Technology: Pirelli simulator brings F1 experience to road

Milan, Italy – Pirelli & C. SpA has inaugurated a new simulator at its R&D centre in Milan to reduce the tire development time and facilitate iterations.

Installed as part of the tire maker’s “far-reaching digitalisation strategy”, the simulator is set to enhance the working relationship between the company and “the world’s best-known car manufacturers,” Pirelli said in a 12 Feb statement.

Offering faster assessment of virtual prototypes, the technology reduces average development time of a new tire, both for the road and motor sports, by 30%, according to Pirelli.

It also enables the rapid remodeling of different development parameters allowing a fast exchange of digital information between Pirelli and carmakers.

The simulator also allows a virtual model of any car to be programmed into the system, while joint design and development work can also be carried out on the car manufacturer’s own simulator. 

“This means that tire development lead times remain perfectly in step with those of the cars that they are destined for,” Pirelli noted.

Furthermore, the use of a simulator means that the number of actual physical prototypes made is reduced, helping the company’s sustainability ethos.

According to Pirelli, advanced simulation has already been used for more than 10 years during the design and development of Formula 1 and other motorsport tires. 

The new simulator in Milan brings the technology for road-going tires.

The system is produced by VI-grade and consists of a wrap-round 210-degree panoramic screen, 7.5 metres in diameter, which visually reproduces a wide range of different driving conditions, roads, and circuits.