“A tire specially designed for harsh winter conditions ...” - with such a preamble, as a rule, the presentation of most tire novelties of the winter season begins. But in the history of Pirelli Ice Zero, the word “specially” can be considered the key word, since, according to the developers, this is a 100% new product.
The master class on the ice of the lake was conducted by none other than the four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
It is no secret that our compatriots treat winter tires developed in the southern regions of the planet with prejudice. It is clear Scandinavia, where the whole process, from the idea to the tests of prototypes, takes place, as they say, in natural conditions determined by the "habitat". And what kind of winter is it in Italy? But Pirelli engineers strongly disagree with this opinion. And at the same time, they refer to the rich sports experience of the company. In this case, we are not talking about the company's participation in the "royal" races of "Formula 1" (although this fact speaks of the serious scientific potential of the Italian company). This refers to Pirelli's 40 years of experience in the design and manufacture of rally tires. The value of such experience cannot be overestimated, since a winter tire must have a number of innovative solutions that provide a high level of grip on snow, ice and mixed surfaces. And rally is exactly the kind of motor sport where battles take place in natural and weather conditions and on public roads. And it is not surprising that the Ice Zero test took place in Lapland, in Kuusamo, where the driving academy of the four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen is located. Of course, Juha himself conducted a master class on the ice of a frozen lake. But the main attention was paid to the presentation and testing of the new product - the Pirelli Ice Zero tires.
Overview
A few words about continuity. Pirelli would not be a company with racing roots if it did not produce "civilian" tires with high speed ratings in each of its segments. Ten years ago, the Winter Sottozero supercar tires were launched, allowing speeds of up to 240 km / h, and in 2008, a speed of 270 km / h was reached. Among the consumers of Pirelli tires, including winter models, are such well-known supercar manufacturers as Aston Martin, Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lamborghini (Pirelli has been cooperating with this company since 1963). As already mentioned, the Pirelli engineers said that the Ice Zero studded tire is one hundred percent new product. Nevertheless, certain solutions and technologies used in the Sottozero and Sottozero II models were used in its development.
Improves the penetration of the stud on an icy road. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
The fact that a winter tire is a “child of compromises” has been said many times, and it really is: such a product must behave stably on various surfaces and in all weather conditions. Moreover, when it comes to a premium product. True, the very designation Zero in the Pirelli tire line suggests "zero compromises". But nevertheless ... Take, for example, ice cover, which is considered one of the most difficult for tire designers. It would seem that the simplest solution would be to increase the number of thorns. But this inevitably increases the noise emitted by the tire when driving, and it is still very difficult to achieve high standards for rolling resistance and good tire performance on dry and wet asphalt. In addition, there are strict European regulations that define the maximum number of studs per linear meter of a tire. The solution for the Ice Zero was an innovative cleat with an original solution to the base and top. With this solution, the double core provides traction on ice, and the large surface area maintains traction and significantly improves the tire's braking behavior. In fact, everything happens like this: during braking, the double core destroys the ice surface (in tests, the core provided stable penetration into the ice surface at temperatures of minus 20-25 ° C), and the wide spike base helps stabilize the tire's behavior. Taking into account the difficult weather conditions in winter and, accordingly, the various characteristics of the road surface, special attention was paid to the stability of the studs: they are fixed in such a way that their lateral displacement does not exceed a few degrees. On the road test, I would point out that the innovative spike works really well on icy surfaces. In any case, the performance in the "acceleration - deceleration" modes was not bad.
Reinforced stud attachment allows for stable performance on ice. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
The Pirelli developers are convinced that even summer tires with a width of 205 to 295 mm require a special approach. It's all about aquaplaning resistance. What then can we say about winter models, when under the wheels the wet asphalt is often replaced by snow slush! Hence the special design of the sipes and grooves in the Ice Zero construction, the width of which varies depending on the tire width - up to 265 mm and beyond, where the density of the sipes is higher. An important point is that all the design and testing work was carried out in close cooperation directly with the car manufacturers. Another significant factor in the development of winter tires is the need to take into account the large seasonal temperature differences at which the tires are used - from extremely low to positive. Therefore, the composition of the rubber compound must quickly adapt to such a wide temperature range. The solution was a compound with complex polymer bonds. Equally important in Ice Zero's design are tire profile and contact patch optimization. Speaking about them, the developers of Pirelli repeat once again that Ice Zero is a completely new product, which uses solutions that are completely unrelated to the designs of the previous models. The main goal of these innovative solutions is to provide good handling and effective braking both on rolled snow surfaces and on dry asphalt. This, again, is about compromises ...
