Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT Review: The All-Season EV Tire That Does It All

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The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT is an ultra-high performance all-season tire designed for luxury sports cars, high-end sedans, and powerful crossovers. It combines superior dry road grip, responsive handling, and solid wet traction with improved snow and winter capabilities compared to summer tires. Key features include an asymmetric tread design, silica-enhanced tread compound, and Pirelli’s Elect tread pattern technology.

The asymmetric tread pattern features outboard shoulder blocks for crisp steering response and dry road grip, while the inboard tread is optimized for wet traction and evacuation. The silica-enhanced tread compound provides enhanced grip on dry and wet roads while remaining pliable in colder temperatures for improved winter traction. Pirelli’s Elect technology utilizes circumferential grooves and lateral notches to improve snow evacuation and traction on wintry surfaces.

Intended as a performance touring all-season tire, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT aims to deliver year-round traction and precise handling without compromising ride comfort. It’s positioned as an ultra-high performance option for drivers of powerful vehicles who want confident all-season capabilities without sacrificing the sporting feel.

Performance Ratings

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT is an ultra-high performance all-season tire designed for luxury vehicles, sports cars, and high-end sedans. It carries impressive performance ratings that attest to its capabilities in various driving conditions.

Treadwear Rating: The tire has a treadwear rating of 600, which is considered excellent for an ultra-high performance tire. This rating indicates that the tire should provide long-lasting tread life, ensuring a decent mileage before the need for replacement.

Traction Rating: The P Zero AS Plus ELECT boasts an AA traction rating, the highest possible rating for a tire. This rating signifies outstanding traction performance on wet and slippery surfaces, providing exceptional grip and handling in adverse weather conditions.

Temperature Rating: With an A temperature rating, this tire demonstrates its ability to withstand high temperatures generated by sustained high-speed driving or heavy loads. This rating ensures that the tire maintains its structural integrity and performance even under demanding driving scenarios.

These impressive performance ratings highlight Pirelli’s commitment to delivering a tire that excels in various aspects, from treadwear longevity to exceptional traction and temperature resistance, making the P Zero AS Plus ELECT a compelling choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded ultra-high performance all-season tire.

Dry Road Performance

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT shines on dry roads, delivering exceptional handling and cornering grip. This ultra-high performance all-season tire utilizes Pirelli’s latest compound technologies to maximize dry traction. The asymmetric tread pattern features a continuous center rib with rigid outside shoulder blocks, promoting precise steering response and confident cornering stability.

During aggressive driving on twisty roads or tight corners, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT exhibits minimal understeer, allowing you to carve through turns with ease. The tire’s advanced silica-enhanced tread compound bites into the pavement, providing tenacious grip and lateral stability when pushing the limits. Braking distances on dry surfaces are also impressive, with the tire’s stiff tread blocks and optimized siping promoting short, consistent stops.

Whether navigating busy city streets or attacking your favorite backroad, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT inspires confidence with its dry road manners. The tire strikes an excellent balance between all-season versatility and sports car-like performance on dry pavement, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts seeking year-round traction without compromising dry grip.

Wet Road Performance

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT excels in wet conditions, providing exceptional hydroplaning resistance and impressive wet traction and braking performance. The tire’s advanced silica-enhanced tread compound and unique siping design work together to evacuate water effectively, ensuring maximum contact between the tire and the road surface.

When driving on rain-soaked roads, the tire’s hydroplaning resistance is truly remarkable. Its circumferential and lateral grooves efficiently channel water away from the contact patch, minimizing the risk of hydroplaning and maintaining a secure grip on the road. Even at higher speeds or in heavy downpours, the tire remains composed and stable, instilling confidence in the driver.

In terms of wet traction, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT delivers outstanding performance. The tire’s tread pattern and compound work in harmony to provide excellent grip and responsiveness during acceleration, cornering, and braking on wet surfaces. Whether navigating through tight turns or maneuvering in congested city traffic, the tire offers precise steering response and reliable grip, ensuring a safe and controlled driving experience.

Braking performance in wet conditions is equally impressive. The tire’s advanced compound and tread design ensure rapid water evacuation and maximize contact with the road, translating into shorter stopping distances and improved braking control. Even in panic-braking situations, the tire maintains its composure, providing drivers with the confidence to handle unexpected situations effectively.

Overall, the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT’s wet road performance is a standout feature, offering drivers a reassuring level of control and safety in challenging wet conditions. With its exceptional hydroplaning resistance, impressive wet traction, and reliable braking capabilities, this tire is a top choice for those seeking peace of mind and confident handling on rain-soaked roads.

Winter/Snow Performance

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT delivers impressive winter and snow traction for an all-season touring tire. Its specialized tread compound remains pliable in cold temperatures, allowing the tire to better conform to the road surface for enhanced grip. The directional tread pattern features deep grooves and biting edges to bite into snow and slush for reliable traction.

While not a dedicated winter tire, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT exhibits surprisingly capable snow traction. It can handle moderate snow conditions and get you through an unexpected winter storm with confidence. The tire also performs well on ice, with enhanced braking and cornering grip compared to other premium touring all-season tires.

In dry cold conditions, the tire maintains its pliability and grip, making it a great choice for year-round performance in regions that experience all four seasons. However, for the deepest snow or extreme winter conditions, a dedicated winter tire may still be necessary for optimal safety and control.

