Pirelli & Cie SpA has rolled out its first-ever high load index tire for electric and hybrid vehicles. "The Lucid Air will be the very first car to use the new Pirelli HL tires," say company officials.
The new Pirelli P Zero tire features the HL - for "high load" - marking on its sidewall "as an indication of its capabilities and is able to support 20% more weight compared to a standard tire and 6% to 9% more weight than an extra-load XL tire of the same size."
The Pirelli P Zero HL tire will be available in the following sizes: HL 245/35R21 99 Y on the front axle and HL 265/35R21 103 Y on the rear axle.
"In accordance with Pirelli's 'Perfect Fit' strategy, the P Zero tires for the Lucid Air have been jointly developed with the car manufacturer to fully meet required performance standards."
The tires also feature Pirelli Elect technology, which lowers rolling resistance to extend vehicle range and boasts a special compound "engineered for grip to respond to the instant torque demands of the electric transmission, as well as a structure capable of supporting the weight of the battery pack.
"To further increase interior comfort," the tire also includes Pirelli's PNCS technology, "which consists of a special, sound-absorbing material placed within the tire" to help deaden "air vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted to the inside of the vehicle. The benefits of this system can be felt both inside and outside the car."
Pierangelo Misani, Pirelli's senior vice president of R&D and cyber, says the "attention we devote to all new forms of sustainable mobility now leads us to technology that is capable of anticipating the future demands of car manufacturers for their new electric and hybrid vehicles, which increasingly require specialized performance from tires."
The new Lucid Air will be available in the United States later this year, according to Pirelli.
