About Pirelli
Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded the company in Milan in 1872, first making rubber products and later cables and bicycle and car tyres. The P Zero name arrived in 1986 and has been Pirelli's flagship sports tyre ever since. Pirelli has been the sole tyre supplier to Formula 1 since 2011. China National Chemical Corporation bought control in 2015, and the Sinochem group is still the largest shareholder, while the company remains headquartered and listed in Milan.
Strengths
- Best-in-class dry grip and steering precision on the P Zero
- Marked OE versions (MO, N0, AO, star) matched to specific luxury models
- Wide range of large 19–23 inch sizes
- Scorpion range covers luxury SUVs and pickups
- Cinturato P1 Verde gives Pirelli quality at a mid-range price
Weaknesses
- Performance tyres wear faster than Michelin equivalents
- P Zero ride is firm on low-profile sizes
- Large OE-marked sizes can cost AED 1,500–2,500 each
Pirelli ranges and prices
| Model | Type | Rims | Price per tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) | Ultra-high performance summer | 17–23 inch | AED 750 – AED 2,500 |
| Pirelli Cinturato P7 | Premium touring | 16–20 inch | AED 430 – AED 1,000 |
| Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde | Everyday touring | 14–17 inch | AED 270 – AED 480 |
| Pirelli Scorpion Verde | SUV touring | 16–21 inch | AED 550 – AED 1,300 |
| Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus | All-terrain 4x4 / pickup | 15–20 inch | AED 600 – AED 1,150 |
Cars it suits
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- BMW X5
- Porsche Cayenne
- Range Rover
- Audi A6
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai Elantra
- Kia Sportage
Our ratings out of 10
- Wet grip
- 8
- Dry grip
- 10
- Comfort
- 7
- Quietness
- 7
- Tread life
- 7
- Heat resistance
- 8
Performance
Pirelli's character is precision. The P Zero turns in quickly, communicates grip clearly through the steering, and keeps lateral grip high on hot, dry asphalt, which is why so many supercars sold in Dubai wear it. Wet grip on the P Zero and Cinturato P7 is good. Comfort is where Pirelli gives ground: on 35-profile sizes you feel expansion joints on Al Khail Road more than with a Michelin or Continental.
Durability and tread life
A P Zero on a 400 hp sedan typically lasts 20,000–30,000 km in the UAE, and rear tyres on rear-drive cars can be gone in 15,000 km with enthusiastic driving. The Cinturato P7 and P1 Verde do much better, around 40,000–50,000 km on family cars. Scorpion Verde tyres on mid-size SUVs average 40,000–45,000 km. Because performance tyres are often replaced before they age out, Pirelli's shorter tread life matters more for daily commuters than for weekend cars.
Pirelli in UAE conditions
Many German cars in the UAE need a specific marked Pirelli: MO for Mercedes, star for BMW, N0 to N2 for Porsche, AO for Audi. Fitting the marked version keeps the handling the manufacturer tuned. Pirelli stock comes from Italy, Germany, Romania, Turkey, Brazil and China. Large P Zero sizes are often air-freighted, so check the DOT: 4325 means week 43 of 2025. Never mix a run-flat and a non-run-flat on the same axle.
Alternatives in the same class
- Michelin — AED 450–AED 1,050, France
- Bridgestone — AED 400–AED 950, Japan
- Continental — AED 420–AED 1,000, Germany
- Goodyear — AED 380–AED 900, United States
