Pirelli will supply intelligent tires equipped with sensors for the first time on the McLaren Artura.
Pirelli’s Cyber Tire system, made up of a sensor in each tire, gathers vital data for safe driving, linked to software integrated into the car’s onboard computer. Cyber Tire technology offers a plethora of information to the car and driver: the tire’s ‘passport’ – the type of tire, whether it’s a winter or summer version, prescribed pressure, load index and speed rating – as well as current running information, such as temperature and pressure.
Pirelli’s Cyber Tire
This information – including temperature and pressure, constantly monitored and transmitted in real time – is vital when it comes to safety. The information is also delivered, with greater precision compared to traditional sensors on the valve, as the Pirelli transmitting sensors are in direct contact with the actual tires rather than the wheel rims. The data supplied from the sensors is processed by software created by Pirelli that is integrated into the car’s electronics. Some information can be seen on the dashboard and the central display; other information is used by the car’s electronics to calibrate the driver alert systems based on the exact characteristics of the tires and their status.
Tailor-made tires with sensors
Pirelli’s engineers have developed bespoke P Zero tires for the McLaren Artura in 235/35Z R19 size at the front and 295/35 R20 size at the back together with McLaren’s own engineers. The tires have an asymmetric tread pattern, which gives excellent braking performance to guarantee control of the car under all conditions, particularly when it’s wet. P Zero Corsa tires, developed specifically for use on the track as well as the road, are also available, featuring a compound derived from Pirelli’s motorsport experience. For winter, the McLaren Artura benefits from unique P Zero Winter tires specifically designed to match its characteristics, with a tailor-made compound and tread pattern design that guarantees performance similar to the P Zero summer tire. All three of these tires for the McLaren Artura can be distinguished by their MC-C markings on the sidewalls, which indicates the unique development that has been carried out by Pirelli especially for McLaren, using Cyber Tire technology.
Pirelli Cyber: One technology with many different applications
The Pirelli Cyber Tire system will represent the future of tires: capable of giving cars a sense of touch by allowing them to identify or predict potentially hazardous situations such as loss of grip and aquaplaning, which means that the cars electronics can promptly intervene. The next step will be tyres connected to a network with other vehicles and the surrounding infrastructure.
