McLaren, the British creator of luxury sports and supercars, has paired with its tire partner, Pirelli to deliver a new winter wheel and tire package for McLaren Sports Series models.
The McLaren Winter Wheels and Tires set consists of four, 14-spoke lightweight forged wheels in “stealth” finish, fitted with Pirelli MC Sottozero 3 winter tires and incorporating the McLaren TPMS.
Developed by McLaren and Pirelli engineers specifically for the McLaren Sports Series family – the 540C, 570S, 570GT and new 570S Spider – the set comes fully assembled and ready to fit, allowing owners to swap quickly and easily to winter tires and enjoy their McLaren to the full throughout the colder months. Having a second set of wheels to combat the worst of the salt and other winter road debris also protects “summer wheels,” as well of course as extending the life of the tires fitted.
“Choosing the right type of tire to suit seasonal weather and road conditions should be a priority for every McLaren driver wanting to enjoy their car safely all-year round,” said Carl Whipp, aftersales director with McLaren Automotive. “Regardless of whether winter tires are a legal requirement, having them ready and waiting on a second set of wheels will allow customers to switch to the optimum tire choice quickly and easily when winter arrives – which is why we have teamed up with our tire partner, Pirelli, to offer the McLaren Winter Wheels and Tires set exclusively through McLaren Retailers.”
Even in countries where winter tires are not a seasonal legal requirement, fitting them is a wise move in cold, wet weather or if snow is a possibility. Pirelli MC Sottozero 3 tires are branded with the “MC” seal of approval and designed specifically for McLaren fitment to deliver optimal grip and control in adverse conditions. With a tread pattern that has a high drainage level reducing the chance of hydroplaning, the tires provide maximum possible grip. They are effective on wet and dry roads when temperatures are low but not necessarily at the freezing point; as a guide, once the ambient temperature regularly drops below 44 degrees F, both McLaren and Pirelli recommend the use of winter tires.
Braking performance in poor road and weather conditions can also be significantly improved by fitting winter tires. In comparison to summer tires, the Pirelli MC Sottozero 3 could reduce the cold-weather stopping distance of a McLaren Sports Series car by 10% in wet conditions and by up to 20% on snowy roads, according to the company.
The McLaren Winter Wheels and Tires set is available now from McLaren Retailers in the UK, Europe, and North America. McLaren owners who want to drive their Sports Series car all year round but do not wish to purchase an additional set of wheels can, of course, choose to have winter tires fitted to the wheels already on the car and revert to alternative tires when spring arrives.
