Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 Review: 4 Months on a Heavy SUV

Finding the right tires for a modern SUV or crossover is arguably more difficult than outfitting a sports car or a pickup truck. Sports car owners want maximum grip; heavy-duty truck owners want durability or off-road capability. But the modern crossover owner? They want everything.

Today’s SUVs—from a Honda CR-V to a heavy, luxurious BMW X5—are complex machines. They often tip the scales at well over two tons.

Yet, their chassis engineers have tuned them to handle with surprising agility, and their owners expect a silent, luxurious highway ride. Oh, and they also need to navigate torrential rain and the occasional January snowfall without any drama.

It is an engineering tightrope walk. Make the rubber compound too hard for long tread life, and you sacrifice wet grip and quietness. Make it too soft for sporty performance, and the heavy vehicle will chew through the tires in 20,000 miles.

As we have detailed in our comprehensive Pirelli tires review, the brand has long tried to solve this equation with its “Scorpion” family of tires, a line dedicated exclusively to SUVs, CUVs, and light trucks.

Historically, Scorpions were known for excellent driving dynamics—that classic Italian performance DNA—but sometimes fell short of competitors when it came to ultra-long tread life and pure, isolating comfort.

Enter the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3.

Pirelli claims this completely redesigned touring tire is the ultimate “Goldilocks” solution for the North American market. They promise extended tread wear, improved snow performance, and the quietest ride in the Scorpion’s history, all without losing the sporty edge.

Those are bold claims in a crowded market dominated by juggernauts like the Michelin CrossClimate2 and the Continental CrossContact.

To see if the Italian contender could walk the walk, I mounted a set of 255/50R20s on our long-term tester—a Mazda CX-9 AWD, a vehicle known for having an excellent chassis that easily reveals a tire’s deficiencies—and spent the last four months driving through everything the Midwest could throw at us.

Here is the honest, unvarnished truth about living with the new Pirelli Scorpion.

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 Review

• All-season tire for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks
• Advanced tread compound for enhanced grip on wet and dry surfaces
• Asymmetric tread pattern for improved hydroplaning resistance
• Balanced performance for on-road comfort and light off-road capability
• Steel belt construction with nylon reinforcement for durability
• Excellent dry and wet performance with responsive handling
• Good light off-road capabilities for occasional use
• Delivers smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride

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Key Takeaways: The Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 at a Glance

If you are short on time before heading to the tire shop, here is the executive summary of our 5,000-mile road test:

• Class-Leading Quietness: Thanks to advanced pitch sequence tuning, this tire virtually eliminates highway hum, making it one of the quietest options on the market for luxury and electric SUVs.
• Retains the Sporty Pirelli DNA: Unlike many high-mileage touring tires that feel mushy, the stiff outboard shoulder blocks provide crisp steering response and confident cornering, even on heavy vehicles.
• Exceptional Wet Weather Safety: Deep longitudinal grooves and 3D sipes act as water pumps and squeegees, offering immense confidence, short braking distances, and high hydroplaning resistance in torrential rain.
• A “Light Snow” Compromise: The functionalized polymer compound stays pliable in freezing temps for good light-snow traction, but the lack of a 3PMSF rating means it is not a substitute for dedicated winter tires in severe snow and ice.
• Massive Treadwear Warranty: Backed by a 70,000-mile limited treadwear guarantee, uniform wear characteristics make this a highly cost-effective investment over the life of your vehicle.
• EV Ready: The low rolling resistance and silent operation make it a fantastic, range-preserving upgrade for heavy electric SUVs like the Tesla Model Y or Nissan Ariya.

The Tech Specs: What is New Under the Tread?

Before we hit the road, it is important to understand what Pirelli changed to create the “Plus 3.” This is not just a simple re-tread of an old design; it is a ground-up rethink of their touring all-season philosophy aimed specifically at North American drivers.

The primary focus for this generation was longevity and all-weather consistency. Pirelli utilized a new “functionalized polymer” tread compound.

