four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen is located. Of course, Juha himself conducted a master class on the ice of a frozen lake. But the main attention was paid to the presentation and testing of the new product - the Pirelli Ice Zero tires.
Overview
A few words about continuity. Pirelli would not be a company with racing roots if it didn’t produce “civilian” tires with high speed indexes in each of its segments. Ten years ago, the Winter Sottozero supercar tire was launched, allowing speeds of up to 240 km / h, and in 2008, a speed of 270 km / h was reached. Among the consumers of Pirelli tires, including winter models, such well-known supercar manufacturers as Aston Martin, Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lamborghini (with this by Pirelli collaborates since 1963). As already mentioned, the Pirelli engineers said that the Ice Zero studded tire is one hundred percent new product. Nevertheless, certain solutions and technologies used in the Sottozero and Sottozero II models were used in its development.
Improves the penetration of the stud on an icy road. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
The fact that a winter tire is a "child of compromises" has been said many times, and it really is: such a product must behave stably on various surfaces and in all weather conditions. Moreover, when it comes to a premium product. True, the very designation Zero in the Pirelli tire line suggests "zero compromises". But nevertheless ... Take, for example, ice coverage, which is considered one of the most difficult for tire designers. It would seem that the simplest solution would be to increase the number of thorns. But at the same time, the noise emitted by the tire when driving inevitably increases, and it is still very difficult to ensure high standards rolling resistance and good characteristics tires on dry and wet asphalt. In addition, there are strict European regulations that define the maximum number of studs per running meter of a tire. The solution for the Ice Zero was an innovative cleat with an original design for the base and top. With this solution, the double core provides traction on ice, and the large surface area maintains traction and significantly improves the tire's braking behavior. In fact, everything happens like this: during braking, the double core destroys the ice surface (in tests, the core provided stable penetration into the ice surface at temperatures of minus 20-25 ° C), and the wide spike base helps stabilize the behavior of the tire. Taking into account the difficult weather conditions in winter and, accordingly, the various characteristics of the road surface, special attention was paid to the stability of the studs: they are fixed in such a way that their lateral displacement does not exceed a few degrees. When it comes to road testing, I would point out that the innovative spike works really well on icy surfaces. In any case, the performance in the "acceleration - deceleration" modes was not bad.
Reinforced stud attachment allows for stable performance on ice. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
The Pirelli developers are convinced that even summer tires widths from 205 to 295 mm require a special approach. It's all about aquaplaning resistance. What then to talk about winter models when under the wheels the wet asphalt is often replaced by snow slush! Hence the special design of the sipes and grooves in the Ice Zero construction, the width of which varies depending on the tire width - up to 265 mm and beyond, where the density of the sipes is higher. The important point is that all the design and testing work was carried out in close cooperation directly with the car manufacturers. Another significant factor in the development of winter tires is the need to take into account the large seasonal temperature differences at which the tires are used, from extremely low to positive. Therefore, the composition of the rubber compound must quickly adapt to such a wide temperature range. The solution was a compound with complex polymer bonds. Tire profile and contact patch optimization are equally important components in Ice Zero's construction. Speaking about them, the developers of Pirelli repeat once again that Ice Zero is a completely new product, which uses solutions that are completely unrelated to the designs of the previous models. The main goal of these innovative solutions is to provide good handling and effective braking both on rolled snow surfaces and on dry asphalt. This is, again, to the question of compromises ...
Increased contact patch for better dry grip. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
And finally, regarding potential consumers of this premium product "from Pirelli": Ice Zero is available in 30 sizes - from 16 to 21 inches and is designed for both mono and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Prior to these tires, I used Nokian Hakka 5, (my relatives are not ours), which I was very pleased with, the only thing I did not like was their fidgeting at speed on dry asphalt and on wet ones too.
Pirelli are in many ways very similar to the Nokian "I bought them in order to update the tires. On the asphalt they do not slide like a hakka, they are cheaper, the spike row better! I did not like the fact that the moment of breakdown is too sharp and poorly felt in ice, compared to hakka."
