When it comes to SUVs, expectations are clear: safety, comfort and reliability that stands up to every day driving in a variety of conditions. These are the qualities that the new Pirelli Scorpion, the third generation of the historic family of tyres dedicated to SUVs, focuses on. A tradition that dates back to 1986, when Scorpion made its debut on the impressive Lamborghini LM002, marking the beginning of Pirelli's specialisation in the world of Sport Utility vehicles. Today, the Scorpion brand covers a wide range of applications: from tyres for SUVs to those for road enduro and motocross in the motorcycle world, to off-road solutions for the bycicles.
Dry and wet safety, comfort and high mileage
The new Scorpion builds on strengths of its predecessor, enriching them with performance certified by the independent TÜV institute¹, which awarded it the Premium Quality Mark. The tyre ranked first in dry braking tests and obtained first place in wet handling, while also positioning itself at the top for wet braking and straight-line aquaplaning. The entire Scorpion range, the entire Scorpion range was designated Class A in European tyre labeling for wet grip², confirming high resistance in typical summer weather conditions.
Also the acoustic comfort has been improved with values corresponding to classes A/B³. This is combined with improved mileage and in addition a Class B for rolling resistance⁴, factors that contribute to a solid balance between performance and durability, without compromising efficiency.
Developingthe new scorpion, pirelli's specialized suv tyre
Developing a product specifically for the SUV segment requires dedicated design to meet the characteristics of these vehicles, such as greater weight and higher centre of gravity. The improvements delivered by the new Scorpion are chiefly the result of an integrated design approach, leveraging a new tread compound that ensures stable performance in different conditions, improved wet grip and excellent mileage, in line with the characteristics of today's Sport Utility Vehicles. The reinforced structure and updated compound also ensure uniform wear, making the tyre ideal for heavier vehicles. The profile and tread pattern with its new groove geometry, optimised for SUVs, improve not only handling but also acoustic comfort.
New virtual development methods
For the development of the new Scorpion, Pirelli's R&D team designed and tested the product using virtual development processes. In particular, thanks to mileage-prediction tools developed by Pirelli engineers in Milan, more than 20 technological variants—combining different compounds and tread patterns—were evaluated entirely in a virtual environment to find the best way to increase mileage. Virtual development, supported by driving simulators, also made it possible to optimise handling, dry performance and driving pleasure. Subsequent physical testing confirmed the improvements compared with the previous generation.
Third generation scorpion
The new Scorpion has been developed specifically for the SUV segment using dedicated technical solutions, including a reinforced carcass, wider central tread blocks and an optimised profile to promote uniform pressure distribution and reduce deformation in the shoulder area.
The product also uses some of the innovative materials that contributed to the success of the latest generation of Cinturato, Pirelli's summer tyre for saloons and CUVs, which topped the Tyre Reviews comparative test for premium summer products at its debut, demonstrating an excellent balance between safety and efficiency while averting typical trade-offs such as between durability and rolling resistance.
Already available in 16 sizes from 18 to 22 inches, the new Scorpion also features technologies such as Elect, which can increase the range of electric⁵ and plug-in hybrid vehicles by up to 10%, and adopts solutions specifically designed for the characteristics of these powertrains. Developed in collaboration with leading car makers and building on the Scorpion summer range that boasts 300 homologations, the new generation already has more than 40 homologations currently under development.
¹TÜV Premium certification no. 713384205. Tests conducted in September 2025 by TÜV using tires size 235/55R19. For more information: www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/catalogue/product/scorpion-s3
²All replacement sizes available at launch were rated Class A for wet grip according to the European labeling system.
³All replacement sizes available at launch were rated Class A–B for noise according to the European labeling system.
⁴All replacement sizes available at launch were rated Class B for rolling resistance according to the European labeling system.
⁵Comparison between PIRELLI SCORPION™ ELECT™ and PIRELLI SCORPION™ tires, size 235/60/R18, measuring the battery range gain resulting from a reduction in rolling resistance in the ELECT™ version. Tests were conducted on a Volkswagen ID.4 under instrumented conditions at a constant speed of 50 km/h over a range of 550 km. Source: Pirelli internal R&D tests conducted between March and June 2022.
