P Zero: 40 years of records and technological innovation

The first appearance of the P Zero brand dates back to 1985, with the début on the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale, as an evolution of the previous experience on a motorsport icon such as the Lancia Delta S4 Group B. These cars became legends, renowned for their groundbreaking technology and exhilarating performance. To ensure control and safety for these exceptional vehicles, Pirelli was tasked with developing a tyre that delivered unprecedented performance for its time. This marked the beginning of a true revolution in the industry, giving rise to an entirely new category of tyres: Ultra High Performance (UHP).

Pirelli's extensive motorsport experience proved invaluable in transferring advanced technologies to tyres designed for road use. This first P Zero was at the centre of an episode that effectively showcased its remarkable capabilities. The Lancia Delta S4 driven by Miki Biasion, during the rally in Sanremo, was fitted with P Zero road tyres for transfers from one stage to another. During one particular stage, marked by a slippery surface due to heavy rain, the driver decided to keep these new, not-yet-released tyres on his car and won the race, finishing ahead of competitors who were using racing tyres.

In those years, the leading sports tyre was the Pirelli P7, the first low-profile tyre in history, born in 1976. The experience gained with this tyre, both on the road and in competition, combined with the intuition of Pirelli engineer Mario Mezzanotte, was fundamental to the birth of the P Zero. The idea was simple: combine the three souls of a racing tyre into a single tread pattern. The inner shoulder, grooved like wet-weather racing tyres, to ensure grip even in the rain. The outer shoulder, reminiscent of slick tyres, to deliver maximum dry grip. And the central section of the design, drawing inspiration from intermediate tyres, to act as a balance point between the two outer areas. This combination of features represented a true innovation, surpassing the concepts that had previously defined tyre design. Highlighting such a revolution, a journalist famously quipped, upon first driving a Delta S4 fitted with the P Zero: "Let's hope the traffic police is aware of this innovation. We wouldn't want that smooth part to be mistaken for a worn-out tyre and result in a fine".

The name "P Zero" perfectly captured the idea of a fresh start. The classic "P" for Pirelli products was joined by the name "Zero". This revolution was born in the context of the changes that the automobile itself was undergoing. In the 1980s, supercharging and turbocharging in sports cars were leading to new levels of power and new performance requirements. On these cars, still lacking electronic aids, the role of the tyre had, in fact, become crucial in providing grip, stability, and safety. After the zero generation developed for the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale, the first generation was born to equip the Ferrari F40 (1987).The list of cars that have sported these tyres over the decades is extensive and includes true icons of the automotive world, such as the Ferrari F40, 512 Testarossa, LaFerrari; Lamborghinis like the Countach, Diablo, Murciélago, Aventador; the McLaren MP4-12C and P1; the Pagani Zonda, Huayra and Utopia; Aston Martin Vanquish, DB9, V12 Vantage; and the Porsche 911 in its many forms, along with the Cayenne and Macan.

The P Zero continues to represent the pinnacle of performance for a road tyre, as has been recognised numerous times throughout its history by tests conducted by the most important industry magazines. It is also the product on which Pirelli's innovations début: in 2019, the Elect technology package for electric and plug-in hybrid cars was born on a P Zero, today a benchmark in the sector. In 2023, the P Zero E arrived on the market, the first Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyre to have at least 55% of its material from biological or recycled sources, in addition to the "triple A" rating on the European label. Even in motorsport, from which it originated, the P Zero is associated with the most high-performing racing tyres, from Formula 1 to other motorsport categories.

In addition to inaugurating the UHP tyre segment, the P Zero also marked the beginning of Pirelli's Perfect Fit strategy to meet the specific needs of the various models of premium and prestige car manufacturers. The P Zero range is now divided into different variants based on the target vehicles, use and seasonality. It can in fact equip from premium saloons to supercars up to the most sporty SUVs and in all seasons (summer, winter, all season).