Studded tires from Italy? Yeah, I'll exchange it for Chianti from Finland. Aspen trees will not produce oranges! Sangiovese grapes do not grow in the Arctic Circle, and there is almost no ice in the Apennines...
But the ardent southerners from the Pirelli company nevertheless strive to catch up and surpass the Germans, French and Finns in studding. Another attempt - Pirelli Ice Zero.
I swear, I won’t leave Russia until I prove to you that the Lancer Evolution behaves best on winter asphalt on Pirelli tires!
The head of the Russian representative office of Pirelli, Carlo Costa, is, as they say, wound up. And I just told him over dinner how much I like the studded Continental WinterViking tires. Yes, a third of the spines fell out over the last winter and there are two lateral hernias, but my Evik rode on this set for five seasons!
And over the years, I have only become stronger in the idea that studded tires are for the city. Exactly! For the first time, I noticed that “studs” outperform “Velcro” when braking on asphalt about ten years ago, while analyzing the results of our comparative tire tests. They contrasted sharply with the prevailing opinion among professionals that the spikes supposedly glide on hard surfaces. But judging by the numbers of our measurements... Yes, there were outsiders among the studded models, but only among “rootless” brands. And the leaders were Continental, Nokian, Michelin - with spikes!
Therefore, last winter in the Arctic Circle, I was extremely interested to know what the Italian developer of the new Pirelli Ice Zero model thought about it...
But it’s not Italian: Ice Zero was created by the Dutchman Jaap Leendertse. A graduate of the Technical University of Delft, a specialist in computer engineering, he worked on tires at the German technical centers Bridgestone/Firestone and Goodyear, and exactly two years ago he moved to Milan. I ask if you like it there. What a question, the answer is: the blessed south, Italy, the poet’s dream.
At the same time, we are sitting in the epicenter of the most winter fairy tale. R-r-hand Peak. I just want to savor it, stretch out that “rrrr” at the beginning of the name of the amazing Ruka Peak hill near the polar town of Kuusamo, east of Rovaniemi. A lonely high hill is open to all the winds: this is not a plain, here the climate is different - and Finnish spruce trees, which in the lowlands are simply dusted with snow, are thickly covered with it here. And there is a hotel at the top of the peak, surrounded by strange curved silent white statues...
Yes, on the one hand, the stud protrudes slightly above the tread and, as it were, lifts part of the rubber, “turning it off” from the process, says Jaap in response to my questions. - But on the other hand... In order for tires to work well at low temperatures, the compound must be made softer, and the tread must be cut with many lamellas. All this worsens the behavior of the tire on asphalt. Spikes give me several advantages. Firstly, they strengthen the tread. And secondly, on ice they provide the lion’s share of grip properties and thanks to this the compound can be made harder. It turns out that a studded tire outperforms a non-studded Scandinavian type both on asphalt and on ice!
Later, Jaap sent me exact figures for comparative measurements. If we take the results of studded Pirelli Carving Edge tires as 100%, then when braking on dry asphalt at +3°C, Pirelli Ice Control Velcro extends the braking distance by 5%! True, non-studded tires of the European type Pirelli Snow Control S.3 brake as expected - by 13%. But when braking on ice, the hard Snow Control loses to the “spikes” by as much as 25%! And “soft” Ice Control - 15%.
So it turns out that “for Russian conditions with periodic extremely low temperatures, but with a predominance of city driving on asphalt, the best tire is a studded one.” These are not my words - Jaap said them.
What about asphalt wear?
There is such a thing. This is why spikes are banned throughout Western Europe. And even the Scandinavians, who cannot live without studs, have banned the sale of tires produced after July 1 of this year with more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread. That is, for a 16-inch tire this is a maximum of 96 studs.
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The 16-inch Ice Zero tire has 130 “double” studs. The tread pattern is completely different from that of the Carving Edge model, and is more reminiscent of the previous generation Nokian - the “ornament” of the central part plus transversely oriented shoulder blocks. Many slots-lamellas and a new compound with long molecular chains are designed to increase adhesion on wet and snow-covered surfaces.
Pirelli's patented "double" stud bites into the ice with two "sharp" tips during acceleration, and with a "common" flat edge of a tungsten carbide insert during braking. But in the transverse direction, the “double” tenon works like a single one. Trapezoidal body ensures constant orientation in the tread
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Then why does the Pirelli Ice Zero have 130 studs?
It turns out that the same Scandinavians made an exception: if a tire with a large number of studs successfully passes a special coating wear test, it is allowed for sale. The test is full-scale: the car drives over calibrated granite tiles over and over again, which are weighed before and after testing. If the weight loss after the test is below a certain value, then the wear is normal.
