SQUIRREL_13162435
Pirelli’s Scorpion Race Enduro T is exceptionally grippy across an impressive gamut of terrain, living up to its ‘T’ for traction moniker.
Sharing its Scorpion name with all of Pirelli’s MTB tyres, this enduro race-ready model is designed to provide the most grip possible.
Weighing 1,314g, it’s not the heaviest on the market, and at £79.99 neither is it the most expensive, but it’s far from light or cheap.
On the trail, there’s little that upsets the Enduro T; it grips as well in soft dirt as hard, blending mechanical and chemical traction seamlessly.
If you’re looking for one of the grippiest mountain bike tyres on the market – with point-anywhere-and-go traction – look no further.
Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro T 29x2.5 specifications
Made using Pirelli’s DualWALL casing, it has a dual-ply 120 TPI carcass, reinforced with a rubber insert around the bead.
The brand claims this will stop it from feeling numb – something chunky rubber can cause – while still providing impressive puncture protection.
Its carcass is clad with SmartEVO DH Compound rubber, formulated specifically for gravity-fed MTB, including downhill and enduro.
The rubber – according to Pirelli – measures 42a on the Shore hardness scale and was developed by professional riders using experience from the brand’s many years in motocross and rally racing.
The tread pattern features angular, aggressive centre blocks in a two-three alternating pattern. The conjoined three-knob section uses aggressive siping to split up the blocks, while the two knobs are separate from one another.
On the shoulders are lugged, tall blocks with wide spacing. These should provide cornering traction and reduce mud build-up.
Fitted to a 30mm internal-width rim and inflated to 25psi, the 29x2.5in tyre measured 62mm/2.44in wide. The Scorpion Race Enduro T weighs 1,314g, making it one of the heaviest tyres of the group I tested.
Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro T 29x2.5 performance
Installation
The Scorpion Race Enduro T is one of the hardest and tightest tyres I’ve ever installed, but only when fitting the initial bead.
Requiring maximum hand strength and multiple tyre levers, the last bit of the bead finally slipped onto the rim.
Although the rubber is soft and sticky-feeling, the carcass and bead don’t have much stretch or give.
The second bead, however, proved much easier to slide over the rim’s sidewall without levers.
It inflated with only a high-volume track pump, but required quite a few vigorous pumps to get it to hold air and seal the bead against the rim’s hook.
It was fully seated and sealed by 35psi, which is high compared to its competition.
Profile and shape
The relatively flat profile is created by the level centre blocks. These sit proud and square; the tyre runs on them in a straight line.
They are subtly cambered outwards, helping to smooth the transition from the centre to the very outwardly angled side blocks.
These should increase grip at extreme lean angles and reduce how quickly traction drops off once the bike is leant over.
Feel and grip
Feeling seriously tacky and sticky, the Pirelli’s rubber clings and sticks to the slimiest and most slippery rocks and roots.
Tyre deflection is almost zero – it tracks your chosen line through chaotic sections of trail, barely flinching. Steering control is impeccable.
Deforming and bending around the terrain, the Pirelli’s chemical traction is immense. It makes choosing lines less of a guessing game and more of a certainty.
In soft ground, the aggressive, sharply ramped blocks dig into and bite the trail’s surface, creating plenty of mechanical traction. Turning hard or holding a line across a camber feels like second nature.
Pushed to the limits, traction is predictable and easy to manage. It transitions progressively into a slide – rather than breaking free abruptly – and the breakaway point is extreme, further cementing its impressive performance.
On the brakes, the large centre blocks dig and hook themselves into the ground, slowing you down quickly. Even in gloopier, softer mud, it’s difficult to lock up.
On harder surfaces, that tacky compound pays dividends with almost identical performance.
Transitioning to greasy or damp hardpack trails shows its versatility. The tread stretches audibly, deforms and chews at the trail’s smallest contours to glue itself to its surface.
While traction is almost perfect, I’d love to try the Scorpion Race Enduro T with the three joined-up centre blocks split up; I suspect it would be even grippier.
Carcass damping – unsurprisingly for a 1,341g tyre – is impressive.
Vibrations are adeptly muted and softened, although they’re not eradicated.
Carcass strength is excellent in high-load turns; there were no flats, burps or dings during the test period.
How we tested | winter enduro tyres
All six of these tyres were tested back-to-back on both the front and rear wheels of our test bike.
Alex used the same 30mm internal-width rim for each of the tyres and inflated them to the same or an equivalent pressure, allowing for small differences in tyre volume (higher-volume tyres require slightly lower pressures).
Alex rode a wide gamut of terrain types – average trail-centre laps to get an idea of rolling resistance, down muddy, boggy and rocky and rooty descents to test grip, and on high-load, high-speed downhill tracks to test for carcass stability.
Tyres on test
- Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial Gravity Pro Addix Ultra Soft 29x2.5
- Maxxis High Roller III 3C MaxxGrip DH Casing 29x2.4
- Michelin Wild Enduro MS Racing Line 29x2.4
- Continental Argotal Enduro Soft 29x2.4
- Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro T 29x2.5
- WTB Vigilante SG1 Tough/High Grip 29x2.5
Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro T 29x2.5 bottom line
Pirelli has finally hit its stride with this iteration of the Scorpion, delivering one of the most grippy, muted and damped tyres on the market.
Whether you’re chewing through soft ground or hammering the hardpack, it grips exceptionally.
It’s not perfect; fitment and inflation proved trickier than offerings from other brands, but the traction on tap is worth the fuss.
If you’re after a winter tyre that’s also an adept generalist, the Scorpion Race Enduro T is an exceptional pick.
SQUIRREL_13162435
Product
| Brand | pirelli |
| Price | 80.00 GBP |
| Weight | 1314.0000, GRAM (29x2.5) - |