I bought myself these tires. In fact, I haven't checked it yet, there hasn't been any snow yet. But in terms of noise, there is a feeling that a turbine is spinning. There used to be Bridstone tires, my wife Continental. So they don't make any noise in comparison with this one.
NikolayIt's too early to say, the mileage is small, but in general we like it
Dmitry EvgenievichChose tires so to speak price-quality. And although it does not slow down very well on a snowy road, in principle I am satisfied with this model by all 99%. I think in such conditions any tire would show the same behavior. The only fat minus of this rubber is noise.
DmitriyTires are on M5, Mileage 500 km., During this time it was possible only to visit mud and ice,
Very noisy in the cabin, hum, vibration from 140 km / h.
Every time when accelerating, there is a slip, I'm afraid to lose all the thorns before the new year.
If you have a stowaway in your car, then I do not recommend this model on a spike, after 1-2 days you will be puzzled by the question, I want to change the tire or buy headphones!
Ready to give his hands to the chorus [email protected])))
GREAT tires !! for a great car !!!
Very good tires, stable both on dry asphalt and on ice and rolling snow. Keeps the trajectory when cornering at speed. for the entire 14-15 season, all the spikes remained in place with an average driving style, and could drive, as he was confident in them. For the entire season, ESP worked on the car only once (at the end of December, when snow piled up in the Moscow region per day), on summer tires Britchston (regular tires from Opel dealers) more often ESP on wet asphalt. Minus one makes noise.
Andrey, Odintsovo Moscow regiontoo noisy
DimaVery pleased with the rubber! The only negative is very noisy compared to the same Michelin or hack.
DmitriyExcellent tires for central Russia
Alexey DenisWhen buying an Albea, we also bought summer tires called Rally. When exploited, I am quite satisfied with their quality and price, respectively. I liked the service in your service and the price of the goods, as well as the efficiency.
Antonov Alexey ViktorovichTested in the temperature range from -46 to +10. Both in severe frost and at zero temperature on a specific cat in the Ural Mountains they behave predictably and stably (they are friends with esp at 5). The braking distance, acceleration and taxiing by 5. The only thing they do not really like is the temperature around + 10-15 (in the off-season), although like any winter tires, only because of this only 1 spike flew out for 25 thousand km. The sidewall is good and strong. The noise was noticed only on bare asphalt and not noisy for others.
MichaelThe tires are really great !!! Everything is fine, but it makes noise and this is the only problem. And so everything is ok! Thanks to the guys from Shinservice. Shop near Moscow City.
VladimirOver the past winter, one spike flew out of the current, although I drove on the lake, on the ice and gave decent gas ... I got stuck many times. The tires are excellent ... but the truth on the asphalt is very noisy ... but the main thing is reliability!
ValentineIn fact, when leaving the tire service, the real feeling is that all four wheel bearings fell apart at once, but I read it in the reviews and was ready. After spinning around the city and driving literally 40-50 km. the noise began to subside right before our eyes. As a result, having driven about 250 km, the tires rolled in and the noise became no more than that of other studs. On the track in a snowy mess when changing lanes to overtake - it works out 100%, but if there are no brains, then no spikes will help. Throughout the city - ice, snow, etc. Great.
NikolayHighly slippery tires on ice and ice covered with snow, a slight turn in winter on frozen asphalt does not hold at all.
Alexanderguys the tires are really noisy but the thorns do not fly out on the 2nd jetta car Season 3 climbed into the snow the guard said only the tractor but no, she neatly climbed out without help.
AlexanderAn unusually noisy spike, not like a summer spike, of course, but I expected from spikes that they would make much more noise. Not devoid of all the advantages of studded rubber on ice, tenacious on rolled snow. Strong enough sidewall, not afraid of breakdowns.
ValeryThe tires are excellent, with the exception of one, they make noise like a helicopter, for me (who drives no more than 60 km / h is your option for all 10+)
But on the other hand, what thorns do not make noise ?!)
