for those that don't know - Pirelli US problems read -

[JimiHendrix]

Pirelli faces a potential lockout from the US market in 2026 due to national security concerns regarding its ownership and advanced "smart" technology.
Key reasons for the potential lockout include:

• Chinese State Ownership: The Chinese state-run chemical giant Sinochem owns a roughly 34-37% stake in Pirelli. US regulators are increasingly wary of Chinese-backed technology in critical automotive supply chains.
• Connected-Vehicle Regulations: New US Department of Commerce rules, set to take effect as early as March 2026, target hardware and software for connected vehicles linked to China or Russia.
• "CyberTyre" Technology: At the center of the dispute is Pirelli’s CyberTyre, which uses embedded sensors to transmit real-time data on pressure, temperature, and wear to a car's computer. The US government warned Pirelli that vehicles equipped with this technology might require special authorization to be sold in the US.
• Strategic Pressure on Italy: The US has pressured the Italian government to limit Sinochem’s influence. Italy has used "golden power" laws to restrict Sinochem's control, but US officials have indicated these measures may not be sufficient for compliance with the new rules.

Pirelli and Sinochem are reportedly discussing reducing the Chinese stake to roughly 10% or freezing voting rights to avoid these restrictions by the mid-March 2026 deadline.

These reports explain the national security implications and regulatory hurdles Pirelli faces regarding its ownership by a Chinese state-owned company and its "smart" tire technology

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[Frogdog1]

No problem. I quit buying Pirelli tires when I quit riding sport bikes. No Chinese stuff!

 

[roket]

i would take some bankrupt brand tire that Walmart has had sitting in the back for 8 years than use a Pirelli tire anyways. i hate how they have no warranty on their performance tires, unlike nearly every other brand

 

[Neggytive]

I have not sold a Pirelli tire in years

I have some real horror stories about Michelin tires though, I won't sell them and customer supplied tires are mounted and balanced with no warranty from us

 

[SSuperDave]

I had a '12 and '14 GT new, both came with Pirellis and they were awful. I aligned both cars at the 1K mile mark to make sure they were good, and by 18K miles, those tire were cupped and whining their asses off, despite regular rotation.
My '24 and '26 GT's have had Continentals and I've been very happy with them, and ouel buy them again when the time comes.

 

[LouG]

That's very interesting.
But, it won't affect my tyre choice. I've bought Euro brands for years now, after poor performance from Bridgestone and Hankook made me look elsewhere. Although I've never bought Pirelli, the ones I've had were OE.
And I've always used Michelin or Metzeler on bikes.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I've never liked Pirellis. The older P Zeros where absolute crap. But I must say the current version that comes on the PP cars are surprisingly good compared to previous iterations. That said, when the time comes for new shoes I'll be going with Michelin or Continental.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

The only reason I care is because Pirelli has the biggest range of tire sizes for all seasons in 19's.

I'm not crazy about them, but the choices are limited otherwise... Womp womp

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

I had a '12 and '14 GT new, both came with Pirellis and they were awful. I aligned both cars at the 1K mile mark to make sure they were good, and by 18K miles, those tire were cupped and whining their asses off, despite regular rotation.
My '24 and '26 GT's have had Continentals and I've been very happy with them, and ouel buy them again when the time comes.

I had those same Pirellis' on my '14 up to about two months ago when I threw on a set of 2025 GTPP 19's. Can confirm, they were really sh^t, but they were also original, almost down to belts, and dry-rotted.

 

[Gregs24]

I thought the OP post was a wind up but in these crazy days I suspect it isn't.

'Your tyres are tracking you and passing the data back to China'

You will soon have to go back to Fred Flintstone's tyres - they lasted really well but lacked a little grip!

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

I used Michelin A/S, but...they have a huge size bump from 285, then 325.

Someone previously pointed out Continental's DSWs. They are another great A/S. I was not aware they are quite incremental (285, 295, 305, etc.). Might be worth taking a look.

Will see about that, thanks.

My biggest thing is that having super sticky summer performance tires, while really really great for going around a corner quickly, tend to rob some of the fun of having a RWD car. I'll happily trade some corner speed for better wet weather performance and low temperature capabilities.

Used my Pirelli's in -25C a few times, and while fun, its also easy to see how sketchy it can get if you're not paying attention.

 

[Gregs24]

I've never liked Pirellis. The older P Zeros where absolute crap. But I must say the current version that comes on the PP cars are surprisingly good compared to previous iterations. That said, when the time comes for new shoes I'll be going with Michelin or Continental.

PZ4's are the equal of PS4S and Continental SC7 in most tests. No complaints from me with them.

 

[Skye]

Will see about that, thanks.

Ya, sorry about that. I deleted that post after double-checking some things.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/continental-extremecontact-dws-06-plus

DSWs in a 19 inch tire are pretty limited. In a 20 they are more incremental, given you can use the sidewalls offered. So...while DSWs are a great tire, they also have sizing availability constraints, like the Michelins.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Ya, sorry about that. I deleted that post.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/continental-extremecontact-dws-06-plus

DSWs in a 19 inch tire are pretty limited. In a 20 they are more incremental, given you can use the sidewalls offered. So...while DSWs are a great tire, they are somewhat limited to.

Womp womppppp

Yeah, thats the reason most people step up to 20's, but I like having more sidewall with 19's.

Frick, bro,

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