Pirelli are well known for having an incredible range of OE tires, but their aftermarket tires can sometimes be overlooked. Fortunately, Pirelli are working hard to change this, and with the introduction of the new Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 Pirelli are hoping to have a winter tire to rival the very best in independent testing.

Due to the time delayed nature of winter testing, it's unlikely we'll see any test results this winter for the new Cinturato Winter 2, but it's now available to buy and it promises to follow on from the success of Pirelli's other new winter product, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2.

Here's the press release, and keep an eye on Tire Reviews for further information of the new Pirelli winter range.

Press Release

Pirelli launches the new Cinturato Winter 2: a winter tire for medium-sized cars and CUVs. This debuts some important new technologies pioneered by the Italian firm, such as sipes on the tread pattern that become longer throughout the life of the tire, capturing more snow to offer more grip. Available at launch in 36 different sizes from 16 to 20 inches, the Cinturato Winter 2 offers extra control in snowy and wet conditions, also aiding driver comfort during the coldest season. The Cinturato Winter 2 offers market-leading performance in all sorts of winter weather, as proven by renowned German certification board TÜV SÜD, which has awarded Pirelli’s new tire its Performance Mark(1).

MORE SAFETY OVER TIME WITH VARIABLE TYRE SIPES

Pirelli’s newest tire comes with innovative extendable tire sipes, which enhance safety in all sorts of winter driving conditions from snow to rain, as well as on both slippery and dry surfaces in cold weather. Thanks to the tire’s 3D structure, these sipes actually become longer as the rubber wears down, transforming themselves from a linear into a zig-zag shape. This increases their overall area and efficiency, giving the Cinturato Winter 2 extra performance in snowy, wet and dry conditions: even when worn. As a result, the Cinturato Winter 2 enjoys a longer useful life than its predecessor. In total, there are around 43 metres of sipes to improve grip on snowy surfaces, with a 30% improvement in roadholding on snow compared to the Sottozero 3.

MORE KILOMETRES WITH A NEW COMPOUND 

The new Cinturato Winter 2 delivers more kilometres compared to the previous generation of Pirelli winter tires thanks to a new compound, tread pattern, and structure, which prolongs the tire’s performance throughout its life. The innovative Cinturato Winter 2 compound has been developed using an innovative system of liquid polymers that can improve performance in wet and snowy conditions, following a Pirelli-patented process derived from the company’s extensive motorsport experience. This process maximises the uniformity of the components within the compound, enhancing the performance of the tire for longer on snowy or wet surfaces,

SILENCE AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Particular attention was paid to environmental sustainability, to help reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions. Rolling resistance has come down on the Cinturato Winter 2 compared to its predecessor, which has been classified mainly in the B and C category on the European tire label. To improve driving comfort, the Cinturato Winter 2 benefits from low road noise thanks to the specific design of the tread pattern, with consequent benefits for the environment that places the new tire in the A and B category on the European tire label.

DEVELOPED WITH VIRTUAL SIMULATION

The specific design of the tread pattern was arrived at via a process of virtual development aimed at optimising pressure over the contact patch. That started with the design of the grooves to guarantee efficient water expulsion – which allow control of the car even in aquaplaning situations – and continued with the definition and placement of the sipes to ensure maximum grip on snow.

SEAL INSIDE MEANS NO WORRIES EVEN WITH A PUNCTURE

The Cinturato Winter 2 is available in some sizes with Pirelli’s cutting-edge Seal Inside technology, to give drivers even more safety. This allows people to keep on driving even in the event of a puncture up to four millimetres. A specific mousse inside the tire forms a seal that wraps itself around the foreign object as soon as it penetrates the tire, preventing air from escaping and the tire from losing pressure. When the object is extracted, the same material seals up the resulting hole.

ELECT TYRES TO MAXIMISE RANGE OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID PLUG-IN VEHICLES

For electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, the Elect-marked Cinturato Winter 2 is available in selected sizes. This is a package of technologies bringing together compound, structure, and tread pattern to guarantee low rolling resistance and maximise battery range. It adds reduced road noise to benefit from the quiet and comfort of electric cars, as well as instantly available grip to deliver the power and torque typical of electric engines, even from low revs.

PIRELLI RENEWS ITS WINTER RANGE

The new Cinturato Winter 2 replaces the first-generation Cinturato Winter tires – in sizes ranging between 16 and 18 inches – as well as the aftermarket Sottozero 3, which complements the P Zero Winter: Pirelli’s winter tire for more powerful cars with sizes greater than 18 inches, introduced last winter. The Cinturato Winter 2 concludes Pirelli’s complete renewal of the Cinturato family, following the presentation of the latest Cinturato P7 summer tire in 2020 and the new Cinturato All Season SF2 at the beginning of this year.

(1) The TÜV SÜD Tire Performance Mark is a mark of excellence and confidence when buying a tire. Performance Mark Certificate No. Z2 082041 0003 Rev. 00 – Obtained by achieving the essential technical performance requirements of the independent certification body TÜV SÜD following tests carried out in April 2021 with tires size 205/55 R16 91H. More information on http://www.pirelli.com/tuvcinturatowinter2. Test report no.: 713212452. Valid until: 2026-05-05.