Pirelli supplying tires for Bently’s “most extreme model ever”

Milan, Italy – Pirelli has developed two dedicated tire fitments for the new Bentley Supersports, which the Italian tire maker described as the car maker's  “most extreme model ever”.

The tires are the P Zero Trofeo RS, designed to enhance the car's sporting character, particularly on track, and the P Zero, developed for everyday driving, said Pirelli 1 Sept.

According to Pirelli, the car is “radically different” from any previous Continental GT: rear-wheel drive for the first time in the model's history, kerb weight below two tonnes, and 666 hp, 800 Nm twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain.

The switch to rear-wheel drive, the introduction of an electronic limited-slip differential combined with brake-based torque vectoring, active rear-wheel steering, and a chassis featuring a rear track widened by 16 mm required tires capable of managing completely different load transfers and drive force distribution compared with the all-wheel-drive Continental GT Speed, explained Pirelli.

This is further complemented by the car's aerodynamic package, which Pirelli said generates more than 300kg of additional downforce compared with the Continental GT Speed through a larger front splitter, dive planes, side skirts, rear wheel arch vents and a rear diffuser.

“These elements significantly alter the vertical load acting on the tires as speed increases,” said the Italian tire maker.

Pirelli engineers “fine-tuned the compounds, construction and tread pattern through an extensive development programme, starting with virtual simulations before progressing to road and track testing,” said the company.

The process was carried out in close collaboration with Bentley's engineering team with the objective to “deliver consistent performance across all driving modes specified by the manufacturer, from touring to sport.”

The result was two dedicated homologations, both identified by the "B" marking reserved by Pirelli for tyres developed specifically for Bentley.

P Zero: the OE fitment

The 22-inch Pirelli P Zero is fitted to the Supersports as its OE tire, designed to complement the car's everyday usability and grand touring capabilities.

Its construction and compound have been optimised to “combine ride comfort, low noise levels and steering precision, while delivering grip levels commensurate with the car's power and weight.”

The tire, said Pirelli, has been specifically tuned to work in harmony with the Supersports' suspension and dual-chamber dampers, ensuring precise responses and outstanding stability.

P Zero Trofeo RS: the choice for track driving

For customers seeking the ultimate performance, Pirelli has developed its first P Zero Trofeo RS for a Bentley.

The 22-inch semi-slick tire is road legal but engineered with “a clear track-focused philosophy.”

“The compound, carcass construction and internal reinforcements have been specifically designed to withstand the significant aerodynamic loads generated by the Supersports, allowing the car to express its full dynamic potential,” Pirelli said.

Equipped with this fitment, the Supersports achieves peak lateral acceleration of 1.3g and improves cornering speeds by 30% compared with the Continental GT Speed, Pirelli added.