Pirelli has announced that its P Zero Race TLR RS tire is now the first in the cycling industry to use FSC-certified natural rubber. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures that the natural rubber comes from responsibly managed plantations that preserve biodiversity and support local communities and workers.
The P Zero Race TLR RS, produced at Pirelli’s Bollate, Milan plant, is the initial model in a future range featuring FSC certification. This certification process requires that materials with the FSC logo are managed separately from non-certified materials throughout the supply chain. Pirelli has implemented a dedicated monitoring system at entry and exit points of all materials used in FSC-certified products at the Bollate plant, which has been recently renovated and equipped with advanced automated production systems.
“Choosing to increasingly use FSC-certified natural rubber in our products is in line with Pirelli’s attention to nature and biodiversity,” said Piero Misani, Pirelli’s chief technical officer, “as well as with the will to help the populations and workers in the areas where natural rubber comes from.”
The tire is a tubeless-ready tire, specifically developed for competitions. Pirelli says it aims to provide perfect grip in any weather condition; improved road handling during braking, accelerating and turning; and very low rolling resistance. Modifications to the tread thickness and fabric structure have reduced the tire’s weight by 8% and rolling resistance by 16% on average, compared to the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tire.
The WorldTour team Lidl-Trek has begun using the P Zero Race TLR RS in professional races and grand tours. The tire, now available for sale at global retailers, features a logo on its side indicating its FSC-certified forest-origin components.
“Environmental and social commitment, combined with the pursuit of high performance, that does not compromise on safety to meet the expectations of professional cyclists and the most demanding amateurs. Our Formula 1 experience, where starting from this year all tires contain FSC-certified natural rubber, is proof of this: environmental awareness can and must be complemented with safety and top performance levels,” added Misani.
