Nearly three years of work in close collaboration with Aston Martin’s engineers have resulted in three different Pirelli tires being exclusively chosen to showcase the capabilities of the new DBX, the British marque’s first SUV. The P Zero for the DBX has been developed to offer the best possible performance and handling while the Scorpion Zero AS will go off-road. The Scorpion Winter delivers safety and performance in winter conditions, with the same dynamic drive as experienced in summer, according to Pirelli.
This joint development work, in line with the tire maker’s ‘perfect fit’ strategy, began with laboratory testing before moving on to outdoor testing in varied conditions. The wet-weather capabilities of the tires for the Aston Martin DBX were refined at Pirelli’s test track in Vizzola near Milan, while tire performance on ice and snow was honed at the company’s winter test facility at Fleurheden, Sweden. Outright performance was developed on the high-speed Nardò circuit in southern Italy with the final validation on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
The compound for the P Zero tires developed especially for the vehicle is derived from tires used for GT cars, to maximize the V8 turbo power of the new Aston Martin and produce maximum grip on the track. The zero-degree belt in the structure of this P Zero, uniquely marked A8A on the sidewall for the DBX, uses a new hybrid material that offers better steering feel to enhance driving pleasure. Furthermore, it brings the overall weight of the tire down, reducing rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
Meanwhile the Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS is designed for those who also intend to use their DBX off-road. To achieve the versatility demanded by Aston Martin, the Scorpion Zero tread pattern has been redesigned to optimize its off-road capabilities, with more rigid blocks toward the outside of the contact patch that provide enhanced grip in tricky conditions.
Finally, the Scorpion Winter tire for SUVs has been honed at temperatures down to -30°C (-22°F). Pirelli says it has modified the materials that make up the carcass of this tire to provide the best possible steering feel, even in winter.
The arrival of the new DBX means that the Italian firm now equips 50% of all new Aston Martins, including the DBS Superleggera and latest Vantage.
