Pirelli P Zero

Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli won our last test of 17-inch tyres in 2008, and the long-running P Zero showed it can still compete at the top. This time, it has to settle for third, but it’s still the pattern to beat for wet handling and braking.

Those big tread blocks deliver on wet roads in a way more common large ribbed asymmetric designs can’t. On the wet track it led the way, more than half a second quicker than the Vredestein, and was super-stable, so it could be pushed hard.

Plus, in our wet braking test, it stopped the car a metre sooner than any rival. These wins were backed up by excellent performances in the other tests, so this is the best rain tyre.

Yet it still excels in dry conditions as it felt sporty and precise on the handling track and close to the winning pace.

But it showed its age on fuel economy where it trailed premium rivals by a long way – it will use around three per cent more fuel than the pace-setting Hankook, as well as the Continental and Goodyear.

Our verdict

For wet weather and track performance, the Pirelli is really difficult to beat.

Contact

Pirelli: http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/gb/en/homepage.html