Pirelli ICE ZERO ASIMMETRICO

Further improved performance on snowy and icy roads

The tread surface is wide, and the 3D sipes and square blocks ensure that snow is gripped securely. — It gave a comfortable ride on all types of snow.

The hot summer dragged on forever, and just when we thought autumn was finally here, the cold days suddenly arrived. This winter seems to have been one of the snowiest in recent years, with snowy regions seeing a significant amount of snowfall since early December. Even in areas along the Pacific coast, it’s best to have studless tires on during the winter so you can spend your days with peace of mind. The latest studless tire we’d like to draw your attention to is the Pirelli ICE ZERO Asimmetrico.

Square blocks and 3D sipes increase installation pressure

This studless tire was developed by Pirelli, a company with a long history, for passenger cars and SUVs, with the aim of further improving performance on icy and snowy roads. The tread surface features three thick, straight grooves carved unevenly, with square blocks arranged in a row within them. All blocks are carved with wavy 3D sipes, which create an even distribution of pressure on the contact surface and improve ground pressure. The tread also has sharp corners on the shoulders, which is said to have the effect of increasing grip performance by maximizing the contact area.

To test their performance, I fitted the 245/45R18 tires to an Audi A4 allroad quattro and headed out on snowy roads… and I was surprised at how easy they were to handle on dry roads. They communicated the road conditions well, and responded to steering movements so reliably that it was hard to believe they were studless tires. There was still the characteristic low-pitched, resonant sound of studless tires, but it was at a level comparable to summer tires, and I’m sure it would become unnoticeable after a short drive.

Experience a stable grip

The feeling of security on packed snow is amazing. You can drive with the same feeling as on dry roads. — The feeling of security on packed snow is amazing. You can drive with the same feeling as on a dry road. Even on fluffy new snow, the car grips the snow firmly and propels the car forward.

It grips the snow firmly even in fluffy new snow, propelling the car forward. — The feeling of security on packed snow is amazing. You can drive with the same feeling as on a dry road. Even on fluffy new snow, the car grips the snow firmly and propels the car forward.

Finally, we enter the snowy road. I can feel the tires gripping the snow and digging through it with my right foot, so I can press the throttle with confidence. The front responds immediately to even the slightest movement of the steering, so it almost feels like I’m driving on a dry road. Taking advantage of the AWD, I also tried driving on a road with about 20cm of fresh snow, and it was really reliable, pushing the car forward. Even in situations where the car sways slightly from side to side, the grip is easily restored by simply continuing to press the throttle, so I can drive on snowy roads without any tension.

Its particular strength is on packed snow, where it demonstrated the vehicle’s grip to stop reliably in a short distance even when braking suddenly. This sense of security will be very reassuring for drivers who do not live in snowy regions.

These studless tires offer all-around performance that is typical of Pirelli, combining sporty performance on dry roads with reliable grip on snowy roads. They are the best choice not only for those who live in snowy regions, but also for those who occasionally go skiing or snowboarding on snowy roads.

The key points when choosing studless tires are grip on snowy roads and driving performance and comfort on paved roads. We tested the latest studless tires on snowy roads, which satisfy all of these requirements at a high level.

REPORT/Gensuke NAGATA

PHOTO/Kunihisa KOBAYASHI

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ February 2025 issue

[Inquiries]

Pirelli Japan

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/ja-jp/

Pirelli Ice Zero Asimmetrico Size Lineup

■15-inch

175/65R15

185/60R15

185/65R15

195/65R15

■16-inch

195/60R16

195/65R16

205/55R16

205/60R16

205/65R16

215/60R16

215/65R16

■17-inch

195/60R17 205/

55R17

215/45R17

215
/50R17

215
/55R17 215/60R17 215/65R17 225
/45R17
225/50R17
225/55R17
225/60R17
225/65R17
235/60R17
235/65R17
■18-inch
215/50R18
215/55R18
225/45R18
225/50R18
225/55R18
225/60R18
235/45R18
235/50R18 235/55R18
235 /60R18 235
/
65R18
245/40R18
245/45R18
245/60R18
255/40R18
■19-inch
235/55R19
245/40R19
245/45R19
245/55R19
255/45R19
255/50R19
255/55R19
■20 inch
235/50R20
235/55R20
255/40R20
255/45R20
255/50R20
■21 inch
255/35R21