Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli is using the 2013 Geneva Motor Show to spotlight their technology, both for the road and track, Pirelli P Zero OE tyres . They have their own stand, but their Pirelli P Zero OE tyres are also found on some of the show’s most impressive cars, like the new Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster and Maserati Quattroporte.
Pirelli are using the Geneva show to showcase their “autographing” range of Pirelli P Zero OE tyres for prestige cars that contains a range of bespoke tyres developed for super car makers and marked with the car’s name. This is similar to the practice that GM call for on tyres supplied for their vehicles, which shows owners that the tyres their car is sitting on have been developed specifically for the car they’re sitting in.
Although each tyre has a common construction, each is tailored to the individual requirements of the cars they’re designed for. For the Ferrari LaFerrari, Pirelli engineers concentrated on increasing the tyre’s contact patch to reduce understeer. On the McLaren P1, the engineering challenge was to deliver stability and handling at a top speed of 217 mph. For the Lamborghini Aventador, Pirelli created a design that limited the tyre’s deformation, so the performance could be maintained across all four driven wheels. Pirelli claim that 250 different types of Pirelli P Zero OE tyres have been made, of which 130 versions are in production, covering wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 12 inches.
