NEW Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro and Downhill tyres

Pirelli have just released their new Scorpion Race Downhill (DH) and Enduro (EN) tyres, which have been developed in collaboration with multiple Downhill World Champion Fabien Barel. Like all other Pirelli Scorpion tyres, they have been designed to have tread patterns to suit the required grip, easily named so you know what to run.

The Pirelli Scorpion Race system has four different tread patterns and two wodths to tackle any trail you might take on in an Enduro or Downhill Race. The tyres us Pirelli's new SmartEVO DH compound, derived from Pirelli Motorsport. This is a super-soft compound specifically formulated to provide maximum performance, grip and therefore control in all riding situations.

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There are two types of casing available to offer the most suitable support according the use of the tyres. The Scorpion Race DH and EN have been developed in collaboration between Pirelli and Fabien Barel, three-time world champion and seven-time French DH champion. His experience and technical expertise, combined with Pirelli's tyre and compound knowledge, mean the new gravity tyres should be heading straight to the top of any gravity rider's must-test list.

The new range will be available in early 2023, after two years of prototyping, testing, feedback and refinement. The tyres have already been used by Pirelli testers and use in races by Pirelli-sponsored athletes in the EWS (Enduro World Series) and UCI World Cup DH circuits since 2021.

Pirelli Scorpion Race SmartEVO DH compound

SmartEVO DH was developed with input from Pirelli's Motorsport compound department. Unlike SmartGRIP, which was created for all-round mountain bike use, this new compound is designed for high performance against the clock. Pirelli have always aimed to balance chemical grip (compound) with mechanicl grip (tread pattern) and the Scorpion Race models with SmartEVO DH provide high chemical grip and good mechanical support at high speeds. SmartEVO DH is a combination of two layers of compounds: a single super-soft high-performance compound (42 Shore A) for the entire outer tread for chemical grip in a wide range of temperatures and absorbing vibrations at high frequencies, and a support compound under the tread, for mechanical support to the blocks and absorbing the most significant shocks. The two compounds work together giving the rider a feeling of great handling, responsiveness, and control, which is the main goal for Pirelli.

All this without forgetting the low rolling resistance: a key factor when competing, especially in the World Cup where you win or lose by tenths of a second. It will be interesting to see how this plays out on the dirt when we get some samples for testing. Chainless runs for tests!

Pirelli Scorpion Race tread patterns

The new Race tyres are available in M, T, S and MUD; or Mixed, Traction, Soft or… Mud. This covers Downhill or Enduro. The M (Mixed Terrain) tread is the most versatile as always. The design is perfect for mixed terrain, from bikeparks to harder-packed trails to the root and rock sections. The M is designed for all-round performance with evenly distributed blocks with sizes and heights set for a wide variety of conditions.

The T (Traction) tread offers higher mechanical grip in all situations where the tread block needs to penetrate the ground with a high, reinforced face for both braking and cornering. The blocks are more widely spaced and aggressive, and feature a central band designed to be cut to suit. So if mud needs to be evacuated more quickly, it is possible to cut the central block and thus make the tyre more directional and optimise it for softer terrain. These are technical characteristics that stem from the intensive testing with Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli DH and the Italian Rogue Racing.

The S (Soft Terrain) tread pattern is designed for soft terrain – sandy conditions, loose soil, loam and undergrowth – but still able to cope with more compact sections such as roots and rocks. It is characterised by higher, widely spaced blocks.

The no-compromise MUD tread, specific to the Scorpion Race DH, features high and widely spaced blocks, which are also designed to be cut as needed and according to the type of mud and track. Developed for specific downhill use, Scorpion Race DH MUD is only available in size 2.4", the most suitable for generating grip and control in extreme muddy conditions.

Pirelli Scorpion Race casings

Terrain changes and so do riding styles. Some riders load up casings more than others, and Downhill and Enduro racing demands the right casing for riders racing to the limit. With differences in rim widths, sizes, terrain, riders and more – Pirelli went to work. They came up with DualWall+ and DualWall.

DualWall+ is the specific casing for DH and Enduro Racing. It is a full double-ply of 60tpi rigid casing with a rubber anti pinch-flat insert and a layer of outer fabric to stabilise the sidewall of the tyre. This means it is Ideal for riders with an aggressive riding style, it has the best protection against cuts and punctures with maximum stability at high speeds, and absorb vibrations and large impacts.

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Specifically designed for Enduro races and/or lighter riders in general, the DualWall casing is a race-ready casing devoted more to being supple. Consisting of a 120 tpi double-ply, which is also reinforced with a rubber insert like the DH one, it saves around 150g in weight compared to the DualWall+ and provides greater softness and smoothness.

It is the choice of Enduro riders looking for maximum terrain feel without sacrificing the reliability typical of a double-ply construction.

"The completion of the Scorpion line strengthens our offering in the mountain bike segment, which is experiencing significant growth," said Matteo Barbieri, head of Pirelli Cycling. "Now our range of tyres covers all the main types of use, from road to off-road, with solutions for professionals and amateurs that focus on high technology, performance and safety. We are also proud that important teams and great champions of the sport, such as Fabien Barel, have collaborated with our technicians and testers on these tyres," concluded Barbieri.

"Working with Pirelli has been exciting and I am extremely satisfied with the result," commented Fabien Barel. "Having access to Pirelli's extensive know-how and research and development capabilities is what attracted me to the project from the very beginning. The company's testing tools, and commitment allowed me to explore new solutions, I would say almost limitless. Pirelli's approach is 'Design, Prototype, Test, Repeat', which meant hours and hours of 3D modelling to develop and produce several prototypes of a single tyre model. After the theory phase, there was the testing phase, carried out both in indoor labs and in the field with the Canyon CLLCTV Pirelli DH team. It was long and painstaking work, but I am proud of the results. In gravity, even a small performance improvement can change the ranking and take a rider from an anonymous placing to a win. I like to think that the work done with Pirelli can serve to get an athlete, whether professional or amateur, onto the podium. It will be a bit like being there myself. Again."

"When we decided to enter the gravity segment, with the ambition of developing tyres capable of winning in the World Cup, we were looking not only for an experienced rider, but a real guide in the development process, from the lab to the race fields. Fabien's profile was perfect, as well as being unique, because Barel is not only a DH champion, but he also has an engineering background: a perfect liaison between the athletes and our R&D department," commented Samuele Bressan, Head of Global Marketing at Pirelli Cycling. "Testing is a constant part of the way we work, but when it came time to make the decisions, Fabien's experience was fundamental in achieving the final result" Bressan concluded.

Our take

We have already been really impressed with Pirelli's range of tyres. Their latest updates to the Scorpion Enduro models in M and S with a Gravity compound have given the tyres an even wider performance window. But this new range of Scorpion Race tyres looks ideal to hit that top level of performance, with ways to tune the compliance, strength, and grip needed for a given rider, event and conditions. 

While tyres will be available from FE Sports in 2023, we're crossing our fingers we can get onto some samples ahead of then. Watch this space!