Anyone have a photo of Pirelli P-Zeros on their car?

[Rick Lee]

It drives me nuts that my new wheels came with tires mounted but with no arrow showing which way the tread should go. Yes, I see the marking that shows which side goes on the inside and outside. But these treads are directional with no V pattern and there is no arrow showing which way they go, which means I could have my left and right sides reversed. Tirerack's website shows the tire on a wheel, but I don't know if it's facing forward or backward. The guy on the phone assured me there was an arrow - there is not. In their ad in Excellence, they have a photo my tires mounted next to some other directional tires with a V pattern tread, which I know goes in what direction. But I can't be sure that the wheels with the Pirellis are facing the same direction.

Basically, if I were looking at the photo directly below, would I be standing in front of or behind the car? These are Pzero Rosso Assymetricos. Thanks.

[RickM]

I have the P Zero System on my car...I'll check when I get home if no one has answered.

I believe P Zeros come in Directional/ DIREZIONALE and Asymetric/ASIMMETRICO (Non directional).

I posted this question on The Wheel/Tire forum at MercedesShop.com, where Luke from Tire Rack is an advisor.

[tsuter]

P-Zero- Neros. Possibly you can infer from similarity.

[RickM]

Richard,
Do you know which P Zeros you have? Not all are directional.

"The PZero Nero (ne' ro Ð Italian for black) Max Performance "summer" tire is a member of Pirelli's "PZero Collection" family of Max Performance tires. In addition to the PZero Nero, the "PZero Collection" also includes the PZero Rosso (ro' so Ð Italian for red) and the PZero System Directionale and Asimmetrico tires (many with a yellow logo) for sports cars, coupes and sedans. The PZero Nero was developed to work harder so the driver could play harder exploiting the sporting character of their high performance car."

There is also , the P Zero Corsa, but that is not what your pic shows.

[Rick Lee]

I have the Rossos. I know "asymmetrico" is in the name, but how can they not be directional? They cannot be reversed and have the same effect.

[RoninLB]

I just saw the new Bentley GT coupe at the NYC auto show..

it had P-Zeros

[RickM]

The asymmetrico can be rotated from side to side and direction is not an issue. Not the same for the Directional counterpart. Also, The Asymetrics can be used front and rear while the Directionals are only for front. I believe the use of both types of tires is regarded as the "PZero System".

At the top of this pic you'll see the directional arrow:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPic.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Rosso+Direzionale&sidewall=Blackwall


From Pirelli's site:
"Can a wheel fitted with PZero Asimmetrico be switched to the opposite side of a vehicle?
PZero A tyres are asymmetric but not directional. They must be fitted to the wheel with the correct side outermost (follow the indications on the tyre sidewall). Tyres may be switched from side to side on the vehicle, even though the direction of rotation will change."

[Rick Lee]

Thanks man, but that photo is not of my kind of tire. I guess I'll rest easier now though, since it seems to not be an issue. I dunno how this is, as the tread has to have a different effect when flipped from left to right side of the car. Oh well.

[RickM]

The photo is of a Directional PZero....which, as you say, you don't have.

The directionals suffer from aquaplaning and loss of road holding ability when mounted wrong. Probably excessive wear as well.

[tops911]

the asymmetrico tires I have said outer on the side of the tire. they are not directional but they do have an outer and an inner side to the tire

[stefang]

As the name implies, they're asymmetric, not directional. Yes, they look like they should be. I have Yoko AVS Is. Same thing, the pattern looks directional, but isn't. They work just fine (on the track too). How the treads behave is not easily divined by just looking at it, just look at all the different solutions that manufacturers come up with.

Stef

[kqw]

Glad you got the one's you did. I couldn't wait to get rid of the P7000 super sports...

[lparker]

Originally posted by kqw
Glad you got the one's you did. I couldn't wait to get rid of the P7000 super sports...

I second that...A bit OT but i had P7000SS's on my S4 and they sucked...i switched to PZero Neros and the difference was unbelievable.