With a century and a half of existence and numerous patents to its name, Pirelli Tire doesn’t need an introduction, especially in the US. The Italian tire manufacturer is synonymous with performance tires, and the P Zero family has been the most intimidating of the lot. The advent of EVs has led tire makers to find the most efficient tires that are tailored to the specific needs of electric vehicles, like high torque bearing, low rolling resistance, and reduced noise levels.

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect marks a significant evolution in high-performance tires, specifically engineered for the unique demands of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This summer tire, part of Pirelli's iconic P Zero family, combines the brand's motorsport expertise with cutting-edge innovations like AI-driven virtual design.

The "Elect" marking on its sidewall signifies its tailored development for EVs, focusing on critical aspects such as extended battery range due to significantly reduced rolling resistance. Beyond efficiency, the PZ5 Elect aims to deliver superior acoustic comfort, minimizing in-cabin noise through optimized pattern and shape, and potentially incorporating sound-absorbing technology.

It also promises enhanced durability to manage the higher torque and battery weight of EVs while maintaining high mileage. With excellent handling and braking performance in both dry and wet conditions, the Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is designed to elevate the driving experience of high-end electric cars and SUVs, offering a perfect blend of performance, efficiency, and quiet comfort.

Let’s explore the features and benefits and pros and cons, vehicle compatibility, and our take on the tire in this Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect review.

Features and Benefits

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is a high-performance summer tire specifically engineered for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It features Pirelli's "Elect" technology, denoted on its sidewall, which focuses on optimizing performance for EVs.

Popularly known as EV tires, they feature special rubber compounds, advanced technologies, and unique tread designs to bear the extra burden of increased weight, high torque, low rolling resistance, and more. Let’s explore the features and benefits of the Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect:

• Extended battery range: The P Zero (PZ5) Elect nicely interlocks with the surface and requires less effort roll leading to minimal friction. As the engine puts less effort into rolling tires, it consumes less battery power, leading to longer driving hours without the need to charge.
• Quieter cabin: With the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS), the P Zero Elect absorbs most of the road noise and prevents it from entering the cabin. This makes the in-cabin experience more comfortable and quieter. Moreover, the progressive sipes ensure pattern consistency with reduced noise levels.
• Cutting-edge EV technology: The Pirelli EV tire incorporates AI-driven virtual design, advanced compound formulations, and motorsport expertise for exceptional performance in warm weather conditions on paved roads. The ‘Elect’ embossed on the sidewall speaks about the advanced techniques used to devise the P Zero (PZ5) Elect tire that helps it bear additional battery weight and higher torque pressure.
• Superior handling and stability: Thanks to its robust construction and flexible yet sturdy rubber compound, the P Zero (PZ5) Elect offers consistent traction, handling, stability, and control at high speed. Even during high-speed cornering, the tough sidewalls bear the higher torque and battery weight of the EV while returning uniform wear.

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is available in a wide range of tire sizes, ranging from 18 to 23 inches.

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Pros and Cons

We have seen the features and benefits of the tire, now let’s take a quick look at its pros and cons before summing up this Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect tire review.

PROS:

• Special rubber compound provides superior grip and traction
• Asymmetric tread design ensures exceptional handling and stability
• PNCS and progressive sipes reduce noise and improve comfort levels
• Shrinking grooves improve cornering and reduce tread noise levels
• Plasticizer blend offers impeccable handling and braking
• Low rolling resistance contributes to extended battery range

CONS:

• It cannot be driven in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit on snow and ice
• It cannot be taken on rough roads as its rubber compound is softer and is meant strictly for paved roads

SimpleTire’s view on Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect tires

In a nutshell, the Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is a premium summer tire perfectly designed for electric vehicles. Its "Elect" technology delivers great benefits such as extended range through low rolling resistance, and enhanced cabin comfort via superior noise reduction. Combining renowned P Zero performance with robust durability for EV torque and weight, it ensures exceptional dry and wet grip. It offers a balanced, high-performance solution for modern electric and hybrid drivers.

Boasting an excellent 9 out of 10 overall SimpleScore, the Pirelli EV tire delivers exceptional traction and handling performance with scores of 9.5 and 9.6, respectively. Usually, summer UHP tires wear faster due to their softer rubber compounds, and hence, expectedly, the P Zero (PZ5) Elect’s longevity score is 8.0.

The P Zero (PZ5) Elect competes with the likes of Continental SportContact 7, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, and Bridgestone Potenza Sport.

Vehicles the Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is a good replacement tire for

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) Elect is a great replacement tire for various electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model S, Audi e-tron GT, Porsche Macan EV, Polestar 2, and Lucid Air.