Pirelli Tire has launched a new tire for owners and collectors of the legendary Mini.
Pirelli Collezione is a family of tires designed for the world’s most iconic cars built between 1950 and 1980, which unite vintage looks and modern technology.
Classic Tire with future technology
For all the different versions of the classic Mini (including the cars built under licence by Innocenti) Pirelli has recreated the Cinturato CN54 in 145/70 R12 size, which was originally launched in 1972. This is a radial tire with a tread pattern design and sidewall that is similar to the original, but packed with modern technology. In particular, this includes the latest compounds to offer increased grip and road holding on wet surfaces, for improved reliability and control without compromising the original style. During the development of this tire, Pirelli’s engineers worked with same parameters that the original vehicle designers used, to perfectly complement the suspension and chassis settings of the Mini back when it was new by referring back to original materials and tire designs housed in the Pirelli Foundation archives in Milan.
Pirelli Cinturato: Technology and Safety
The “fabulous new tire with its own safety belt inside” was how Pirelli described the Cinturato when it was launched, a tire that introduced the radial structure and went on to equip the world’s most significant cars for more than 70 years. With the introduction of the Cinturato CA67, CN72 and CN36, Pirelli invented the concept of the sporting tire for the road – which was needed to provide as much grip as possible for epoch-defining supercars such as the Ferrari 250 GT and 400 Superamerica, Lamborghini 400GT and Miura, Maserati 4000 and 5000. By the mid 1970s, the next big revolution had arrived in the shape of the first Cinturato P7, with its zero-degree nylon belt and a super low profile. The first cars to use it on the road were the Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, Lamborghini Countach and De Tomaso Pantera. The P7 was followed by the P6 and P5: the predecessors to the P600 and P700 in the 1980s, with improved control when it came to wet grip and cornering. By the time the 1990s came round, the P6000 and P7000 were on the market, improving control and performance still further. In 2009, the Cinturato P7 name made a comeback, headlining on its ability to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, as well as its use of ecological materials, plus improved handling and braking. The very latest Pirelli Cinturato P7 is even better, more efficient and more sustainable, with an intelligent compound that adapts itself to ambient temperatures and driving conditions.
Pirelli Collezione
The Pirelli Collezione family was born with the goal of preserving automotive history through tires that serve a dual yet complementary purpose: maintaining the look and driving feel of the original versions, but improving efficiency and control thanks to modern technology and production processes. The range is filled legendary names, from the Stella Bianca, first launched in 1927, to the Stelvio, as well as the more recent Cinturato P7 (1974), P5 (1977), P Zero (1984) and P700-Z (1988). The images, plans and other materials supplied by the comprehensive Pirelli Foundation archive played a fundamental role in reproducing these tires. The Foundation has kept all documents relating to the design, development and production of every Pirelli tire over the years. Pirelli Collezione tires are available from specialized classic car tire dealers, such as Longstone Tires, as well as from Pirelli’s flagship P Zero World stores in Los Angeles, Munich, Monaco, Dubai and Melbourne.