Increased contact patch for better dry grip. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
And finally, with regard to potential consumers of this premium product "from Pirelli": Ice Zero is available in 30 sizes - from 16 to 21 inches and is designed for both mono and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Pirelli Ice Zero. Photo: Stanislav Shustitsky
Dignity
I liked absolutely everything!
disadvantages
Didn't reveal.
A comment
I liked it very much! I took R22 on Range Rover Sport, left for 4 winters and the tires remained in a very decent condition, traveled quite a lot, drove 165,000 km in 4 years. I sold cars and tires with him. The noise level is small, maybe, of course, this is due to the class of the car. For the next car I will definitely buy the same!
Nikolay
Dignity
Pretty good rubber. Strong thorns, not a single one flew out during the season. Soft.
disadvantages
A terrible hum, I thought, but when I sat down with my father in the car with the same rubber, I realized that it was even worse there. I wouldn’t say that it’s super holding, but for a solid four.
A comment
I think it's worth the money, but in this price category it is worth looking at other models if you have a choice. I won't take this model anymore, but overall the tires are not bad.
Sergey
Dignity
Brakes well on ice. For three months, not a single thorn has taken off, there are no hernias.
disadvantages
We put a station wagon on the West (the size of the rubber is different), buries itself in the loose snow. I drove on Kalina with other tires without a shovel. Although this may be due to the different masses of cars. I didn’t like how it behaves in a rut.
Raphael
Dignity
Deep tread design. Acceptable price. Tires from one of the leaders in tire manufacturing. Spikes with an eye on sports.
disadvantages
They are not here. Some pluses.
A comment
You can and should take.
Max
Dignity
Predictable handling on ice, strong pimples. If driving on ideal roads, this is a good option.
disadvantages
For one season, acquired an ovoid shape, all 4 wheels, jump at a speed of 30 to 50 km / h
A comment
Wasted money.
Nastasya
Dignity
Price quality.
disadvantages
A comment
I am rolling on this rubber for the 3rd season, the total rubber roll is +/- 40 t.km. For the entire time of use, 1 spike has been lost, the rubber has not worn out, the tread depth is practically the same as on new ones. Floats in a snowy mess, but it all depends on the driver. She saved in emergency situations more than once, somewhere out of her own stupidity, somewhere through someone else's fault. I am satisfied with the tires, only this winter it became not very good to get out of the snow. I definitely take the same in the new season. Summer, too, Pirelli, never regretted. How many times on the roads I got into the pits, the undercarriage was never damaged. I don't hear the noise from the rubber, there is no hum either.
Vladimir
Dignity
In the cold all the rules.
disadvantages
If the temperature goes to plus, that's it, the end of this rubber: floats, sways, becomes too soft. I drove into a small hole at 20 km / h, and then there was a hole in the sidewall.
A comment
I will never take it again ... I drove from a wet road onto dry asphalt, turned sharply - I almost flew away. Nafig I don't need such rubber. I do not know why everyone is dragged away from her.
Dmitriy
Dignity
So far I am satisfied with the tires, although I just put it on. Studs fully justify themselves when there is ice on the road. This has already happened to be checked almost immediately after installation - on icy asphalt with a crust of ice, they are kept simply gorgeous. I believe that even if a couple of times during the winter tires are really saved in an extreme situation, this fully justifies their purchase. In other cases, a little discomfort is fully justified. So far, the quality can only be judged purely visually, but I liked the stud and tread. The spikes look sturdy and sit firmly. The tread promises good performance not only on ice, but also on snow. By the way, there were no problems with balancing.
