Last updated on July 8th, 2024 at 09:21 am
Quick highlights
| Tire type | All-Terrain Tire |
| Price range | $143-$514 |
| Run-flat | No |
| Vehicles type | SUVs, Jeep, Pickup, and Light trucks |
| Driving conditions | Dry, Wet, Mud, and Snow |
Pirelli is a known brand in almost every tire category, from high-performance tires to off-road tires, and tires like the Pirelli Scorpion All-terrain Plus are the reason for its success in the tire industry.
The Pirelli Scorpion series is well known among light truck drivers, not only because it has good marketing but also because the tire under Scorpion has the ability to perform better than any other tire available in the market.
This Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is the perfect example of that. The tire comes at lower rates and performs as well as new tires in 2024. It has everything that new tires come with; sometimes, it outperforms premium tires in one or two matrices.
Although it was launched seven years ago, it still gets high praise from its drivers, which is why Pirelli has not discontinued this tire after many years.
So, after many years and the recent launch of tires like Wildpeak AT4W and KO3, will this tire still be the best choice for running with your light trucks?
In this detailed review, we will learn what this tire is made of, how it performs in different conditions, and how it compares to top premium tires.
Tread, Compound, and Internal Structure
The tire features Pirelli’s cut and chip-resistant tread compound, which makes it a more robust tire from the inside. The deep groves, thick individual tread blocks, and high void ratio not only make it look aggressive at looking but also improve wet and dry traction along with a smooth and comfortable driving experience.
The edgy tread block with multiple sipes and lateral notches makes the tire a pure joy to drive in dry road conditions. With circumferential grooves and open shoulder water making a way out of the tire, resisting hydroplaning, and providing a reliable driving experience—the multiple tread sipes and tread block bit into the snow for improved performance in winter terrains.
Wet Road Performance
Wet traction and grip
The grip performance in rainy conditions of the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is excellent; it delivers smooth and reliable performance overall in wet conditions. The handling response is also great, with safe and sound brakes for quick stops.
Due to the tread design and symmetrical pattern, water does not disturb the tire’s performance, making it a great all-season tire for driving on wet roads and highways.
Hydroplaning resistance
The open shoulder resists hydroplaning, and channels water out of the tire tread, ensuring safe driving in standing deep waters. Thus, you won’t complain about an irresponsive drive in standing deep water.
However, the tire will be different at high speed or with worn treads by more than half; it sometimes loses control at a high pace, so make sure to drive slowly in deep waters if it is worn by half.
Dry Road Performance
Cornering and traction
Considering Pirelli’s success in high-performance tires, their excellence shines in other categories of tires when it comes to cornering and grip in dry conditions. The tire features deep and edgy tread blocks with softer compounds, which gives a perfect result in dry road conditions.
Cornering at normal to low speed is also great. However, it is a high-duty, light truck tire, not the best tire for fast-track drives. Still, it is better than other all-terrain tires when it comes to responsiveness on summer tracks and dry road conditions.
Highway performance
On highways, a tire requires a smooth response and comfortable driving at a higher pace, which this tire effortlessly provides. The tire grips properly on highways and at a high pace, does not drop drive quality, and delivers a superb driving experience.
As it is capable of carrying heavy weights and high loads, the tire performs superbly on weights, and this is one of the best qualities of this Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tire. So, if you commute longer miles with heavy weights, then this tire will be a great companion for your light trucks.
Winter Terrain Performance
Light snow traction
It is a 3PMSF-certified tire, so you can expect great results in winter terrains. When it comes to light snow drives, the tire is great to drive. It delivers proper traction and grip with responsive handling and brakes, making it a safe and prosperous tire to drive in winter terrains.
The tread also dont get damaged due to excessive driving on winter terrains, so you can drive it on snow without any worries. However, the performance is weak at a faster pace, so it’s better if you stick with slow driving on winter terrains, as it is not a specific winter terrain tire.
