Magazine for the professional tire industry
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MTD December 2016 News/views Pirelli introduces multiple P Zeros The new Pirelli P Zero is the "pinnacle" of Pirelli's flagship P Zero line of tires, according to Pierluigi Dinelli, chairman and CEO of Pirelli Tire North America Inc. However, it is more than one tire. Every original equipment tire is not only tailor-made to fit its respec- tive premium or prestige vehicle, but also features the OEM's logo. A slight difference in the com- pound or tire structure, perhaps even a minor change in the tread design, makes each new P Zero unique. There are two basic P Zero models. One is designed for sports cars. The other is designed for luxury sedans. At a press conference for the tire in Las Vegas prior to the opening of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Dinelli said the tire is part of Pirelli's longtime strategy focus- ing on the premium and prestige market. Technological features include the following: • Pirelli Noise Cancelling System. In order to dramatically reduce inside noise, Pirelli has applied a sound absorbing device applied to the inside circumferential wall of the tire. • Seal Inside. Dinelli said the proprietary run-flat technology covers nearly 85% of the possible accidental causes of pressure loss. In addition, the company introduced the P Zero Corsa, designed for super cars; and the P Zero All Season Plus, a tire designed for the replacement market. The new P Zero tires will be available next year. "Our range is now really complete in the UHP segment," said Dinelli. Two other new replacement tires, the Scorpion Zero All Season Plus and the Scorpion All Terrain Plus, will be available near the end of the second quarter or the beginning of the third quarter. Dinelli said Pirelli will stick to its strategy of producing separate tires for the OE and replacement markets. He added the company continues to believe the best way to distribute its tires is through tire dealers, not company-owned stores, mass merchandisers or online. — Bob Ulrich Bridgestone Partners With DOE Bridgestone Americas Inc. has joined the Cummins-Peterbilt SuperTruck II team with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will create prototype truck tires with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of the nation's 3.5 million Class 8 trucks on the road. Bridgestone will receive a dollar-for-dollar match from the DOE for its investment in creating new tire technologies. The prototype tires are expected to deliver up to a 6% improvement in fuel efficiency. ■ February 7 Montana Tire Dealers Association Meet Your Legislators Event, Best Western Great Northern Hotel, Helena, Mont. (406) 256-1005 or (800) 388-0236 www.mtretail.com February 9-10 North Central Tire Dealers & Suppliers Association Mid-Winter Conference, Treasure Island Resort and Casino, Red Wing, Minn. (952) 544-6805 www.northcentraltiredealers.com February 15-18 Tire Industry Association Off-the- Road Conference, Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu, Hawaii (301) 430-7280 or (800) 876-8372 www.tireindustry.org February 24-25 Mid-America Tire Dealers Assoc- iation Convention, Kansas Star Casino, Mulvane, Kan. (785) 286-1110 www.matda.org March 3-5 North Carolina Tire Dealers Assoc- iation 2017 Expo/Trade Show, Raleigh City Center Marriott, Raleigh, N.C. (877) 784-0111 www.nctda.com March 23-25 M i d - A m e r i c a Tr u c k i n g S h o w, Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, Ky. (502) 899-3892 www.truckingshow.com March 31 - April 1 New England Tire & Service Assoc- iation Convention, Foxwood Resort and Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. (207) 846-0986 www.netsa.org April 19-21 North American Tire & Retread Expo, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La. (786) 293-5186 www.usatireexpo.com dates Dominion Tire Co. owner Bilal Elomari, left, talks with Pirelli Product Marketing Manager Roberto Vezzoli, center, and Motorsport Manager Gianluca Grioni about the new P Zero Corsa extreme performance OE and replacement tire. 18