Pirelli has rightfully earned a reputation for quality and performance over the decades. They’re respected for their innovation, their forward-thinking designs, and quality workmanship and materials, all of which translate to superb performance and quality for their tire lines. That’s true of Pirell’s truck tires, all-season tires, Grand Touring, and performance tires, and it definitely applies to their winter tires as well.

The Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 has been developed as a winter tire for light trucks, SUVs and crossovers that combines dependable winter grip and control with the kind of handling, road manners, ride quality and low noise you’d expect from a premium Grand Touring tire. Does the Scorpion Winter 2 deliver on that goal? Let’s get in and get a closer look with this Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 review:

Features and Benefits

Here are some of the innovations and design features that make the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 a valuable and strong performer in difficult winter conditions:

• Built using a specific low-temperature tread compound that stays flexible to go on delivering great traction in subfreezing conditions
• Directional winter tread design features staggered grooves and sweeping V-shaped design to slice through snow and slush and effectively resist hydroplaning by channeling water away from the tire’s contact patch
• Reinforced shoulder blocks give the tread area of the Scorpion Winter 2 improved rigidity for crisper handling and cornering ability
• Tread footprint is redesigned and optimized to put more rubber in contact with the road for improved wear properties, braking, control, and weight distribution
• Interlocking system of 3D sipes multiplies the tread’s surface area and traction by providing hundreds of hair-thin edges that slice their way through snow and slush
• Snow edges on main grooves actually trap and hold onto snow to develop snow-to-snow friction
• Internal construction details include a polyester casing, high-tensile steel belt package and nylon cap ply for great high-speed stability, durability
• Tread pitch is randomized and computer-tuned to cancel certain frequencies and overtones, helping to keep road noise muted
• Designed around the horsepower, torque, weight, center of gravity, and overall handling properties of today’s SUVs and crossovers
• 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for severe winter service

Pros and Cons

When it comes to the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2, this is a tire where the pros far outweigh the cons, as mentioned below:

PROS:

• Dense 3D sipes provide dependable and consistent traction and control in deep snow and slush.
• Ride quality is quiet and refined on wet or dry pavement
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified
• Snow edges on main grooves trap snow for better snow grip
• Tread compound flexible at low temperatures
• Handling properties are accurate and predictable
• Durable construction

CONS:

• Not an all-season tire
• Not suitable for warmer weather with temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• No limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty coverage

SimpleTire’s view on Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 tires

Are you acquainted with SimpleScore? SimpleScore is the ratings system that the SimpleTire team developed to give you a quick, at-a-glance idea of any tire’s strengths and weaknesses. We take into account the tire’s specs, customer reviews, technical details, manufacturer info and other data points, then process all that to a 1-10 numerical values for various categories such as traction, handling, and longevity, as well as an overall average SimpleScore number. For the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2, the SimpleScore numbers break down as follows:

Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2:

• Traction: 9.4
• Handling: 9.6
• Longevity: 8.0
• Overall average SimpleScore: 8.9

That would be a very solid set of SimpleScore numbers for any tire, and it looks even better when you remember that this Pirelli is a winter tire.

With the Scorpion Winter 2, Pirelli had the design target of a winter tire that can deliver the kind of control, braking performance, handling, ride quality, road manners and overall roadability that are more in line with that of a Grand Touring all-season tire. That sounds like a pretty big claim, but the Scorpion Winter 2 does a great job of checking all those boxes.

On dry pavements, the Scorpion Winter 2 offers a muted ride (although pattern noise can get a bit louder on some pavement surfaces), and ride quality is composed even on rougher surfaces. Cornering is precise and predictable, and the Scorpion Winter 2 never gets the jitters even when negotiating rough or irregular pavement surfaces. At highway speed, straight-line tracking is solid and secure with little need for correction. Steering response is never numb or sluggish, as the Scorpion Winter 2 gives the driver road feedback with a light and direct feel.

Even as deeper snow piles up on the roads, the Scorpion Winter 2 is confident, with little tendency towards "snowplowing" and accumulating snow in front of the tire's contact patch. Its 3D sipes dig into snow and slush for a real edge in acceleration and braking performance, and its specialized winter tread compound is designed to stay pliable in extreme cold to go on offering great grip (think of a hard rubber hockey puck on ice vs the flexible sole of a rubber snow boot). A common feature of many winter tires like the Scorpion Winter 2 is a hydrophilic tread compound, meaning it’s capable of actually soaking up a film of water like a sponge on slushy or wet pavement to enhance grip and control.

It’s true that the Scorpion Winter 2 isn’t covered by Pirelli with a limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty; many winter tires do not offer a mileage warranty. It’s also true that this tire isn’t suitable for warmer conditions. Like all winter tires, the tread compound of the Scorpion Winter 2 is softer and more pliable for winter traction, but that also means premature tread wear on warmer days. Pirelli advises against using this tire if temperatures are above 40-45 degrees F.

The tire industry has a pretty rigorous set of performance requirements for the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service, but the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 clears that bar with ease. If you really need a tire that’s up to the demands of driving in tough winter conditions, we’re confident that the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 is a tire we can get behind without reservation. SimpleTire’s price on the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 runs from $288.99/tire ($1155.96 for 4) to $675.99/tire ($2703.96 for 4) as per the selected tire size.

Vehicles the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 is a good replacement tire for

As a winter tire, the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 isn’t featured as an OEM tire on any vehicles. However, Pirelli developed this tire in conjunction with automakers and designed it around the handling, power, torque, suspension and overall performance of today’s SUVs and crossovers. It would make a fantastic option as a winter tire for vehicles such as these:

• Dodge Durango
• GMC Sierra
• Honda Ridgeline
• Jeep Gladiator
• Nissan Titan
• Toyota 4Runner
• Honda CR-V
• Mitsubishi Montero
• Hyundai Palisade
• Buick Envista
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Hyundai Kona
• Kia Niro
• Subaru Crosstrek
• Volkswagen Taos
• Ford Maverick
• Mazda CX-50
• BMW X3
• Genesis GV70
• Porsche Macan
• Mercedes-Benz GLC-class
• Volvo XC60
• Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
• Audi SQ7
• Land Rover Range Rover