They saved me in a fierce snow-covered last winter, when a car stopped abruptly in front (it was 140, but it braked perfectly and rebuilt) I recommend it to those who drive fast and worry about safety. Shinservice, in turn, worked as it should! Many thanks to the Pionerka branch;)
Guys Rubber is just fire. I advise everyone! For 2 seasons, only about 5 studs fell out of all wheels. Rowing stsuka is pzdts! A little bit noisy on the asphalt. And so the hakku will be broken, God forbid
VovanGood grip on snow, excellent cross-country ability, good grip on ice, excellent directional stability in slush, predictable sliding. Noisy, not very stable on asphalt, although this may be a problem of a particular size (175/70 14). A good tire for a real winter, a real working guarantee from Pirelli (I had a chance to experience it myself).
AlexeySince the beginning of the season, I have driven about 6000t km on these tires. Auto Lada Granta. Mainly Minsk highway and New Riga highway. The driving style is calm. I ran the tires as it should be for 500 km, and with all this, now, when changing shoes, about 30 percent of the spikes were missing.
The conclusion is this. I will bypass this brand.
Good day, I bought tires, as always, according to reviews and according to the advice of the show, intuition, I bought them in 2017 for a honda accord 7 205 / 55r16. What I want to say about this model of tires, I read that they are noisy, and so on, I am personally very pleased, snow, porridge, freezing rain and all sorts of winter anomalies are not worth these tires, although they are sprinkled in Moscow time, but yards and garages are definitely not cleaned even nirazu I didn’t get stuck all winter, the tires row very well, very straight. I went to the dacha, the same, everything is fine, but given that the car is low, it is very easy to sit on the belly and none of the tires will help, on dry asphalt you need to go more carefully, and keep the distance otherwise we will brake like a cow on ice, and as soon as snow falls, we forget that we have winter tires, I am very pleased with the purchase, over the winter, this is somewhere between 7-10,000 mileage, 1 spike flew out, and then probably because of my driving style, I will recommend it to friends.
SergeyOf the minuses, perhaps a slightly increased noise, but on the spikes this is normal and in general I do not consider it a disadvantage, because safety is more expensive. Otherwise, only pluses. Rubber skated well for two winters and never failed. The condition of the rubber makes it possible to leave it for the third winter.
Alexey225/45 r17 2k kilometer from Moscow to Finca and back, all the spikes are in place, the tires are cool. holds the road. and in loose snow the norms are not bad for trampled and ice.
thorns after the season are all in place. do not forget that it is necessary to run in the rubber before "normal" use, well, and not to shoot at +20.
I bought tires a week ago, put them on the car and drove off ... it’s complete tin, no studded tires buzzed like that, I thought people were writing and exaggerating, but no, I had to listen. After driving 100 km on asphalt, my head starts to ache from such noise, although the car with full noise is really unbearable, I will wait for the winter when the snow will fall, even though there will be less noise ... While the mileage is small, I hope it will roll in and the noise will decrease ... hope dies last...
mooncarsFor the whole winter, not a single complaint about the behavior of tires on the road. Ice, snow, sludge, slush - no difference, the car goes confidently, behaves predictably, brakes adequately, does not crawl along the road. I liked!
PaulThe tire is very noisy. I will not buy again. On ice on all-wheel drive, slipping. Ice braking is weak. You don't have to believe the excellent reviews. For the noise of the tires, I think on the A8 to make noise insulation of the arches. I definitely do not recommend it. The tire is operated in the Far North.
