Pirelli’s new Cyber Tyre uses bluetooth-connected sensors to provide real-time data to the vehicle, including detailed information about the tires themselves.
Introduced on the Pagani Utopia, these tires can communicate with the car’s traction control, stability control and ABS systems. This is designed to ensure that the Utopia can recognize the specific tire model and adjust its electronic systems accordingly.
The Utopia can be equipped with P Zero Corsa, P Zero Trofeo RS, and P Zero Winter tires.
Piero Misani, Pirelli’s chief technical officer, explained that different tires require different levels of wheel slip for optimal performance. For example, the Trofeo RS tires perform best with around 5% slip during ABS braking, whereas the Sottozero winter tires need between 10% and 14% slip. However, with Cyber Tyres, vehicles can tailor their electronic aids to the specific tire, which Pirelli says can enhance performance.
The Cyber Tyre has been monitors tire age and wear, notifying the driver when it’s time for a replacement or potentially adjusting driving aids based on tire condition. Data collected from these sensors during a car’s development phase and from customer vehicles provides insights into tire performance, driving styles and real-world mileage. Pirelli says this feedback loop will help improve future tire models.
Currently, much of car development relies on simulations, but accurately modeling tire behavior remains challenging. Improved data from the Cyber Tyres, according to Pirelli, is intended to enhance these models, leading to better tire designs. Misani also mentioned a future goal, the “version 2.0” of the Cyber Tyre, which he says will use sensors to estimate exact grip levels and analyze the tire’s contact patch.
As of now, Cyber Tyres are featured in models such as the McLaren Artura, Audi RS4 and Pagani Utopia, but only the Pagani adjusts its traction, stability control and ABS settings based on the tire data. In the other vehicles, the tires only confirm the presence of the original equipment.
