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Pirelli Goes Off-Road
Pirelli isn’t a brand known for off-road tires. People choose Pirellis for carving up city streets, not sand dunes and washed-out riverbeds. The company’s new Scorpion XTM tire aims to change that perception and earn the same enthusiasm from off-road riders that other tires have earned from street performance riders.
We recently tested Pirelli’s Scorpion XTM in Death Valley, where the terrain changes as the wind blows. Amid several vehicles and accessories, the Pirelli Scorpion XTM proved its case and likely won over the riders.
Pirelli Specs Continue to Expand
With a three-peak mountain snowflake rating, a 55,000-mile warranty, and accessories for ICE, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles, the Scorpion XTM cements itself as a serious player in the off-road tire market. The aggressive tread design features high-void areas along the sidewalls, and a rigid base with a climate- and conditions-adapted advanced compound that helps generate impressive grip both on and off-road. As of now, there are 20 sizes available, many of which are part of Pirelli's "ELECT" tire program for electric vehicles, and 17 other fitments are coming next year, most of which will be for ICE cars.
Three years to build tire performance
Pirelli spent more than three years building the Scorpion XTM, conceiving the perfect off-road tire with a new spirit of optimism. Pirelli's off-road efforts began with the Scorpion Mud in 1998, and new iterations have followed every few years.
In 2017, Pirelli introduced the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus, a great tire that seemed to let Pirelli know it could do better.
As it does, Pirelli set out to beat its competitors in every measurable and unmeasurable point, from snow to sand. It tested the tire in many areas and conditions, including how it "blocks" and wears over time, to ensure it would last as long as buyers expect. Off-road performance is important to those who buy this tire, but it's not all there is to it.
Pirelli also made a tire that's a joy to drive on pavement. It's also important because no matter how passionate you are about off-roading, you'll probably spend most of your time on paved roads. Having a tire that performs everywhere is essential.
Typically, large off-road tires hum and buzz on the pavement as air moves through the tread. The Scorpion XTM has some noise, but at a frequency that's not abrasive to the ears. A truck or SUV will probably make more noise than the Scorpion XTM. It also has low rolling resistance, which makes for a more comfortable ride and helps improve overall MPG.
The Scorpion XTM also shines off-road. Where you expect slippery surfaces, the tire grips. Where you expect abrasive feedback, the XTM softens the blow.
The tread pattern digs deep in soft sand, letting you get out of trouble and pass with flying colors over rocks, embankments, in the sand, around dunes, and in riverbeds.
The aggressive sidewalls are something Pirelli is proud of, but also something we couldn't test adequately. In the sand, the Pirelli Scorpion XTM felt like it helped correct our line when we were sliding – and the sidewalls should take some credit for that. It probably helped with grip on the rocks, too.