Evil tongues said that this test was invented by tire makers from the Nokian company, they conduct it at the Finnish Test World test site, which means... But the Italians also successfully passed the “wear test”! Moreover, with not simple spikes, but double ones.
This is a new word in the spike arms race. First, the Finns from Nokian came up with a square-section carbide insert, then the Germans went even further - remember the “diamond” stud on Continental tires? And Pirelli’s insert resembles... a bat. "Look people, I'm Batman"! The double part works when accelerating, and the straight part works when braking. And only in the transverse direction does the brainchild of Jaap Leendertse and his colleagues turn into an ordinary spike.
And look how powerful the “underwater part” of the spike is! It is sealed only at the factory - Ice Zero cannot be studded on the side. Moreover, unlike the Germans, Pirelli did without glue - such a thorn sits dead in its nest, and there should be no falls out, as is the case with the current Pirelli Carving Edge tires.
The previous (already) generation Bentley Flying Spur sedan is excellent on ice! Long wheelbase, powerful twin-turbo engine - and permanent all-wheel drive with half traction distribution between the axles
How do the new tires perform?
Alas, they only gave us a chance to ride them a little: acceleration, “snake” and braking on the Audi A8. Information - zero. But we managed to spend the whole day at the Bentley Power on Ice school - however, the “school” Continental GT and Flying Spur were “shod” in ordinary Pirelli Sottozero tires, studded specifically for ice training. What a thrill it is to drive these huge heavy vehicles sideways under the traction, shifting them from skid to skid! Moreover, the grip of the “long spike” on ice is such that sometimes, immediately after shifting the “automatic” up, even the V8 biturbo engine on the new Conti GT lacks traction. And the asymmetrical center differential on the new generation Bentley performed worse - with a traction distribution of 40:60 in favor of the rear axle, the Continental GT is not as smooth and predictable in sliding as the good old Flying Spur with its 50:50 symmetry.
But all this, including dog sled rides, is just poetry. What about physics? How do the new Ice Zero tires perform, will they be better than Continental, Nokian and Michelin? After all, if in the first years the new studded Pirelli tires perform on par with the leaders in our tests, then they gradually lose ground: competitors are improving. For example, the well-known Pirelli Carving Edge tires were among the winners four years ago, but last year they were already inferior to them.
Carving Edge tires are still on the scene, and the Ice Zero model completes the range, debuting in the most prestigious sizes from 16 to 21 inches. Oleg Rastegaev will talk about how “Ice Zero” performed in our test in the next issue of Autoreview. As for me, then... I would love to put Pirelli on the EvoIX. But only if they are no worse than Conti on the most critical surface for me - winter asphalt covered with a snow-salt film. And if the Russian market is really so important for Pirelli, as Carlo Costa says, then I think that the developer Jaap Leendertse will still have work to do on modernizing the studs, the compound, and the tread pattern... Our road conditions in Russia are too difficult. Neither Scandinavia nor Canada - the other two markets for Pirelli studded tires - have them.
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero passenger car tires are one of the best developments of the Italian tire concern. It combines advanced technologies designed to improve vehicle handling and dynamics on snowy and icy roads. The unique design of studs with pointed tips significantly increases the vehicle's maneuverability on ice and prevents uncontrolled skidding.
Increased lamella density
Compared to Pirelli tires of previous generations, this model is distinguished by a denser arrangement of sipes on the tread area. The total number of these functional elements has been increased by almost 20%. A characteristic feature of the tire is that in the central part of the tread the sipes are located at different angles relative to each other, forming a V-shaped pattern. Thanks to this arrangement, the tire confidently holds the road in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
Pirelli Dual Stud technology
The studs used in Pirelli Winter Ice Zero winter tires have a composite design. They use double elongated cores. The tips of the studs are made from a hardened metal alloy - tungsten carbide. This material is able to withstand enormous loads, so the tips of the studs do not deform or wear out during prolonged intensive use.
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The innovative stud provides maximum safety when driving in icy and snowy conditions. Thanks to it, the car in such conditions remains as controllable and dynamic as on a dry road surface. The studs do not allow the wheels to slip on ice crust and densely compacted snow, so the car owner does not risk getting into an accident due to loss of control on a slippery road.
Modified compound composition
Unique additives based on high molecular weight polymers are added to the rubber mixture. These components strengthen the interatomic bonds between the particles of the compound, and also ensure constant elasticity and elasticity of the rubber. Therefore, tires do not turn to stone even during a sharp cold snap, down to -30 degrees Celsius. They remain soft and flexible at any temperature, maintaining their grip and traction characteristics.
