- BMW and Pirelli have collaborated on a new winter tire focused on the latest 7-Series and i7.
- The 20-inch Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 has been created to offer good winter performance, as well as low rolling resistance for an extended EV range.
- P Zero Winter 2 will be offered on other BMW models, including the X3, later this year.
Automakers typically focus on a new car’s more sexy attributes when it launches because, let’s face it, it’s easy to get customers to fawn over larger screens, the latest tech, and big power output numbers. However, this approach all too often overlooks how much time is spent between car firms and tire manufacturers perfecting one of the most important aspects of any new car: tires.
Being the only surface that connects you to terra firma, the four tires on any new car deserve highlighting, and that’s especially true of performance cars. We’ve seen collaborations between Michelin and Porsche for the 911, Yokohama and Mazda for the Miata, and Continental and Mercedes for their AMG models.
Read: Yes, Original Equipment (OE) Tires Do Make A Difference, And Here’s Why
While these partnerships often focus on creating specific compounds for spirited driving or on-track performance, there are few collaborations in the space of winter tire tech. However, Pirelli and BMW want to change that with the co-development of the new 20-inch P Zero Winter 2.
The new tire has been specially designed for the 7-Series and i7, but it will also be offered on other future BMW models, starting with the X3 in the second half of the year. The new tire’s tread has been developed to focus on winter driving abilities, with claims of exceptional performance in wet and snowy conditions.
However, the development has also factored in the need for low rolling resistance characteristics, which are especially important in the application of electric vehicles. With an “A class” rating for rolling resistance, it’s claimed that, when fitted to the BMW i7, the new tire offers an extended range of up to 31 miles / 50 km over conventional winter tires.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 carries BMW’s specific Star-Mark certification to indicate that the tires meet the high-performance and safety requirements set by the German brand. Other tires that feature this include Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4S*, a BMW-approved evolution of the Pilot Sport 4S.
Both BMW and Pirelli have focused on sustainability in this development. They aim to use renewable materials wherever feasible and have worked to reduce the CO2 footprint of their manufacturing plants.
