Cinturato Winter 2: the secrets of driving safely on snow

With low temperatures, roads that present very different situations are frequently encountered: from snowy to wet conditions, and slippery to dry surfaces. To improve safety in all these varied situations, the tread of the Cinturato Winter 2 is equipped with innovative “extendable” variable geometry sipes.

Thanks to their 3D structure, these sipes change shape according to the state of wear of the tyre, gradually going from a linear to a zig-zag shape, which increases their size and effectiveness. This boosts the Cinturato Winter 2's performance in snowy, wet and dry conditions even when worn, and also extends its useful life compared to its predecessor. In total, there are around 43 metres of sipes that deliver better grip in snowy conditions, with a 30% increase in active area compared to the Sottozero 3.

Through virtual modelling of the tread pattern and its footprint, Pirelli was able to identify the optimal design to improve grip on snowy ground. The directional tread pattern of the Cinturato Winter 2 is characterised by pronounced V-shaped grooves, which retain snow and help control the vehicle on snow-covered surfaces. In rainy conditions, these also drain water from the tyre footprint to maintain constant contact with the ground, avoiding any sudden aquaplaning.

All sorts of aquaplaning and drainage situations have been modelled to define the size and shape of these grooves. These grooves vary according to where they are placed on the actual tyre. In the centre of the tyre, they are narrow and square, whereas they are wider and more rounded at the sides, to facilitate grip on snow and expulsion of water if it rains (to avoid aquaplaning).

Driving safely in winter means being able to rely on tyre grip both on wet and dry road surfaces in low temperatures, as well as when the roads are covered by a layer of snow or ice. These are all conditions in which it's essential to have perfect control of a vehicle, especially during typical emergency manoeuvres such as sudden braking or abrupt lane changes to avoid an obstacle.

The new Cinturato Winter 2 can count on the compound and tread pattern working exactly as it is designed to. In low temperatures generated by contact with snow, an innovative polymer together with a revolutionary production process means that the compound of the new Cinturato Winter 2 consistently maintains all its elastic and mechanical properties, keeping a uniform pressure on the snow-covered roads that enhances grip.

These ‘viscoelastic' properties of the compound have been perfectly matched to the tread pattern, allowing the 3D sipes to present a considerable surface area to grip and trap the snow. As a result, braking distances are reduced by up to 5% compared to the outgoing Sottozero 3 tyre.

When coming across a roundabout or making any sudden changes of direction on snowy roads, elements of the tread pattern also come into play that have been specifically developed to generate lateral forces that keep the car going in the intended direction. All of which mean more grip, and better safety.