Ride Comfort and Noise

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT delivers a remarkably smooth and quiet ride, especially for an ultra-high performance all-season tire. On smooth highways, the tire provides a plush, well-damped ride quality that insulates passengers from minor road imperfections. Even as speeds increase, the tire maintains composure and doesn’t produce excessive road noise.

While the tire’s large outboard shoulders and stiff tread blocks allow for precise handling, Pirelli’s advanced tread compound and construction help minimize the typical drone associated with max performance tires. At typical highway speeds around 65-75 mph, road noise is well-controlled and conversation is possible without raising voices.

It’s only when driving over particularly coarse surfaces or at higher speeds above 80 mph that the tire begins to produce more noticeable road rumble. However, even under these more demanding conditions, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT remains quieter and more refined than some competitors in this ultra-high performance category.

For drivers looking to blend exhilarating dry and wet traction with comfort and quiet for daily driving, the Pirelli delivers an impressive balance. The tire allows you to enjoy your performance vehicle’s full potential when you want it, without excessive harshness during more relaxed driving scenarios.

Treadlife and Durability

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT is designed to provide excellent treadwear and long-lasting performance. With its advanced tread compound and optimized tread design, this tire can deliver impressive tread life, even under demanding driving conditions.

Expected Tread Mileage: Pirelli rates the P Zero AS Plus ELECT with a tread life of up to 50,000 miles when properly maintained and rotated according to the recommended schedule. This tread life estimate is highly competitive within the ultra-high-performance all-season tire category, ensuring you get good value for your investment.

Wear Characteristics: The tire’s tread pattern features a unique combination of wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches, which help promote even wear across the tread surface. Additionally, the tire’s internal construction utilizes Pirelli’s advanced casing design, further enhancing its durability and resistance to irregular wear.

Warranty: Pirelli backs the P Zero AS Plus ELECT with a generous treadwear warranty, providing coverage for workmanship and materials defects. The specific warranty terms may vary depending on your location and the tire size you purchase, but typically, Pirelli offers a treadwear warranty of up to 45,000 miles for this model.

Overall, the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT is engineered to deliver exceptional treadlife and durability, ensuring you can enjoy its high-performance capabilities for many miles to come. With proper maintenance and rotation, this tire can provide reliable service and excellent value over its lifespan.

Sizing Options and Fitments

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT is available in a wide range of sizes to fit many different vehicles. Sizes start at 185/65R15 for smaller cars and minivans, and go up to 275/30R20 low profile fitments for high-performance sports cars and luxury sedans.

This tire is an OEM (Original Equipment) fitment on several popular vehicles like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, and Infiniti Q50. Pirelli works closely with major automakers to develop tires specifically engineered for their vehicles.

When replacing the original tires, it’s generally recommended to stick with the OEM size for optimal performance, ride quality and safety. However, many drivers opt for a slightly higher or lower size for improved looks, handling or comfort. A 10-15% plus-sizing can provide a more planted feel and sharper steering response, while a 10% smaller size may improve ride comfort slightly. Anything more extreme requires careful research on fitment specifications and potential clearance issues.

No matter which size you choose, always refer to the tire’s load rating to ensure it can safely support the weight of your vehicle when loaded. Consulting sites like Tire Rack can also help determine compatible upgraded wheel and tire packages for your specific make and model.

Competitors and Alternatives

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT faces stiff competition from other premium all-season tire models from major brands like Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, and Goodyear. One of its main rivals is the Michelin CrossClimate2, which offers impressive all-season capabilities and a comfortable ride. While the Michelin may have a slight edge in wet and winter traction, the Pirelli counters with better dry road performance and a more responsive driving feel.

Another formidable competitor is the Continental PureContact LS, which boasts excellent wet grip, low rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency, and a quiet, comfortable ride. However, the Pirelli outshines it in terms of dry road handling and high-speed stability.

The Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus is another contender, offering a good balance of all-season performance and a long treadlife warranty. However, it may not match the Pirelli’s level of grip and responsiveness, particularly in dry conditions.

Compared to the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady, the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT generally outperforms in most areas, including dry and wet traction, steering response, and overall driving dynamics. The Goodyear may have an advantage in terms of treadlife and value, but the Pirelli justifies its premium pricing with superior performance characteristics.

Ultimately, while the competition is fierce, the Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT holds its own against these rivals, offering a compelling blend of all-season capabilities, responsive handling, and a comfortable ride, making it a strong choice for drivers seeking a high-performance all-season tire.

Value and Recommendations

The Pirelli P Zero AS Plus ELECT delivers excellent all-season performance with a focus on dry and wet road traction. Its winter capabilities are adequate in milder climates but may struggle in heavy snow and ice. The tire excels in responsive handling and cornering grip, making it an excellent choice for sports cars, performance sedans, and enthusiast drivers who value engaging dynamics.

While not the most affordable option, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT justifies its premium pricing with impressive durability and treadwear. Pirelli’s experience in high-performance tires shines through, with the ELECT striking a fine balance between dry/wet road prowess and ride comfort. The tire’s quiet operation further enhances its appeal for luxury vehicles.

Overall, the P Zero AS Plus ELECT is an excellent investment for drivers seeking a capable all-season tire with a sporting character. It excels in dry and wet conditions while providing sufficient winter traction for areas with moderate snowfall. The tire’s combination of performance, comfort, and longevity make it a compelling choice, especially for enthusiasts unwilling to compromise driving enjoyment.