Pirelli has introduced the Scorpion Winter 3, the third generation of its winter tire for SUVs and crossovers. The launch includes 30 sizes for wheels ranging from 18 to 22 inches, with construction and tread changes intended to balance snow and wet-road grip with dry handling, comfort and wear resistance. For Audi SUV owners, the announcement brings a new winter tire option to consider. Although the announcement from Pirelli does not identify specific Audi fitments or confirm US availability, an Audi Q5 was included in the associated photography.
All replacement sizes available at launch carry an A rating for wet grip under the EU tire labeling system. Pirelli also offers versions incorporating its Elect technology for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, alongside options addressing cabin noise and puncture sealing.
CONSTRUCTION FOR HEAVIER VEHICLES
The Scorpion Winter 3’s development began with the demands that heavier vehicles place on their tires. SUVs’ weight and higher center of gravity informed both the internal carcass and tread design, while engineers revised the contact patch to better distribute pressure. The objective is more even wear and improved mileage performance under high loads.
Pirelli says the tread is also designed to preserve its active gripping edges as it wears, helping maintain snow and wet-road performance over time. Stiffer tread blocks address handling and wear resistance, while the density of the sipes—the small cuts within the tread blocks—was calibrated to retain dry-road performance.
TREAD AND COMPOUND CHANGES
Several tread features come from the Cinturato Winter 3. A zigzag central groove helps channel water away from the contact patch and provides lateral grip on snow, while Pirelli’s Snow Keeper Teeth retain snow within the grooves to take advantage of snow-on-snow traction. A relatively high proportion of open space within the tread further supports water evacuation and resistance to hydroplaning.
The compound draws on development work for the P Zero Winter 2, Pirelli’s winter tire for high-performance cars. It incorporates the company’s Dual-Core Polymer, intended to support grip across different conditions, with plasticizers used to broaden the compound’s operating temperature range.
SIMULATORS AND LAPLAND TESTING
Engineers at Pirelli’s Bicocca development operation used virtual modeling to evaluate design variables and reduce the number of physical prototypes needed. Static and dynamic driving simulators also contributed to development, particularly in assessing dry-road handling.
Physical testing took place at the Pirelli Sottozero Center in Swedish Lapland. The facility provides snow and ice surfaces, with indoor facilities allowing winter-condition testing throughout the year.
Pirelli reports that the Scorpion Winter 3 finished first against its competitors in an AlVolante comparison published in October 2026. The test used 235/60 R18 tires on an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, making the result specific to that tested size and vehicle. The launch range’s EU external rolling-noise ratings are split between class A and class B, with 25 percent in A and 75 percent in B.
ELECT, NOISE REDUCTION AND PUNCTURE SEALING
Available technologies include Elect, developed for the requirements of electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System. The latter uses sound-absorbing material inside the tire to reduce perceived rolling noise in the cabin. Seal Inside versions incorporate technology intended to help retain air pressure following a puncture caused by an external object.
Pirelli cites a potential range improvement of up to 10 percent for Elect technology. However, the supporting test compared Scorpion Elect and conventional Scorpion tires on a Volkswagen ID.4 in 2022, rather than testing the new Scorpion Winter 3. That figure should therefore be read as a claim about the technology, rather than a demonstrated range gain for this particular winter tire.
COMPLETING THE WINTER RANGE
The Scorpion Winter 3 completes a two-year renewal of Pirelli’s winter tire portfolio. It sits alongside the P Zero Winter 2 for high-performance cars and the Cinturato Winter 3 for sedans and crossovers, giving the manufacturer three product lines tailored to different vehicle requirements.
The broader Scorpion family dates to 1986, when it debuted on the Lamborghini LM002. It now spans summer, winter, all-season and off-road applications, with more than 1,200 homologations across manufacturers including Audi. That total covers the Scorpion family as a whole; the announcement does not provide a model-by-model list of Audi approvals for the new Winter 3.
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