Synonyms: Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero.
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero studded tires are designed to withstand the difficult weather conditions typical of Russian and Scandinavian winters. Thanks to the technologies used, they retain their parameters and adhesion properties at very low temperatures, on ice-covered surfaces. Their advantages:
- Confident grip on the road surface. The central zone of the V-shaped tread is represented by massive polygonal blocks; it gives the tires excellent directional stability. The shoulder areas consist of 2 rows of blocks placed at right angles to the direction of movement, which provides quick braking on any surface with a low coefficient of adhesion.
- Multifunctional drainage system. Numerous drainage grooves have a large volume, due to which the tread easily holds snow, enhancing traction with the road. Drainage channels located in different directions protect the rubber from hydroplaning and slashplaning, which increases the safety of winter driving.
- Multicomponent composition of rubber composition. When developing it, Italian tire makers took into account the need to ensure stable and efficient operation over a wide temperature range. This was achieved by increasing the number of units in the molecular line of the mixture. Tires retain their elasticity in cold weather just as they do at above-zero temperatures.
- Studding using Dual Stud technology. It features a longer tungsten carbide core as well as sharp additional edges. This improves the penetration ability of the stud when driving in icy conditions. The flat surface of the tungsten inner frame reduces wear on the steel element and maintains traction on ice.
The central tread blocks additionally form many sharp traction edges, which makes dynamic acceleration on snow possible. The wavy walls of the lamellas close tightly when in contact with the road surface, which improves vehicle controllability. You can purchase this option in Moscow with the utmost comfort from us. Prices for the set start at RUB 3,330.
Advantages
I liked absolutely everything!
Flaws
Didn't reveal it.
A comment
I liked it very much! I took the R22 for a Range Rover Sport, drove it for 4 winters and the tires remained in very good condition, I drove it quite a lot, and covered 165,000 km in 4 years. I sold the car and tires along with it. The noise level is low, maybe, of course, this is due to the class of the car. I'll definitely buy one for my next car!
Nikolai
Advantages
Pretty good tires. Strong spikes, not a single one fell off during the season. Soft.
Flaws
A terrible noise, I thought, but when I got into my father’s car with the same tires, I realized that it was even worse. I wouldn’t say that it holds up super well, but it’s a solid four.
A comment
I think it’s worth the money, but in this price category it’s worth taking a closer look at other models if you have a choice. I won’t buy this model again, but overall the tires are not bad.
Sergey
Advantages
Brakes well on ice. For three months not a single thorn has fallen out, there are no hernias.
Flaws
We put a station wagon on the vest (the tire size is different), and it buries itself in the loose snow. I drove a viburnum with different tires without a shovel. Although this may be due to the different masses of the cars. I didn’t like the way it behaved in a rut.
Rafail
Advantages
Deep tread design. Acceptable price. Tires from one of the leaders in tire production. Spikes with an eye on sports.
Flaws
There is none of them. Some advantages.
A comment
You can and should take it.
Max
Advantages
Predictable handling on ice, strong studs. If you drive on ideal roads, then this is a good option.
Flaws
For one season, acquired an ovoid shape, all 4 wheels, jump at speeds from 30 to 50 km/h
A comment
A waste of money.
Nastasya
Advantages
Price quality.
Flaws
A comment
I've been riding on these tires for the 3rd season, the total tire mileage is +/-40 t.km. Over the entire period of use, 1 stud has been lost, the rubber has not worn out, the tread depth is almost the same as on new ones. It floats in the slush, but it all depends on the driver. She saved me in emergency situations more than once, sometimes through my own stupidity, sometimes through the fault of others. I'm happy with the tires, only this winter I'm not very good at getting out of the snow. I’m definitely taking the same ones for the new season. Summer ones are also Pirelli, I have never regretted them. No matter how many times I fell into potholes on the roads, the chassis was never damaged. I don't hear any noise from the tires, and there's no hum either.
Vladimir
Advantages
In the cold everything is fine.
Flaws
If the temperature goes above zero, that’s it, the end of this rubber: it floats, wobbles, and becomes too soft. I drove into a small hole at 20 km/h, and there was a hole on the sidewall.
A comment
I will never take it again... I drove from a wet road onto dry asphalt, turned sharply and almost flew away. I don't really need these tires. I don't know why everyone is obsessed with her.
