Dry grip is the clearest owner-reported strength of the Pirelli PZero Rosso, with favorable dry-handling comments too. Tread life divides opinion, and the few clearly identified mid-life and end-of-life accounts include both early replacement and substantial service. Around a quarter of owners criticise road noise, while a similar share reports limited wet grip, outnumbering those praising either aspect. Some find wet-road behavior satisfactory, so the disagreement should not be overlooked. Most reviews do not identify the stage of tire life, and the single repeat reviewer does not establish a wider ageing pattern.
What owners mention most counted across 98 reviews
Not as impressed with these tires as I expected to be. Grip seems to be comparable to the Bridgestone RE050As as fitted OEM, though a bit better as the tire gets older (the Bridgestones were noticeably worse as the tread wore down, the Pirellis less so). Fantastic grip on hot days when the tires/roads are warm, but otherwise can be a bit twitchy. Wet grip better than the Bridgestones, but still not what I'm after. I guess it's hard to be critical on tires when the 350 is such a tail happy car to begin with.
Really nice feedback though; you can feel the blocks straining as you push it hard through corners. Based on this forum, I think I'll go with Michelins next time.
I have had these front and rear on my car (225 front 245 rear) for the last 16000 miles in 3 years, Considering I do not slide the car or accelerate hard I am dissapointed in the wear rate, all 4 tires are now ready for replacement. They are quiet but have started to tramline in the last year on some surfaces. I am going to try Continental CSC3's next and hope for a better wear rate.
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I am currently on my fourth(!) set of these tires (225/40/18 fronts and 265/35/18 rears). Under normal street driving, always with the manufacturer's recommended pressures, the tires eventually develop what feels like flat spots but is more properly described as "radial force variation". The shake can be very intense and disconcerting - enough to make you worry about tire integrity and overall safety.
Severity is not constant - it depends on tire temperature (I believe) and it is much worse after having decelerated from high speed, e.g. from 120mph (I am in Europe). The shimmy is present when braking, rolling, or accelerating but it is felt only past 70 mph or so. It does not go away at higher speeds but it becomes less intense due to the higher frequency. It does not feel like coming always from the front wheels.
Hard cornering or repeated hard braking have, intermittently and to a varying degree, succeeded in alleviating the problem, only temporarily: It returns with a vengeance either the next day or after a bit of driving.
Testing (over months) with combinations of different rims and tires has excluded every other possible cause. Brake rotors were replaced, wheel bearings too, anything rubber in the suspension is good. Balancing also seems perfect. (Unfortunately no shop here has a balancer that exerts a force on the tire - like the Hunter in the USA). In short, putting different tires on my rims (even if they are used), without changing anything else, solves the problem immediately.
I have not moved to a different brand/model because the local Pirelli distributor have already replaced the tires thrice(!) for me - free of charge (do they know something is up? where there any "bad" batches that have found their way into the market?). This last set was fine for a couple of months and, for no apparent reason, it now developed the problem.
I should say that grip and response are very good in general so, if not for this problem, the tire would be excellent.
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Researching the Pirelli PZero Rosso? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
I am running P Zero Rossos on my Leon Cupra R. The dry grip is very good indeed, wet is generally very good. I had an old Cupra with P6000's on which were absolutely lethal in the wet, especially on roundabouts. The P Zeros are quite noisy, especially on the motorway, but then they are low profile so its only to be expected. As these tires are the factory fit on the Cupra R I will fit them again. I got 12,000 out of the front and the 32,000 out of the rears.
Although mostly Country motoring, have on occasion done the Motorway trip for 500miles - comfort excellent - little noise - grip exceptional - wear extremely good cross changed front to back at 18,000 and now at 30,000 they need changing all down to 2/3mm. Definitely buy again. Had car from new to 30,000 miles other similar cars had Michelin - Pirelli gives a softer ride with good wear.
84%
Member
Volvo
235/40 R18 W
3,000 miles
Mostly Country Roads
Spirited
I have only had the car for a short while and it was fitted with the manufactures recommended tire. The tires are really good and cope with the power, cornering forces and weight of the car very well. But this tire is the only tire I can have on this car. But I could not think of a better tire to use.
Outstanding XL tire to replace OE Bridgestone Potenza XL which had excellent turn-in but disappeared in 9000 miles.P Zero Rosso much quieter and are lasting well on such a heavy car.So far only 1mm wear on inside of fronts after 3000 miles.Center and outer tread still 7mm.I run them at 2.5 bar and switch front to back every 5000 miles.
The worst tires I have ever had fitted to my car along with the Pirelli Pzero the Pzero rosso wear out too quickly. Rosso's lasted 8000 miles and on the markers. Fitted Kumho KU31's and they lasted 12000 miles and at 40% of the price its a no brainer Kumho all the way.
The Rossos were too soft and that did not even equste to better grip they just shreaded and in the wet they slipped in a straight line and cornering.
Tires were on the car when bought and are still on so not had a chance to compare comfort with other tires.
Dry grip is excellent - not had a slip of any kind. Plenty of traction pulling away.
Wet grip is good, but occasionally gets a bit loose when pressing on, not managed a full spin but have had the ESP intervene.
They're reasonably progressive - you don't feel you're about to land in a ditch.
Wear rate seems good, tires had ~6mm when acquired, and have 4mm now, giving roughly 25,000 miles worth of wear from new.
after 2 sets of goodyears i tried pirelli pzero rossos on my modeo zetec s TDCI. the grip in the both the wet and dry was nowhere near that offered by the goodyears. they wore out quicker as well, dont know it ths because they were softer or if it was because the car was more prone to understeer i don't know. The is virtually no rim protection. I definatly won't be buying again.
Moved to these from Pilot Sports and found them to be excellent.
Grip is good providing you stick diligently to the right pressure.
Believe they were designed for Porsche but they work very nicely only my 540.
Good looking profile, and the Red rosso decal to let other tire geeks know what you're running! Nice.
I've scored 'Wear' high as I'm happy with their life. I probably get 8-10k from rear, 15-18k from front - this is with terrible city roads, and I'm very impatient.
Would recommend.
