The introduction of the new Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus in Las Vegas on April 4th and 5th marks a strategic turning point for the performance tire specialist.
The Pirelli lineup already included a line of SUV and light-duty truck all-terrain tires, the Scorpion A/T. With the introduction of the Scorpion All Terrain Plus, Pirelli is using a new approach. Instead of developing a new tire based on vehicle manufacturer specifications, they listened to their distributors and customers when designing this new line of tires.
For the Canadian market, the Scorpion All Terrain Plus will be available in 30 fitments from 16 to 20-inch sizes. In fact, the Canadian market will offer more fitments than the US market.
The target market is the mainstream SUV and light truck replacement tire market. More specifically: the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe as well as the Silverado line; the Dodge Ram family, Dakota and Journey; Ford Expedition, Ranger and F-Series trucks; the Acadia, Canyon and GMC Sierra family as well as the Terrain and Yukon; Honda CR-V and Ridgeline; Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and Wrangler; Lincoln Navigator; Nissan Frontier, Rogue and Titan; both Hummer versions and Toyota FJ Cruise, Land Cruiser, RAV 4, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra. Coverage will grow over the course of 2018 to reach over 80 percent of this growing market segment.
Made for Canada
Pirelli Canada President Roberto Prieto, who attended the North-American premier of the Scorpion All Terrain Plus, was delighted about the launch of this new product. The development phase of the new line of tires was closely monitored by the Italian tire manufacturer’s Canadian division. “We were very insistent that the new tire be winter certified and carry the three-peak snowflake,” explained Roberto Prieto. “It’s crucial for this market. While it won’t replace snow tires in the most rugged regions, it has the versatility required to meet the demands in a large portion of our market. As for Quebec, it is perfectly suited for winter use in urban markets. We completed winter testing in Vermont, where it performed very well in snowy conditions.”
The aggressive tread pattern, the compound, and the upper sidewall design were engineered to appeal to consumers looking for a rugged-looking tire. “What we didn’t want was a tire for this market segment that would wear out after one season,” explains the Pirelli Canada President. Our engineering team developed a product with a remarkable balance between rugged appearance, performance, and durability, as this new tire is covered by an 80,000 km tread wear warranty.”
Automotive journalists were invited to the Pirelli media launch where they had an opportunity to test the Scorpion All Terrain Plus on a variety of closed circuit courses. Check out these pictures and a short video to learn more about the event.
[wds id=”627″]
