According to Pirelli, its new Scorpion Winter tire, designed for high-performance SUVs and crossover vehicles, features improved safety under braking and cornering while offering "the same standards of comfort, reliability and handling that was previously only available on sports cars."

Also available in a run-flat version, the tire will be introduced to the North American market in fall 2012 in 21 sizes ranging from 16- to 21-inch wheel diameters. The new winter tire completes the range of Scorpion tires dedicated to SUVs and CUVs, sitting alongside the Scorpion Verde All-Season.

The Scorpion Winter offers decreased braking distance on snow, as well as in the wet and dry, and increased traction on snow, according to Pirelli. The tire also features reduced rolling resistance, which saves 4% in fuel consumption and reduces external noise. The tire’s V-shaped tread design maximizes traction, as well as the dispersal of snow and water, the tiremaker added.

Introduced at the Igora Park snowdome near St. Petersburg, Russia, the Scorpion Winter was put through its paces in a series of dynamic tests designed to highlight its performance, road holding and safety. Also launched in St. Petersburg was the latest Carving Edge tire, a studdable winter tire with new sizes making their way to Canadian drivers soon.

Courtesy of TIRE REVIEW.