The Italian company Pirelli was founded in 1872. The organization was in the manufacture and sale of elastic rubber for various needs. Around 1894, the production of tires for bicycles was established, and already in 1901 for cars. The company currently ranks fifth in terms of revenue in the world. Let's take a closer look at the Pirelli Formula Ice tires . Owner reviews, performance and key features of this model - all this will help to learn more about the quality of Italian tires.
Construction of a plant in Russia
In 2008, an agreement was signed on the construction of a tire factory in Tolyatti. It was planned to produce about 3.5 million tires for passenger cars and about 700,000 for trucks. But at the end of 2010, construction did not begin. In 2011, it became known that the agreement would be fulfilled only after the Italians bought two domestic factories of the Sibur company, which are located in Kirov and Voronezh. Factories were purchased in 2012.
It is worth noting that currently Pirelli tires occupy 3rd place in sales among 16 global manufacturers. These are very good results, which indicate the great popularity of this brand. On the whole, Russians do not have any complaints about the quality of complaints. Pirelli Formula Ice winter tires sell well . The feedback from the owners and experts about them is positive, but we will talk more about this.
Tires for Northern Europe
For the first time, an Italian company presented the public these tires back in 2013. During this time, there was a definite opinion among motorists about the performance characteristics of rubber. Since these tires were developed specifically for use in the northern part of Europe, there are certain features. A more severe climate requires high performance tires and, most importantly, its resistance to low temperatures. But after several years of sales, it became clear that the Pirelli Formula Ice tires, reviews of which are positive in 90% of cases, are popular wherever you have to ride on snow and ice.
The developers tried to make a budget tire, which would retain its properties throughout the entire life cycle. At the same time, the assortment of standard sizes was maximally expanded. So you can choose tires for both a passenger car and an SUV.
Aluminum instead of steel
Despite the fact that many car tire manufacturers use steel spikes in their designs, Italians decided to take a different path. According to engineers, the use of aluminum spikes in the design allowed to achieve a number of positive aspects. First, the weight of the rubber has decreased. Let it be about grams, but still it is important. Secondly, aluminum does not corrode. It is due to the fact that the steel begins to rust, the spikes during operation and fall out. Their characteristics are also reduced, which is simply unacceptable in the winter.
Pirelli were not the first to use such technologies, so they can be called proven. Aluminum holds fast to the base of the tread and practically does not fall out during sudden starts and braking. The weight of one tenon is 50% less than that of a similar steel.
Features of the shape of the spikes and tread
As already noted above, the spikes in this model are made of aluminum. They have a hexagonal shape with sharp edges, which provides maximum traction with an icy surface. We paid a lot of attention to the seat. Due to the special shape of the spike and the reinforced base, it is firmly held in the tread. Braking by "use" does not lead to mass loss, which is often found in tires from other manufacturers.
The tread also has its own characteristics. In particular, a wide central rib. It acts as a stabilizer during movement. Significantly improved indicators of exchange rate stability. This solution is extremely relevant for those who travel in winter at high speed. The central part of the tread also contributes to a smoother entry into turns.
Behavior on a snowy road
A test of tires Pirelli Formula Ice showed that this rubber is effective not only when driving on ice. This is partly due to the design of the slats. They allow you to quickly and effectively remove snow and water from the working area of the tire. The number of slats in this model was slightly increased. They converge into deeper and wider drainage grooves, which makes it possible to remove snow porridge and water from the contact spot as efficiently as possible. For this reason, the behavior of Pirelli tires in the snow is very predictable.
Each lamella has ends with lugs. The greatest peak of loads on them occurs during braking or starting. This tread design allows you to get out of a complex skid by increasing speed. But you need to understand that this can also be buried deep in the snow. In general, the stress test of tires Pirelli Formula Ice shows very good characteristics of rubber.
The balanced composition of the rubber compound
During production, rubber increases the performance of the mixture. These are orange oil, silica, silicon, as well as RC polymers. The Italians managed to achieve a balance in this regard. That is why the tire is 13% less susceptible to wear than its predecessor. It lasts a little longer, usually 4 seasons of active use.