In plain English, this means the rubber is engineered at a molecular level to lower the “glass transition point”—the temperature where a tire turns from soft and pliable to hard and plastic-like.

Traditionally, summer and standard all-season tires harden around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, but this new compound allows the tire to remain flexible and grip the road even when the thermometer dips below freezing.

Visually, the tread pattern is asymmetric—a common feature in high-end touring tires.

• The Outboard Shoulder: Features larger, stiffer tread blocks with fewer gaps. This is designed to support the vehicle’s weight during aggressive cornering, providing stability and sharp steering response.
• The Inboard Tread: This area is densely packed with what Pirelli calls “full-depth 3D siping”. Sipes are the tiny zigzag cuts in the tread blocks that open up to bite into snow and slush. By making them 3D and full depth, Pirelli ensures that these biting edges interlock for dry stability, yet remain functional for winter traction even as the tire wears down to its final miles.

Perhaps most importantly for the luxury SUV market, Pirelli spent considerable time on “pitch sequence tuning”.

By varying the exact size and shape of the tread blocks around the circumference of the tire, they scramble the sound frequencies generated as the rubber hits the road.

This acoustic engineering is meant to cancel out road noise and prevent the dreaded “highway hum.”

They are confident enough in this new package to back it with a massive 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, putting them right at the top of the touring class.

Phase 1: Dry Asphalt Handling, Comfort, and NVH

Our testing started in late summer, with ambient temperatures in the mid-80s. The very first thing you notice when switching from a worn set of OEM tires to fresh Scorpions is the absolute silence.

Luxury is often defined by the absence of intrusion, and these tires are incredibly unintrusive. Rolling down smooth asphalt at 75 mph, tire roar is virtually nonexistent.

In fact, many drivers report that switching to these tires makes their mainstream crossover feel like a premium European luxury car due to the drastic reduction in cabin noise.

What impressed me more, however, was how they handled pavement imperfections. Mid-corner bumps, expansion joints, and tar strips often send a harsh shudder through stiff SUV suspension systems.

The Scorpions have a carcass construction that seems perfectly damped. They absorb the sharp initial impact of a pothole without feeling mushy or disconnected. It results in a muted “thud” rather than a violent “crash,” which significantly elevates the perceived ride quality of the vehicle.

A side-profile photograph of the Mazda CX-9 test vehicle parked on a clean, dry asphalt curvy road, highlighting the sidewall design of the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3.

But a Pirelli tire must still drive like a Pirelli. The brand’s heritage isn’t just about soft highway cruising; it is deeply rooted in motorsport. Does that DNA translate to a heavy family hauler?

Surprisingly, yes. The Mazda CX-9 has steering that is heavier and more direct than most of its competitors, and the Scorpions complemented this perfectly.

On my favorite stretch of twisting backroads, the initial turn-in response was crisp. There is very little of the sidewall rollover, delay, or “squirm” that you often feel when pushing a heavy SUV on standard, high-mileage touring tires.

When you commit to a corner, those large outer shoulder blocks plant themselves firmly. They offer a high ceiling of lateral grip before they begin to softly protest. I even took the vehicle to an empty lot to simulate an emergency lane change (the classic “moose test”).

The tires recovered the vehicle’s immense weight beautifully without snapping into uncontrollable oversteer. While they are not summer performance tires, they offer a level of driving engagement that keeps you connected to the road, rather than floating vaguely above it.

Phase 2: When the Skies Open – Wet Weather Performance

If dry roads are about driving enjoyment, wet roads are strictly about anxiety management and safety. A wide, 20-inch SUV tire acts a lot like a pontoon boat when it hits standing water; it naturally wants to ride up on top of the puddle rather than cut through it. This is called hydroplaning, and it is terrifying.

We had ample opportunity to test this during a week of relentless autumn rainstorms that left inches of standing water on the local interstates.

