Pirelli's Stella Bianca rolls new tire tech into old construction

Pirelli's Stella Bianca rolls new tire tech into old construction

6 years ago
Anonymous $ZPWJA6-QD2

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/pirelli-stella-bianca-classic-car-tires/

That aesthetic aspect is essential, particularly on vintage exotics from companies like Ferrari or Bugatti. The tall, thin tire with a slightly bulging sidewall is critical to the look of these cars, and radial tires can't replicate that accurately. Unfortunately, because bias-ply tires have fallen by the wayside, they haven't benefitted from the advancements in rubber compounds and construction materials that radial tires have, until now.

Pirelli is resurrecting its Stella Bianca tire as part of its Collezione family. It's the first bias-ply tire that the company has made in over 50 years, and while it accurately recreates the looks and tread pattern of its namesake, the new version is much safer and better-performing. That's largely thanks to the introduction of silica and other materials into the rubber mixture, dramatically increasing performance in the wet and improving grip.