The tread blocks are quite rigid, but at the same time elastic. With a drop in temperature and wear, they do not lose their characteristics, which is extremely important. Very often you have to ride winter tires on dry asphalt. In this case, the spikes work against the driver, impairing acoustic comfort and traction. But here we were pleased with winter tires Pirelli Formula Ice (spike.). Expert reviews say that the special seat of the spikes is made in such a way that when moving on wet or dry asphalt, they deepen into the tread. This ensures more comfortable driving.
Pirelli Formula Ice Tires: Owner Reviews
As for consumers, they are always satisfied with Italian quality. In addition, the high demand for these tires was formed due to the low price. At the same time, nothing bad can be said about quality. The following positive aspects of this model should be highlighted, according to the opinion of motorists:
- Low noise. This was achieved due to the fact that on dry asphalt spikes are embedded in the tread.
- High grip regardless of weather conditions.
- Wear resistance. According to the manufacturer, the tires wear out 13% less due to the balanced composition of the rubber compound.
It is these advantages that are highlighted by motorists who have been using Pirelli Formula Ice tires (spike) for more than one season. Reviews in some cases are negative, but they are extremely rare. We will also consider them.
Pirelli Formula Ice: price
As for the cost, then, as noted above, these are very budget tires. For example, R14 tires will cost only 2,300 rubles. The price tag for the 15-inch starts at 2,600 rubles. Since this option is suitable for almost all budget-class cars, the costs will not exceed 10,000 with the work of tire fitters. If you want something more, then there is the possibility of buying R16 at 3,600 rubles apiece.
Despite the fact that the rubber is not so expensive, it is very high quality and allows you to ride on the winter road with confidence. If you count your money, then Pirelli Formula Ice tires will be a great choice. The manufacturer perfectly holds the brand, reviews are confirmation of this.
Pirelli and claimed benefits
Every modern rubber manufacturer highlights the key strengths of its products. The Italian company is no exception. Developers focus potential buyers on the following strengths of rubber:
- braking distance reduction of about 7%;
- tread wear resistance increased by 13%;
- high level of controllability on wet and slippery surfaces;
- preservation of operational properties throughout the entire period of operation;
- predictable behavior on snowy roads and dry asphalt.
Of course, winter tires Pirelli Formula Ice, the photo of which you can see in this article, has other key features. For example, aluminum spikes and their special mounting method. For many motorists, this is extremely important. Since in this price range there is nothing equal in quality and characteristics.
In short about the shortcomings
Of course, there are also some small disadvantages, which are also worth paying attention to. The most critical drawback is the lack of proper rubber balancing. A lot of motorists have met this. Apparently, quality control of products is still not ideal. If after installing the tires on the wheels, vibrations and shocks were noticed, then it is worth visiting a tire fitting. In some cases, you will need large enough weights to balance. Nevertheless, this problem is solved quite quickly and simply, but an unpleasant aftertaste remains. In addition, it is recommended to do balancing, even if you change the rubber that was stored with the disks. Although it is possible, this is another PR move in order to obtain additional profit from motorists.
Serious approach
Due to the fact that the developers responsibly reacted to the production of even budget rubber, it was so widely used. A huge selection of sizes makes the Pirelli popular for drivers of both domestic classics and large SUVs. Of course, the maximum size of R21 will cost a lot, but it's worth it.
Special attention is paid to the cord of the Pirelli Formula Ice tire. The photo clearly shows that it is reinforced. Along with high tread stiffness, this ensures tire reliability even in critical conditions. If you fall into a deep hole or hit a sharp object, the tire often remains intact, which cannot be said about rims. But it is precisely such rubber that is most suitable for operation in Russia, since the quality of the road surface does not always correspond to the money spent on repairs by the government.
Quality at an affordable price
We can safely say that the Pirelli Formula Ice tires (spike) turned out to be very solid among Italians. The driver reviews discussed in this article confirm the high quality of the product. It is far from always possible to achieve such a price / quality ratio. Typically, tires are either expensive and good, or cheap, but not the best. Of course, this model cannot be called outstanding, but it fully justifies the money spent.
The long term of operation with preservation of initial characteristics allows even on the third season of use to feel as confident on the road as if for the first time. It costs a lot, because often budget tires lose most of the spikes after one winter, they tan and crack. You can continue to use them, but this is already becoming a dangerous occupation. There are no such surprises with Pirelli Formula Ice. That is why Italian winter tires are so popular in Russia, and especially in its northern regions, where a lot depends on the quality of tires.