disadvantages
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 their advertisements. They study the characteristics offered on the official website and make decisions about rubber based only on dry facts. But have you ever thought about the fact that these "dry facts" could be created solely in order to get you to 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, making a choice based only on data from the manufacturer, then you run the risk of finding yourself in a difficult situation where the quality level does not correspond to the declared one. 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 tested the tires you are interested in. This article will consider the tires "Pirelli Ice Zero" - 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 seeks to display their products from the best point of view, and even if there is no outright lie on the official page, then some the truth there may well be silent. So what about Pirelli Ice Zero tires? The reviews about this model are mostly positive - 65 percent of people rated this rubber at five points and only five percent gave it one. Well, if there is at least five percent of absolutely negative reviews, then you should still figure out more specifically, what's what.
What are these tires?
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 point out that thanks to this rubber they are able to keep a clear course of the car at all times, no matter how severe the weather conditions are. What's more, both on ice and on snow, these tires do not have problems when cornering, so you can rest assured of your safety. Separately, we can say about braking - many users noted that it happens very well on ice, a little worse on snow, but still good enough, but there are some difficulties with driving in very deep snow - no one reported that they were stuck in the snow , but problems in the snowdrifts were still noticed. But in general, we can say that the manufacturers did not deceive, talking about what performance the Pirelli Ice Zero winter tires demonstrate on snow and ice - user reviews confirm this.
Thorns
Another positive point, which is confirmed by the reviews of Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires, is the spike. As you remember, the description indicated that the spikes are made using a special advanced technology, due to which they increase the effectiveness of rubber on an icy or snowy road surface, and also have greater stability, that is, in other words, they do not fall out. Almost all the reviews available on the net confirm this - the studs don't really fall out, especially if you drive carefully. Even those people who reported that they sometimes recklessly, developed high speeds, braked sharply when cornering, report that they erased the rubber by half, but lost only a couple of studs. So the advanced technology is actually functional and helps the cleats stay in place for much longer than any conventional model. So if you drive carefully and wisely, then such rubber can serve you for 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 were satisfied with the overall quality of this model sometimes point to certain drawbacks, one of which is the functionality of rubber on dry asphalt.
Dry asphalt
It's no secret that winter tires are designed to drive on a snowy or icy road without any problems and without the danger of skids, side exits or even car overturns. However, there is one not the most pleasant moment that you should always consider when buying tires. About Pirelli Ice Zero tires, owner reviews, 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 those conditions that are ideal for this rubber. But not always during the whole winter the road is completely covered with snow or ice - periodically there is also clean dry asphalt. And this is where this model gets into trouble. 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, if you drive for a long time on dry asphalt, you can wear out your tires much faster than you would like. So take note of what the Pirelli Ice Zero rubber reviews tell you and use it in really extreme road conditions. If half of your winter is dry or warm enough, then you might be better off opting for less extreme rubber.
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 be purchased only 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 much higher than the price of an average winter tire, but the quality is actually amazing. And if we compare specifically the price and quality, then in relation to these indicators, this rubber wins by a large margin. What about the Pirelli Ice Zero Friction? User reviews can also be found on this matter, but they will have slightly different content, because this rubber is very different from the original - it does not use spikes, and instead of them a special technology of manufacturing the rubber itself is used, to which special microelements are added that replace in terms of their functionality, thorns. The price for this model, accordingly, is higher, but in terms of 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 purchasing Pirelli Ice Zero tires? The reviews also contain information on what the noise level of these tires is. Everyone knows that when driving on asphalt it can make a lot of unnecessary sounds just because of the friction of the studs. However, at the same time, people who use this rubber exclusively in extreme conditions refute this information, saying that this model is much quieter than most of the leading products on the market today. The conclusion from this can be made the following - 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 rubber can make. The reviews also demonstrate that the concept of noise is relative, and that the fact that one person causes significant discomfort may be the norm for another. Therefore, you should still try this rubber in a test mode before purchasing it.
