Pirelli expands its presence into the e-off road world and presents Scorpion E-MTB, its first line of tires dedicated to electric mountain bikes.

Robust, durable, aggressive, the company promises maximum performance to support the hard workloads of the latest generation electric mountain bikes.

The new Scorpion E-MTB tires are Tubeless Ready, which are aimed at e-riders who are also lovers of the Trail and Enduro disciplines. In short, the new E-MTB tires incorporate all the concepts already introduced in the other Scorpion tire lines (XC, Trail, Enduro), where terrain consistencies, from compact to supple, become key factors for the tread profile that’s designed for each specific surface conditions.

With the new line, Pirelli is one of the few bike tyre manufacturers in the world to offer a complete range of tires dedicated to electric mountain bikes, which cover almost all disciplines as the new Scorpion E-MTB range offers three profiles.

• M (Mixed Terrain) is the perfect tyre for Trail and All Mountain tracks. It’s at ease on mixed surfaces where changes can also be unpredictable or sudden, from hard pack to loose grounds, and from stones to roots. Excellent grip without sacrificing smoothness.• R (Rear Specific) gives more traction to the rear wheel. Natural companion of the M, it proves to be a valuable asset in all situations of pushing and braking, ensuring grip and longer life to the rear wheel, in any context.

• S (Soft Terrain) is the right choice for Enduro E-MTBs: it provides the best traction on soft and supple grounds. Its aggressive and very spaced blocks guarantee high grip when cornering and braking; perfect for aggressive riding, even in bike parks.

SmartGRIP+: Maximum, Sustainable, Resistance

The SmartGRIP+ Compound, the heart of the new tires, is a reformulation of the compound developed by Pirelli for its Scorpion MTB tires. It was produced in the Racing plants of the company, where the engineering of the well-known F1 tyre compounds also take place.

An innovative feature of this new formulation is the addition of Lignin to the basic composite of the SmartGRIP Compound. Lignin is a naturally sourced chemical component out of the craft pulping process of exhausted paper. Not only it is a low impact additive, but it also enhances performance in light of the unique speed and torque features associated with electric motors of modern E-MTB bikes. This performance enhancement comes with no compromise of the other characteristic of the SmartGRIP Compound formulation, which is the chemical grip.

The result is a version of the SmartGRIP which keeps its main characteristic of having superior dry and wet grip performances as well as Pirelli’s recognized excellence in craftsmanship. The rider benefits from enhanced tire performance, even under the higher speed and torque of E-MTB riding. This blend of properties designed by Pirelli was crafted to positively impact rolling as well as the grip performance over rough terrain, with better overall handling.

HyperWALL Technology: E-MTB specific protection and handling

Bead and sidewalls of the new Scorpion E-MTB tires have been reinforced with HyperWALL (Patent Pending Pirelli) technology, also of Motorsport derivation. The newly developed construction of the bead and sidewalls area further increases tyre performance in terms of stability and resistance to pinch-flats of the sidewalls. This is a key aspect, especially in off-road applications, in particular with the more demanding ones such as Gravity and E-MTB.

Unrivaled lightweight at E-MTB reliability

Among tires with a similar level of protection available on the market now, Pirelli's new Scorpion E-MTB tires are among the lightest: thanks to the concentration of applied technologies, the new Pirelli tires offer reliability and protection from the typical pinching of a DH rubber, at a weight of about 20% lower. The whole is seasoned with excellent grip and lots of fun. The new tyre weights vary from 1.200g for the 27.5x2.6 to 1.330g for the 29x2.6 version.

Pirelli's Scorpion E-MTB tires will be available on the EMEA, NAFTA & APAC markets starting from June 30, 2020 - Available in 29x2.6 and 27.5x2.6.

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Pirelli unveils first line of tires dedicated to electric mountain bikes