Dmitriy
Advantages
So far I'm happy with the tires, even though I literally just installed them. Spikes are completely worth it when there is ice on the road. I already had a chance to check this almost immediately after installation - they hold up just great on icy asphalt with a crust of ice. I believe that even if a couple of times during the winter tires really save you in an extreme situation, this already fully justifies their purchase. In other cases, slight discomfort is completely justified. So far the quality can only be judged purely visually, but I liked the studs and tread. The spikes look strong and fit securely. The tread promises good performance not only on ice, but also on snow. By the way, there were no problems with balancing.
Flaws
Noisiness is the only and significant drawback. But for studded tires this is natural.
Some car enthusiasts choose tires based on what manufacturers tell them in advertising. They study the characteristics offered on the official website and make a decision regarding tires only based on dry facts. But have you ever thought that these “dry facts” could be created solely to make you buy a specific tire model without thinking about the consequences? In fact, this does not mean that you should not trust any manufacturer - naturally, first of all, you should familiarize yourself with what is offered to you in a particular case. However, if you make a choice based only on data from the manufacturer, you risk finding yourself in a difficult situation where the level of quality does not correspond to what was declared. That is why you should also listen to what buyers say about a specific tire model, that is, those people who have already purchased and tried the tires you are interested in. This article will look at the Pirelli Ice Zero tires - reviews about them are quite common, but this article will collect the main points that are touched upon in these reviews, and there will be both positive and negative points. If you study the information that the manufacturer provides you, then you can not expect that there will be at least one word about the shortcomings of rubber - everyone strives to present their products from the best point of view, and even if there are no outright lies on the official page, then some the truth may well be kept silent there. So, what about Pirelli Ice Zero tires? Reviews about this model are mostly positive - 65 percent of people rated this tire five points and only five percent gave it one. Well, if there are at least five percent of absolutely negative reviews, then it’s still worth understanding more specifically what’s what.
What kind of tires are these?
Clear course when using tires
What do people write on the Internet about Pirelli Ice Zero winter tires? Reviews, of course, are very diverse and in many ways do not agree with each other, but according to some trends, specific advantages and disadvantages can be identified. For example, in most cases, people indicate that thanks to these tires they are able to constantly keep their car on a clear course, no matter how harsh the weather conditions are. Moreover, both on ice and snow, these tires do not cause problems when cornering, so you can rest assured about your safety. Separately, we can say about braking - many users noted that it works very well on ice, on snow it is a little worse, but still quite good, but there are some difficulties with driving in very deep snow - no one reported getting stuck in the snow , but problems in the snowdrifts were still noticed. But in general, we can say that the manufacturers did not deceive when they talked about the performance of Pirelli Ice Zero winter tires on snow and ice - user reviews confirm this.
Spikes
Another positive point, which is confirmed by reviews of Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires, is the stud. As you remember, the description stated that the studs are made using a special advanced technology, due to which they increase the efficiency of rubber on icy or snowy road surfaces, and also have greater stability, that is, in other words, they do not fall out. Almost all the reviews available online confirm this - the studs don't actually fall out, especially if you drive carefully. Even those people who reported that they sometimes drove recklessly, developed high speeds, and braked sharply on turns, report that they wore half the rubber, but only lost a couple of studs. So the advanced technology is actually functional and helps the studs stay in place much longer than any conventional model. So if you drive carefully and wisely, these tires can last you a very long time. But are there really only positive reviews about Pirelli Ice Zero winter tires? In fact, they are the majority, but even those people who are satisfied with the overall quality of this model sometimes point out certain shortcomings, one of which is the functionality of the rubber on dry asphalt.
Dry asphalt
It's no secret that winter tires are designed to drive on snowy or icy roads without any problems and without the danger of skidding, going off the side of the road, or even overturning the car. However, there is one not-so-pleasant point that you should always consider when buying tires. About Pirelli Ice Zero tires, reviews from owners, as you have already seen, are most often positive, but here it is worth making a reservation that in most cases the rubber was used in conditions that are ideal for this rubber. But the road is not always completely covered with snow or ice throughout the winter - clean, dry asphalt appears periodically. And this is where the problems begin for this model. The manufacturer notes that the performance of this rubber on dry asphalt is lower than in extreme conditions, but still reports that it is very high. That is why, when driving for a long time on dry asphalt, you can wear out your tires much faster than you would like. Therefore, take note of what reviews tell you about Pirelli Ice Zero tires, and use them in truly extreme road conditions. If half of your winter is dry or quite warm, then you are better off choosing less extreme tires.