Controllability
Separately, it is worth paying attention to what kind of car handling the Pirelli Ice Zero tires will give you. Feedback from those people who have been driving this rubber for more than the first winter can convince you that you will not have any problems in order to control 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 tires increases in comparison with what they demonstrate on ice, while others report that it is on ice that this model behaves most efficiently. But everyone agrees that compared to many cheaper winter tire options, this model is much safer and more enjoyable to drive. There are no drifts, strong roll, slippage and other troubles that often happen to drivers on winter roads. Therefore, this rubber can be a kind of guarantor of quality, and you can safely purchase it, but at the same time 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 scold tires for skids and slippages, but when they describe the situation in more detail, it becomes clear that they themselves are to blame for what happened. Therefore, you should 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. The “Velcro”, which, in principle, is also very good reviews, will be too difficult for you to drive if you are just starting to drive in extreme weather conditions. Friction winter tires, that is, those that function without studs, require serious driving skills to get the best out of them.
Passability
With ice, everything is clear - rubber is very grippy and allows excellent control of 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 drifts - tenacity was lost in deep snow, and in serious snowdrifts the car could get stuck altogether. But people who used this model report that even in the deepest snowdrifts, when it seemed to them that they drove where they could not leave, the rubber saved them. What can we say about the usual snow coating, with which the tires were 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 rubber 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 - a lot is said about the degree of wear in the reviews. The fact that tires wear out quickly is reported only by those who like to recklessly on the roads, or those who use these tires on dry asphalt more than necessary. As for the conditions in which these tires must be used, wear here is minimal, so if you know how to drive a car in winter, know how to do it carefully, then the wear of the rubber will be a very pleasant surprise for you. And in combination with the low loss of studs (some neat drivers even reported that after two seasons they did not drop a single stud), a very reliable and durable rubber is obtained. Also pay attention to its impact resistance - even if you fall into some hole or some similar incident happens to you, due to which excessive physical impact will be exerted on the tire, thanks to its structure, it can even take a rather powerful blow. thereby retaining its shape. Users of this model in their reviews practically do not report about "hernias" and other similar consequences of blows.
Side drift
The last little thing to watch out for is side drift when driving on ice. If, when driving straight ahead and when braking, these tires function just perfectly, then during lateral movement there may be a slight drift - this is a feature of all types of studded rubber, but the manufacturer positions its products as ideal, so you should still know that it is not perfect, and the car still requires close attention when driving in extreme conditions.
Domestic consumers rate Pirelli as one of the best tires in the world. This is a fact, since the Italian company occupies a leading position in the ranking of automotive magazines, horns and other popular resources. Therefore, their cost is quite high, but the quality is also at the highest level.
Pirreli tire production
The Italian company is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. They began their activity in 1894, when the world's first bicycle tire was created.
Now the Italian brand has about 24 factories around the world. Two factories for the production of Pirreli tires have been built in Russia. The company also has a large logistics system in Russia.
If we are talking about the produced tire models in the domestic space, then it is worth highlighting Pirelli Winter Carving and Pirelli Ice. Since studding is banned in European territory, many companies followed Pirelli's example and began to produce tires in Russia.
As for other models, they are produced in Italy, Germany, England, Turkey. It all depends on the model and size of the tire.
Pirelli ice zero
The high performance Ice Zero is a balanced winter tire. They belong to the first category. Technological tires are characterized by high grip on ice and excellent resistance to winter frost.
On the paved road of the Central European winter, they behave assertively due to their high grip and excellent handling.
The tread pattern is identical to the "European" style. Here you can see the special directionality of the middle part of the tire, and the small grooves on the diagonal have a slightly larger section in the shoulder area. Such a protector quickly enough removes water and snow cover from the main surface of the tire.
According to the Pirreli Ice Zero tire review, the soft tread zones can increase the contact area with the surface. Older versions of Ice Control have round spots, while Ice Zero has almost square spots.
Among other characteristics, it is worth highlighting the balanced distribution of pressure upon contact with the main surface. These functions are quite relevant when driving on a regular track and on snow.
Specialists have taken care and developed a soft rubber for the tread. Silicon dioxide and large lamellas were used for maximum adhesion. The so-called elements open up on slippery roads and form an effective grip on the road.
