Pirelli touts Scorpion Verde's green performance

ERJ staff report (TB)

Las Vegas, Nevada (SEMA Show) -- Pirelli Tire North America Inc. unveiled the Scorpion Verde All Season tyre today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, touting it as a green performance tyre designed specifically for SUVs, crossovers and light trucks.

Tom Gravalos, vice president of marketing, motorsports and OE, sales, said the Scorpion Verde All Season offers green attributes without the traditional tradeoffs in performance. As a result, the tyre offers better performance in wet braking, dry and wet handling and snow traction to go along with decreased rolling resistance and an 8 percent reduction in weight.

Pirelli said the new tyre is designed with an optimised rubber-to-void ratio and features a special silica tread compound. It also offers uniform contact pressure. All of this means improved wear uniformity, which equals higher mileage and a stable footprint, the company said.

To highlight the tyre's green DNA, Pirelli has incorporated four icons on the tyre/s sidewall. The icons symbolise the tyre's energy efficiency (lower rolling resistance), high mileage, clean air (manufactured with highly aromatic oil free and 8 percent fewer raw materials) and low noise (as a result of its optimised tread pattern).

Mr. Gravalos said Pirelli aims to increase the green portion of its tyre lineup to 40 percent from 20 percent by 2011.

Pirelli is offering the Scorpion Verde All Season in 19 sizes from in 16- to 20-inch rims sizes. Depending on the size, the tyre comes in T-, H- or V-speed ratings and has a UTQG rating of 600 AA.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)