Pirelli claims smart-tire first with fitment on Mclaren Artura

Milan, Italy  - Pirelli is supplying its Cyber Tyre smart tire and sensor system for the McLaren 
Artura, billed by the car maker as a “next-generation hybrid supercar.”

This is the first ever OE fitment of a “tire with sensors that can talk to a car,” according to a 
Pirelli release issued 17 Feb – the same day as the McLaren launch. 

Features of the car include a lightweight carbon fibre composite body and an e-motor and energy-dense battery pack, producing combined outputs of 671bhp and an acceleration of 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds. 

Pirelli developed bespoke P Zero tires for the McLaren Artura in 235/35Z R19 size at the front and 295/35 R20 size at the back together with McLaren’s own engineers. 

Sensor in each tire gather data for input via Pirelli-created software, which is integrated into the car’s onboard computer to allow “safer and more involved” driving. 

Cyber Tyre technology delivers information on tire-type, prescribed pressure, load index and speed rating – as well as current running information, such as temperature and pressure in real-time.

Compared to traditional sensors on the valve, Pirelli said its systems offers greater accuracy as the transmitting sensors are in direct contact with the actual tires rather than the wheel rims. 

For the McLaren Artura, some functions have been specifically selected to allow drivers to adapt tire pressures to obtain better performance on a race track based on their individual driving style. 

Drivers can also be notified about when the tires have reached optimal temperature, allowing them to get the best possible performance out of the car-tire set-up. 

Allied to connected-vehicle-network technologies, now under development, Pirelli predicts that its smart-tire technolgy will be a key component in the development of autonomous driving.