On open asphalt, the blocks become stiff and the sipes are switched off or blocked by the increased lateral forces. Thus, the behavior and handling of the vehicle is improved.
The main characteristics of winter tires Pirreli Formula Ice from the manufacturer:
- high level of stability on the track and ice, good handling;
- safety of the highest category, thanks to highly efficient execution;
- test drive of tires in various climatic conditions;
- new version of RUNFLAT.
Based on the given data, we can safely call Pirelli tires the most reliable and safe.
Marking and test drive of Pirelli tires
The clearly highlighted Made in Russia marking will answer the question of motorists about where the Pirelli Ice Zero tires are produced.
Russian production of famous tires should not scare away buyers. Since all products manufactured at the Kirov and Voronezh plants meet international quality and reliability standards.
The renewed Pirelli Voronezh plant began to produce high-quality Pirelli Ice Zero tires for winter driving. A test drive on ice showed that the tires with curly spikes are in serious competition with their counterparts from other manufacturers.
Nevertheless, on rolled snow, the tires are slightly inferior to competitors, since the car's handling is slightly worse.
In the snow race, the car with Pirelli tires ended up losing about 3 seconds over the 1.5 km distance. However, at the time of the test in deep snow, the tires were well ahead of their competitors.
Confident grip on wet roads and normal asphalt. However, at the same time, the tires emit a serious hum. They are perfect for poorly cleaned and icy roads. For normal city driving, they can also be used if the car is insulated from extraneous noise.
New versions of tires from Pirelli
The most interesting and attractive development of the company is the Formula Ice tires. They are used for light vehicles and small SUVs. The concern offers its customers about 20 standard sizes of tires for all types of winter roads.
The new Pirreli Formula Ice tires are manufactured and manufactured in Italy. These tires can be used in difficult climatic conditions, where there is severe frost and icy, snowy roads. The designers took into account the fact that in recent years Europe began to "conquer" the snow, which is no longer a rarity.
The Italians, to a large extent, when designing and creating Ice Zero tires, counted on the large Russian market. And the local climate makes it possible to create high-quality tires for domestic roads.
Tires are made with the expectation of long-term use, and the manufacturer guarantees the preservation of the original characteristics and parameters for a long time.
Tire studding is performed using aluminum products with special tips and reinforced elements. Formula Ice Zero tires have excellent directional stability thanks to their ribbed ribs.
This design provides a high level of safety on the winter road and good vehicle handling.
The tread depth on the Formula Ice tire is 9.5 mm. In addition, the tread has a directional pattern for high grip on ice. Despite the soft rubber mixtures, the finished tires are fairly resistant to wear and tear.
This is a slightly modified and updated tread pattern used on other brands of the famous brand's tires. The protectors have proven themselves to be effective in removing snow and water.
Tires were originally designed for the Scandinavian countries. However, tires have already proven themselves in difficult climatic conditions in Russia, and their affordability has begun to attract an increasing number of local buyers.
Choosing Pirelli tires, every car enthusiast guarantees himself a safe ride and good handling.
Specifications Pirelli Ice Zero
The Pirelli Ice Zero studded winter tire is designed for a wide range of passenger cars and off-road vehicles. The Ice Zero draws on Pirelli's many years of experience in the development of rally tires. The new stud design, optimized tread profile and multi-link rubber compound give the Pirelli Ice Zero a high level of grip on both snow and ice.
New patented Pirelli Dual Stud technology with a double core that improves the penetration of the stud on icy surfaces. The company's specialists decided not to increase the number of studs to increase the grip of the tire on ice, but to use an innovative design, which not only contributed to the reduction of noise levels, but also ensured high performance of the tire on dry and wet roads. The elongated tungsten carbide core increased resistance, the multidirectional design reduced mobility, and the wide leg optimized loads. 
Pirelli Ice Zero's tread compound has been specially designed to provide stable and efficient performance over a wide temperature range. This was achieved by increasing the number of units in the molecular line of the compound.
The optimized profile significantly increased the tire-to-road contact patch, thanks to which Ice Zero guarantees good handling, effective braking, both on hard snow surfaces and on dry asphalt.