[email protected] BorisTires behave well in snow and mud, behave normally on wet asphalt and bearable on dry. Spikes are extremely afraid of sudden accelerations, if the wheels are pumped to 0.1-0.2 atm from the minimum recommended by the factories, the risk is extremely high that the spike will pierce the tire ... In general. left for more than 3 seasons, the wheels do not have time to age, the front ones are almost always new))) but I like the handling, although the noise level is above average
Alexey ValerievichNoise is something
excellent tires for snow, ice and primer, but very bad for asphalt - spikes fly out very often, it is worth swinging not to a minimum, but a little higher - spikes pierce rubber, very noisy
Alexey ValerievichStudded tires from Italy? Yeah, I'm changing to Chianti from Finland. Oranges will not be born from aspen! Sangiovese grapes do not grow beyond the Arctic Circle, and there is almost no ice on the Apennines ...
But the hot southerners from the Pirelli firm nevertheless strive to catch up and overtake the Germans, French and Finns in studding. Another attempt - Pirelli Ice Zero.
I swear I won't leave Russia until I prove to you that Lancer Evolution is on winter asphalt behaves best on Pirelli tires!
The head of the Russian representative office of Pirelli Carlo Costa, as they say, started up. I just told him over dinner how much I love Continental WinterViking studded tires. Yes, a third of the thorns fell out over the last winter and there are two lateral hernias, but my Evik traveled on this set for five seasons!
And over the years I have only become stronger in the idea that studded tires are for the city. Exactly! For the first time, I noticed that the "spikes" outperform the "stickies" when braking on the asphalt ten years ago, analyzing the results of our comparative tire tests... They contrasted sharply with the opinion prevailing among professionals that the thorns, they say, slide on hard surfaces. But judging by the numbers of our measurements ... Yes, there were outsiders among the studded models, but only among the “rootless” brands. And the leaders were Continental, Nokian, Michelin - with thorns!
Therefore, last winter, beyond the Arctic Circle, I was extremely interested to know what the Italian developer of the new Pirelli Ice Zero model thinks about it ...
And here is not an Italian: Ice Zero was created by the Dutchman Jaap Leendertse. A computer engineering graduate from Delft University of Technology, he worked in tires at German technical centers Bridgestone / Firestone and Goodyear, and moved to Milan exactly two years ago. I ask if I like it there. What kind of question, answers: blessed south, Italy, a poet's dream.
At the same time, we are sitting in the epicenter of the most winter fairy tale. Rr-hand Peak. I just want to savor, stretch this "rrr" at the beginning of the name of the amazing Ruka Peak hill under the polar town of Kuusamo, east of Rovaniemi. A lonely high hill is open to all winds: here you are not a plain, here the climate is different - and the Finnish spruces, in the lowland, simply powdered with snow, are densely covered with it. And there is an inn at the top of the peak, surrounded by strange curved silent white statues ...
Yes, on the one hand, the spike slightly protrudes above the tread and, as it were, lifts a part of the rubber, "turning it off" from the process, - says Jaap in response to my questions. “But on the other hand… In order for the tires to work well at low temperatures, the compound must be softened, and the tread must be cut with many sipes. All this degrades the tire's behavior on asphalt. The thorns give me several advantages. First, they strengthen the tread. And secondly, on ice they provide the lion's share of adhesion properties, and thanks to this, the compound can be made harder. It turns out that the studded tire outperforms the non-studded Scandinavian type both on asphalt and on ice!
Later Jaap sent me the exact figures of the comparative measurements. If we take the results of Pirelli Carving Edge studded tires as 100%, then when braking on dry asphalt at + 3 ° C, Pirelli Ice Control Velcro extends the braking distance by 5%! True, the non-studded tires of the European type Pirelli Snow Control S.3 brake better as expected - by 13%. But when braking on ice, the hard Snow Control loses to the “spikes” by as much as 25%! And "soft" Ice Control - 15%.
So it turns out that “for Russian conditions with periodic extremely low temperatures, but with a predominance of urban driving on asphalt, best tire- studded ". These are not my words - it was Jaap who said.
What about asphalt wear?
There is such a thing. That is why thorns are prohibited throughout Western Europe. And even the Scandinavians, who have no spikes in any way, were forbidden to sell tires produced later than July 1 of this year with more than 50 spikes per running meter of tread. That is, for a 16-inch tire, this is a maximum of 96 studs.
