Pirelli launches new tire for cross-country racing

Milan, Italy – Pirelli has introduced the Scorpion XC RH, a new cross-country racing tire manufactured at its Milan-Bollate plant using FSC-certified natural rubber.

The product completes Pirelli’s cross-country range, joining the RC and M models already on the market.

The tire has been designed for hardpack race conditions, where rolling efficiency is the main priority, while maintaining reliable grip and cornering control, said Pirelli 7 Oct.

Pirelli linked the tire’s performance to a newly developed Race XC compound and tread pattern designed for “maximum speed and precise stability.”

The formulation combines fast rolling with what the company described as “good chemical grip” on compact and mixed terrain.

Internal tests indicated the tire is the fastest in Pirelli’s current XC range, with rolling speeds more than 40% higher than the previous RC model.

The tread features a wide, compact central band with low-profile knobs for smooth rolling, while aggressive shoulder blocks – adapted from the RC model – improve traction during fast turns.

Pirelli said the tire contains between 17% and 20% natural rubber by weight, depending on the casing, and that the material is sourced from responsibly managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.