A safe and comfortable tyre all year round, designed for motorists who drive especially in the city but who want to feel at ease when it happens to meet the snow: Pirelli has launched the new Cinturato All Season SF3, evolution of the SF2 that has been perfected thanks to virtual development. So much so that it was recognized by Dekra1 as the best tyre in its category for combined braking on dry, snowy, and wet surfaces, and that it obtained the TÜV SÜD's Performance Mark2 for demonstrating excellent performance in different driving situations. But it is above all on wet asphalt that the new Cinturato gives its best: all sizes in the range boast the highest classification on the European label (class "A") in wet grip.
ADAPTIVE TREAD WITH 3D SIPES
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 inherits adaptive tread technology with 3D sipes from its predecessor, which are now further improved to provide better grip on snow throughout the tyre's life. As the tyre wears, these sipes change their shape from a straight line into a zigzag pattern, increasing the surface area capable of capturing snow despite the reduction in tread depth. The sipes also can open and close according to the energy travelling through the tyre, being capable of going from a winter configuration into a much stiffer and more compact summer pattern as required, which enhances braking performance, road holding, and driving precision. Wider grooves and sharper angles in the directional tread pattern design compared to the previous generation also contribute to improved snow performance. These features additionally benefit water expulsion, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. This optimisation of the land-sea ratio improves comfort as well: the entire Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 range scores "A" or "B" for noise on the European tyre label.
INNOVATIVE MATERIALS
The evolution of the tread pattern grooves was made possible thanks to innovations in the materials chosen. Normally, wider grooves detract from optimal performance in summer conditions. However, the compound used in the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is able to balance the tyre's stiffness, stability, and responsiveness even in high temperatures. This is underlined by the Dekra tests1, which confirm the new Cinturato All Season SF3's leading position in dry braking. At the same time, the new tyre is equally effective in winter as the compound does not harden in the cold – which helps to provide more grip. This is down to the introduction of innovative ingredients: a new mix of polymers with special microstructures that are capable of maintaining high mobility when it's cold yet adequate stiffness when it's hot, new resins of natural origin that ensure grip at low temperatures, and liquid polymers that maximise performance on snow without penalising grip on wet roads.
VIRTUAL MODELLING
The use of virtual modelling was fundamental throughout the design process, allowing the compounds and tread pattern design to be developed in parallel, so that their respective characteristics work together to achieve the desired results. Virtualisation also made it possible to precisely engineer the distribution of physical stresses on the tyre. As a result, energy is spread evenly throughout the footprint of the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3, with a string of benefits in terms of wear, noise, and rolling resistance. This adds mileage, enhances driving comfort, and improves fuel consumption as well as related emissions.
AVAILABILITY AND SIZES OF THE LAUNCH RANGE
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 will be available for sale starting from April 2024, with sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches. Also available on this new product is a selection of sizes with the Elect marking, indicating tyres equipped with technology that enhances the characteristics of BEVs and PHEVs. For high centre of gravity vehicles such as SUVs, which require specific tyre characteristics, Pirelli offers the Scorpion range in different seasonal variations, including all-season.
[1]. Report 23CPCEXT-175-2 - Comparative tests carried out in December 2023 and January 2024 by DEKRA Test Center with tires size 225/40 R18. More information on www.pirelli.com/cinturato-all-season-sf-3
[2]. Performance Mark Certificate No. Z2 082041 0007 Rev. 00 – Obtained by achieving the essential technical performance requirements of the independent certification body TÜV SÜD following tests carried out between November 2023 and January 2024 with tyre size 225/50 R17. More information on www.pirelli.com/cinturato-all-season-sf-3