Value for money
People are also amazed at the price at which Pirelli Ice Zero winter tires can be purchased - reviews often contain information that tires of this quality can only be purchased for much more impressive money. If you are interested in specifics, then on average you have to pay thirteen thousand rubles for this model, which, of course, is significantly higher than the price of average winter tires, but the quality is truly amazing. And if we compare price and quality specifically, then in relation to these indicators this tire wins by a large margin. What about Pirelli Ice Zero Friction? User reviews can also be found on this subject, however, they will have a slightly different content, because this rubber is very different from the original - it does not use studs, and instead uses a special manufacturing technology for the rubber itself, into which special microelements are added that replace in terms of their functionality, spikes. The price for this model, accordingly, is higher, but regarding performance, we can safely say that it also rises, but not as much as the price.
Noise
What else do you need to know before you decide to buy Pirelli Ice Zero tires? Reviews also contain information about the noise level of these tires. Everyone knows that when driving on asphalt, it can make a lot of unnecessary sounds precisely due to the friction of the studs. However, people who use this tire exclusively in extreme conditions refute this information, reporting that this model is much quieter than most leading products on the market today. The following conclusion can be drawn from this - if you use these tires in winter, then you have nothing to fear, the level of comfort will be quite high. But if your temperature often rises above zero, then you need to prepare for the noise that Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires can make. Reviews also demonstrate that the concept of noise is relative, and what causes significant discomfort to one person may be the norm for another. Therefore, you should still try out this tire in test mode before purchasing it.
Controllability
It’s also worth paying attention to the kind of car handling the Pirelli Ice Zero tires will give you. Reviews from those people who have been driving these tires for several winters can convince you that you will not have any problems controlling your car on a wide variety of surfaces. Here, too, no one unanimously agrees - some people think that on a snowy road the performance of the tires increases compared to what they demonstrate on ice, while others report that it is on ice that this model behaves most effectively. But everyone agrees that compared to many cheaper winter tire options, this model is much safer and more enjoyable to drive. There are no skids, strong rolls, slips and other troubles that often happen to drivers on winter roads. Therefore, this tire can be a kind of guarantor of quality, and you can safely purchase it, but it is worth remembering that in winter you need to be able to drive, regardless of the quality of the tires. There are people who criticize tires for skidding and slipping, but when they describe the situation in more detail, it becomes clear that they themselves are to blame for what happened. Therefore, you should thoroughly practice driving in extreme conditions in order to learn how to drive competently. However, please note that for this you are better off choosing the basic version of Pirelli Ice Zero tires. "Velcro", reviews of which, in principle, are also very good, will be too difficult for you to control if you are just starting to drive in extreme weather conditions. Friction winter tires, that is, those that operate without studs, require serious driving skills to achieve good results from them.
Patency
With ice, everything is clear - the rubber is very grippy and allows you to perfectly control the car even on the most slippery surface, but what about snow? Many models of winter tires have already demonstrated that they cannot cope with serious snowdrifts - in deep snow they lost their grip, and in serious snowdrifts the car could even get stuck. But people who used this model report that even in the deepest snowdrifts, when it seemed to them that they had driven into a place they couldn’t get out of, the tires saved them. What can we say about the usual snow drift, which the tires dealt with without any problems at all. Therefore, if you know that you will have to drive on snowy roads or even on snow that completely covers the road surface, then this tire is ideal for you, because its cross-country ability even in the deepest snow is close to ideal.
Strength
The durability of these tires deserves special attention - the reviews tell a lot about the degree of their wear. The fact that tires wear out quickly is reported only by those who like to drive recklessly on the roads, or by those who use these tires on dry asphalt more than necessary. As for the conditions in which these tires must be used, the wear here is minimal, so if you know how to drive a car in winter and know how to do it carefully, then the wear of the rubber will very pleasantly surprise you. And in combination with low stud loss (some careful drivers even reported that after two seasons not a single stud fell out), the result is very reliable and durable rubber. Also pay attention to its impact resistance - even if you fall into some kind of hole or some similar incident happens to you, due to which excessive physical impact is exerted on the tire, then due to its structure it can even withstand a fairly powerful blow, thereby maintaining its shape. Users of this model practically do not report “hernias” and other similar consequences of impacts in their reviews.
Lateral demolition
The last little point worth paying attention to is lateral drift when driving on ice. If these tires function just perfectly when driving straight and when braking, then when moving sideways a slight drift may be observed - this is a feature of all types of studded tires, but the manufacturer positions its product as ideal, so you should still know that it is not perfect, and the car still requires close attention when driving in extreme conditions.