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The 16-inch Ice Zero has 130 "double" studs. The tread pattern is completely different from the Carving Edge models, and more closely resembles the Nokian of the previous generation - the "ornament" of the central part plus transversely oriented shoulder blocks. Multiple slotted lamellas and new compound with long molecular chains are designed to increase grip on wet and ice-covered surfaces
Pirelli's patented "double" stud bites into the ice with two "sharp" peaks during acceleration, and during braking - a "common" flat edge of a tungsten carbide insert. But in the transverse direction, the “double” spike works like a single one. Trapezoidal body ensures consistent orientation in the tread
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Then why does the Pirelli Ice Zero have 130 studs?
It turns out that the same Scandinavians made an exception: if a tire with a large number of studs successfully passes a special test for surface wear, it is allowed for sale. Test - full-scale: the car drives over and over again on the calibrated granite tiles, which are weighed before and after the tests. If the weight loss after the test is below a certain value, then wear is normal.
Evil tongues said that this test was invented by tire workers from the Nokian company, they conduct it at the Finnish Test World, which means ... But the Italians also successfully passed the "wear test"! Moreover, with spikes not simple, but double.
This is a new word in the race of spike weapons. First, the Finns from Nokian came up with a square-section carbide insert, then the Germans went even further - remember the "diamond" spike at Continental tires? And at Pirelli, the insert resembles ... a bat. "Look people, I'm Batman!" The double part works during acceleration, and the straight part works during braking. And only in the transverse direction, the brainchild of Jaap Leendertse and his colleagues turns into an ordinary thorn.
And look at what a powerful "underwater part" of the thorn! It is closed only at the factory - you cannot stud Ice Zero on the side. Moreover, unlike the Germans, Pirelli did without glue - such a spike sits in its nest, and there should be no fallouts, as is the case with the current Pirelli Carving Edge tires.
The previous (already) generation Bentley Flying Spur sedan on ice is superb! Long wheelbase, powerful biturbo engine - and constant four-wheel drive with half distribution of thrust between the axles
And how do the new tires "ride"?
Alas, they were given only a little ride: acceleration, "snake" and braking on the Audi A8. Information - zero. But I managed to spend the whole day at the Bentley Power on Ice school - however, the “school” Continental GT and Flying Spur were “shod” in regular Pirelli Sottozero tires, studded specifically for ice training. What a thrill it is to drive these huge heavy vehicles sideways under the thrust, shifting them from skid to skid! Moreover, the grip of the “long spike” on the ice is such that sometimes, immediately after switching the “automatic” up, even the V8 biturbo engine on the new Conti GT lacks traction. And asymmetrical center differential on the new generation Bentley it proved to be worse - with a 40:60 thrust distribution in favor of the rear axle, the Continental GT is not as smooth and predictable in sliding as the good old Flying Spur with its 50:50 symmetry.
But all this, including dog sledding, is lyric. And physics? How new behave Ice tires Zero, will they be better than Continental, Nokian and Michelin? After all, if in the early years the new Pirelli studded tires perform in our tests on a par with the leaders, then they slowly give up their positions: the competitors are improving. For example, the well-known Pirelli Carving Edge tires were among the winners four years ago, and were already inferior to them last year.
Carving Edge tires are still on the stage. Ice model Zero completes the range, making its debut in the most prestigious sizes from 16 to 21 inches. Oleg Rastegaev will tell you about how Ice Zero performed in our test in the next issue of Auto Review. As for me, then ... I would gladly put Pirelli on the EvoIX. But only if they are no worse than Conti, on the most critical surface for me - winter asphalt, covered with a snow-salt film. And if Russian market really is so important for Pirelli, as Carlo Costa says, then I think that the developer Jaap Leendertse will still have a job of modernizing the studs, the compound, and the tread pattern ... The road conditions in Russia are painfully difficult. Neither Scandinavia nor Canada - the other two markets for Pirelli studded tires - do not exist.
