The characteristic concept of this new Pirelli product range is to offer specific models for different ground characteristics, from compact to compliant. The Scorpion mountain bike range offers every consumer the tire they need in terms of ground conditions, bike type and riding style. The result is a series of tires that guarantee top performance in every size and every version, regardless of the weather conditions.

Like all other Pirelli bicycle tires, the new mountain bike range was developed at the Bicocca Research and Development Innovation Center in Milan. This is the largest of Pirelli's 11 development centers worldwide, where more than 1000 researchers work.

Over time, more and more specialized products in the XC, Enduro or Trail sector have emerged - also in terms of tires. Today, these trends are moving back to the roots, with an increasing focus on simplicity. Today's bikes are becoming more powerful and efficient, both uphill and downhill, making traditional classifications obsolete. The focus is now less on the bike itself and more on the riding style of the rider. And so, in line with its customer-oriented business approach, Pirelli is now focusing more on the nature of the different surfaces and less on the bike itself. This was the starting point for Pirelli in the development of the tire range. The product range should be easy to understand, clear and simple. The Pirelli mountain bike tire series is available in four models. The model designations are made up of a self-explanatory name and a color code that immediately identifies the ground type.

The Scorpion H (Hard Terrain - red) model is suitable for hard ground, compact and rocky surfaces.

• Scorpion M (mixed terrain)

The Scorpion M (Mixed Terrain - yellow) are ideal for mixed terrain where the ground conditions can also change quickly and repeatedly, from compact to sandy, with stones and roots.

• Scorpion S (soft terrain)

The Scorpion S (Soft Terrain - blue) are perfect for soft and yielding surfaces.

• Scorpion R (Rear Specific)

The Scorpion R (Rear Specific - green) offer a stronger drive for the rear wheel and are also designed for mixed surfaces.

LITE: a LITE version of Scorpion H, M and S is also available. This version does without the additional sidewall reinforcement or uses a lighter material.

Smartgrip Compound

The core component of Pirelli mountain bike tires is the Smartgrip Compound material mix. This material mix ensures good grip on dry and wet surfaces without compromising on performance. Similar to the Smartnet-Silica compound, which eliminated the compromise between rolling resistance and grip on wet surfaces in the PZero Velo road tires, SmartGRIP Compound closes the gap between tear resistance and grip on wet surfaces in the Scorpion mountain bike.

The properties of the compound were developed specifically for each model and size, from static (hardness and breaking load) to dynamic (damping and dynamic stiffness). This makes this product the first "tailor-made development" in the field of bicycle tires.

The many years of experience that Pirelli has in the motocross sector were incorporated in particular into the design of the treads for the Scorpion Mountainbike. The shape and height of the treads, their spacing, the cross-connections and angles have each been adjusted for maximum efficiency and grip on the respective surface. When designing the new tires based on the ground conditions, Pirelli's developers had to consider many other parameters, from riders' riding styles to the latest developments in rim profiles and sizes. Therefore, the construction of the new Scorpion Mountainbike is not uniform for all tire sizes, each size was developed individually. The combination and interaction of elements such as construction, reinforcement, the static and dynamic properties of the compound and the different designs for different types of ground was a considerable technical innovation for Pirelli in the area of product development.

Ride will be testing the new Pirelli off-road tires extensively, a test report on the Scorpion tires will follow here on ride.ch

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