This is where the Scorpion All Season Plus 3 truly earns its keep. The asymmetric tread pattern features deep, wide longitudinal grooves designed to evacuate water like high-speed industrial pumps.

Driving at 70 mph in heavy rain, the sense of security was profound. Hitting puddles in the left lane that would normally cause a momentary spike in heart rate—and a violent tug on the steering wheel—resulted in almost nothing. The tire slices through standing water efficiently, maintaining contact with the asphalt below.

A dynamic shot of the test vehicle driving through a large puddle on wet pavement, showing water spraying outwards away from the tire tread, illustrating evacuation capabilities.

Beyond hydroplaning resistance, wet braking performance is exceptional. The new silica-rich, functionalized polymer compound finds mechanical grip on damp, greasy pavement where lesser tires simply slide.

In simulated panic stops from 50 mph on wet concrete, the ABS engagement was smooth, rapid, and progressive.

The tires did not just skate over the surface film; the 3D sipes acted as hundreds of tiny squeegees, wiping the water away and allowing the rubber to dig in.

This wet-weather confidence is perhaps the strongest argument for choosing a premium tire over a budget alternative. It is quite literally the difference between stopping a few feet short of the bumper in front of you, or sliding straight into it.

Phase 3: The “All-Season” Reality Check – Winter Testing

The term “All-Season” is arguably the most confusing marketing term in the automotive industry. In North America, it usually translates to “three seasons plus a very light dusting of snow.”

It is crucial to state up front: The Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 is not a dedicated winter tire.

It does not carry the “Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake” (3PMSF) symbol, which indicates a tire has passed severe snow service performance tests. It only carries the standard M+S (Mud and Snow) rating.

However, Pirelli claims to have significantly improved light-snow traction over the previous generation. We waited for the first significant Midwest freeze and a subsequent 4-inch snowfall to verify this.

As mentioned earlier, the functionalized polymer compound kept the tires reasonably pliable even when the ambient temperature dropped into the 20s.

A close-up shot of the Pirelli Scorpion tire tread packed with light snow, showing the sipes interacting with the winter surface.

In fresh, powdery snow (up to about 3 or 4 inches), the high density of sipes did exactly what they were engineered to do.

The CX-9’s AWD system, combined with the tire’s biting edges, allowed for drama-free acceleration away from snowy stoplights.

You could feel the sipes clawing for traction, packing snow into the tread to create snow-on-snow friction.

Braking in light snow was completely adequate, though you must always adjust your stopping distances significantly compared to wet or dry roads.

Where the tire shows its physical limitations—as all non-winter tires do—is on hard-packed snow and solid ice.

In these extreme conditions, the rubber compound simply cannot match the micro-adherence of a dedicated winter product like a Pirelli Scorpion Winter.

Lateral grip in icy corners was limited, and the vehicle’s traction control light was a frequent visitor if I got too enthusiastic with the throttle on frozen backroads.

The Winter Verdict: For drivers in climates with occasional light snow who live in areas with proactive city plowing services, the Scorpion All Season Plus 3 is perfectly adequate year-round. But if you live in the heavy snowbelt, the Rockies, or rural Canada, these should be your three-season tires, and you should invest in a dedicated set of winter rubber for the harshest months.

Rolling Resistance, EV Compatibility, and Fuel Economy

A major concern for modern SUV owners is fuel economy. Because these vehicles are heavy and shaped like bricks, they already struggle at the gas pump. Slapping on a set of sticky, high-rolling-resistance tires can drop your MPG by a noticeable margin.

Throughout our 5,000-mile test, we meticulously tracked our fuel economy. The good news? The Scorpions had zero negative impact on our baseline MPG.

Furthermore, Pirelli is keenly aware of the booming Electric Vehicle (EV) market. Heavy electric SUVs, like the Tesla Model Y or the Nissan Ariya, notoriously chew through standard tires due to their immense weight and instant torque.

They also require incredibly quiet tires because there is no engine noise to mask tread hum.

