Pirelli develops P Zero R tires for new Audi RS models

Milan, Italy – Pirelli has developed "bespoke versions" of its P Zero R tire for the new Audi RS 5 and RS 3 competition limited, targeting improved braking performance, grip and handling for both road and track use.

In an 8 April statement, the tire maker said the development focused on achieving braking performance close to its track-oriented P Zero Trofeo R, delivering “extremely short stopping distances” and “very rapid and repeatable deceleration even under stress conditions.”

Work on the compound was led by Pirelli’s R&D centre in Germany in collaboration with its Milan headquarters, drawing on motorsport experience to optimise performance “even when cold” and ensure a “very high level of grip.”

Designed for everyday road use, the tires also maintain performance characteristics associated with track driving, with Pirelli stating that the P Zero R offers ‘higher efficiency than comparable ultra-high-performance tires.’

For the RS 3 competition limited model, two tire options are available: the P Zero R for road use and the semi-slick P Zero Trofeo R, which is “specifically designed for track use but homologated for road driving.”

The latter, Pirelli said, features a motorsport-derived compound and tread design to enhance grip and reduce braking distances.

Pirelli said development included digital simulation to model tire behaviour under different conditions, followed by physical testing at circuits including the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

For the plug-in hybrid RS 5, the company said the tire has been “reinforced to support the greater weight of hybrid components,” while maintaining “driving precision” and enabling effective transfer of torque to the road.