Pirelli Scorpion ATR Tire Review & Rating

The Pirelli Scorpion ATR is designed to provide all-terrain performance while also delivering excellent driving characteristics around town on a daily basis. Built for drivers of light pickups, SUV’s and larger crossovers, the ATR features a less aggressive tread design with more sporty features that fills a unique void in the AT marketplace. 

A silica enhanced tread compound combines with a symmetric tread pattern to provide increased traction and stability on dry pavement. Radial shoulder grooves increase braking performance and handling, an area this tire excels in. Lateral shoulder grooves and circumferential grooves give this model better wet pavement performance, as well as reducing the risk of hydroplaning.

Off-road performance is equally impressive for the ATR, due in part to Pirelli’s siped, interlocked independent tread blocks that enhance the tire’s grip on rock, grass, sand, gravel and other terrain.

Inside the tire you will find two steel belts which are nylon wrapped for added strength and durability at higher speeds. Polyester cords provide increased sidewall support and make the overall ride more comfortable. Pirelli includes a 40,000 mile tread guarantee and has sizes available in 15-20 inches.

Pros

• Very good highway manners
• Impressive off-road traction on light terrain
• Long lasting tread design and a 40,000 mile warranty

Cons

• Would like to see better snow and ice traction

Overall Thoughts

We really like this Pirelli ATR for several different reasons. It fills a unique niche in that it’s more like an AT tire with high-performance street capabilities. The sporty tread design is geared more towards everyday on pavement driving, although it will easily handle light off-road terrain such as gravel, dirt, grass, sand and even light mud. While you may not get off-road performance like the BFGoodrich TA KO2 or other more aggressive AT tire, but it holds its own quite well.

On the street, it has UHP like manners. Traction and handling on dry or wet pavement is among the best in class for an AT tire. Some models even carry an H-speed rating. Braking and acceleration are impressive, and treadlife has shown to be good as well. The one area that has room for improvement is deep snow and a little more ice handling.