SmartGRIP+ Compound

Pirelli has added lignin to its specific E-MTB compound called SmartGRIP+, a natural chemical component derived from the artisanal paper production process. Not only is it a low-impact additive, but it also further improves the mechanical properties of the rubber, resulting in a final tensile strength and elongation of the rubber sample in the lab increased by 10%. This translates into better tear resistance, necessary to withstand the overloads of fast riding and the braking torques of modern E-MTB electric motors. This performance improvement comes without compromising the other characteristic of the SmartGRIP Compound formulation: grip.

HyperWALL

The third innovation that Pirelli brings to the cycling world from its Motorsport background: a new construction of the bead and sidewalls that further increases tire performance in terms of handling at low pressures and puncture resistance. Especially in Offroad applications, particularly the more demanding ones like Gravity and e-MTB, the integrity of the bead area and the stability of the sidewalls are fundamental for the overall tire performance: the tread with its sophisticated compound relies heavily on the behavioral characteristics of these two elements. Pirelli has introduced a construction that firmly fixes the bead and the rubber sidewall insert with a woven fabric flipper, making them behave as a single solid piece instead of separate components with relative movements to each other.

The advantage of this innovation in numbers:

• Better bead stability (+10%).
• Greater protection against pinch flats (+50%).
• Better handling at low pressures (+25%).
• Greater cut resistance.