While Pirelli makes specific “ELECT” branded tires optimized for EVs, many EV owners have successfully mounted the standard Scorpion AS Plus 3 to their vehicles and reported fantastic results, praising the noise reduction and noting no loss in battery range compared to OEM eco-tires.

The Competitor Landscape

To truly evaluate this tire, we have to look at what else is on the shelf. The premium touring all-season category for SUVs is fiercely competitive.

Vs. Michelin CrossClimate2: The Michelin is the current undisputed king of all-weather snow traction. With its aggressive V-shaped directional tread, it chews through deep snow far better than the Pirelli. However, that aggressive tread comes with tradeoffs. The Michelin is generally reported to be louder on the highway, rides slightly stiffer, and can sometimes negatively impact fuel economy. If you rarely see snow, the Pirelli is the more comfortable, refined, and quieter daily driver.

Vs. Continental CrossContact LX25: This is the Pirelli’s closest rival in terms of comfort and intended use. Both tires are exceptionally quiet and offer fantastic tread life warranties. The Pirelli, however, edges out the Continental when it comes to dry handling and steering response. The Scorpion simply feels a bit more taut and sporty when pushed into a corner, honoring its Italian heritage.

Tread Life, UTQG, and Warranty

We have put exactly 5,000 hard miles on this set of Scorpions. While that is not nearly enough to definitively verify the 70,000-mile warranty claim, the early physical indications are highly positive.

I measured the tread depth at multiple points across all four tires before installation (they start at 11/32″ of depth) and again at the 5,000-mile mark. Wear has been incredibly minimal and, more importantly, perfectly uniform across the tread face.

This indicates that the internal carcass structure is handling the heavy SUV’s load correctly without bowing or cupping. We have seen virtually no tread-block feathering on the shoulders, despite some very enthusiastic cornering on abrasive country roads.

The tire carries a UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) rating of 800 A A.

• 800 Treadwear: This is an exceptionally high rating, indicating the tire should last roughly 8 times longer than the government’s standard control tire.
• A Traction: Excellent straight-line wet braking capability.
• A Temperature: Excellent ability to dissipate heat at high highway speeds.

To ensure you actually reach that 70,000-mile mark, you must be diligent about maintenance. Heavy SUVs are notorious for throwing off their alignment. You must rotate these tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to keep the wear perfectly even.

Because the Scorpion AS Plus 3 is an asymmetric (but non-directional) tire, you can cross-rotate them to any corner of the vehicle, which helps maximize their lifespan.

The Final Verdict

Designing a tire for the modern SUV is a zero-sum game of compromises. Usually, as a consumer, you have to pick two traits out of three: comfort, performance, or longevity.

With the Scorpion All Season Plus 3, Pirelli has come closer than almost anyone else in the industry to delivering all three in a single, cohesive package.

They have successfully managed to retain the engaging, precise driving dynamics that the brand is famous for, while almost completely eliminating the ride harshness and rapid wear that sometimes plagued their older generations.

It is a highly sophisticated tire that feels right at home on premium vehicles from Audi, BMW, Acura, and Volvo, while simultaneously upgrading the feel of mainstream crossovers from Honda and Toyota.

It is remarkably quiet, exceptionally safe in torrential rain, and genuinely engaging on a dry backroad. Its only real limitation is severe, deep winter weather—a physical limitation it shares with 95% of the standard “all-season” market.

If you are looking to replace the worn-out, noisy OEM rubber on your crossover or SUV, and you want a tire that elevates the driving experience rather than just existing at the four corners of your car, the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 is now one of the undisputed benchmarks in the segment.

It is the finely tailored Italian suit that just happens to be comfortable enough to wear every single day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 Review

We tested the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 for four months on a heavy SUV. Read our real-world review of its tread life, wet grip, and quiet comfort.

Product Brand: Pirelli

Product Price: $194.68 to $335.05

Editor's Rating:
4.6