Deep snow performance
Although it is marked as a 3PMSF tire, it is not something to drive within deep snow terrains. The tire loses grip and control in deep and heavy snowfall conditions. That’s the case with a slow-speed ride; it’s unthinkable how it will perform at a fast pace.
Also, the response and brakes are bad, and the tread wears off quicker than in ordinary conditions. The tire is not made for these conditions, and it’s better to avoid driving it in them. So, if you are expected to get heavy snowfall this year, you should get a winter terrain tire instead of this Scorpion All Terrain Plus tire.
Off-road performance
Mud terrain drive
There is a difference between the tires’ looks and performance. This tire looks aggressive enough to handle the extreme mud terrain conditions, but that is not the case. It’s not the best performer in extreme mud terrain especially compared to Nitto Tires’ performance in extreme mud terrain conditions.
Although it is not the best, it’s not the worst performer in mud terrains; you can not expect enjoyable rides in these conditions, but you will get totally supportive and safe rides even in extreme mud terrains. So, if you only want the best mud terrain performance, there are better options than this Scorpion All Terrian Plus tire.
Gravel and construction sites
The tire is perfect on gravel and construction sites. The stone ejectors prevent damage from sharp materials, making it durable for driving in harsh conditions. Similarly, the tire’s strong build and sidewalls make it driveable through damaging conditions without any punctures or damage.
The response, grip, and brakes are also great on these terrains, making it a reliable and safe tire to drive in all terrain conditions. With this tire, you can get the versatility of performance and a smoother driving experience in any condition all year round.
Comfort and Noise
The high void ratio of the tread and internal construction of the tire makes it a quieter tire to drive. It is very quiet at the starting period; however, as the tread starts wearing off, the noise becomes louder. Although this is the case with almost every tire, if you prefer the quietest ride for all the tire life then this is not the tire for you, as it will get noisy over time.
Regarding comfort, the tire is much more comfortable than other all-terrain tires. It is similar to the top new tire recently launched in this category. The low cabin noise and comfortable driving experience make it a great city road tire for peaceful drives.
The durability of the Tire
The tire comes with a 50K miles treadwear warranty which is enough for an all-terrain tire, but compared to the new tire warranty, which is 65K miles, it is lower. Also, the tire has been on target for its quicker treadwear performance. Usually, the tire drops on its tread after 35K to 40K miles which is not so great.
With that, the massive drop in performance after more than half of the treadwear is also concerning for most drivers. They prefer the perfect tire that delivers at the start until the warranty period, which is not the case with this. This is why this tire has positive reviews, because usually, everyone reviews a tire at the initial stages.
Comparison with competitive tires
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus V.S. BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO3
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 is a new tire in the off-road all-terrain tire category that was launched a few months ago. Compared to the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus, the KO3 has more advanced technology and better compound construction, making it a more reliable and durable tire to drive in 2024.
When it comes to performance, the performance of T/A KO3 is almost better in every condition and metric. With performance, the durability of this BFGoodrich tire is also greater than the Scorpion All Terrain Plus tire, which is 15K more than what Pirelli offers.
The only good thing about the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tire is its price, which is far cheaper than the BFGoodrich tire. You can save more than $200 on a complete set of tires. So, Pirelli won’t be a bad option if you want to save money while compromising durability and performance.
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus V.S. Toyo Open Country AT3
Similarly, the Toyo Open Country AT3 is a newer tire than the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus and a better performer in almost every metric. It is better in durability, response, performance, and comfort.
So, when it comes to driving quality and performance, you can not put Scorpion All Terrain Plus above Toyo Open Country AT3. A similar case with these tire comparisons is that the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is cheaper than AT3. Again, you can save more than $200 on a set of tires.
The price of Scorpion All Terrain Plus is the biggest reason why this tire is still doing so well in the market is its price.
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus V.S. BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A
The BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A launched four years ago, and it’s doing great. Compared to the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus, it is the more expensive option and also a more durable tire.
However, the performance of both of these tires is different. The Trail Terrain T/A is more suited to comfortable and smoother on-road driving, while the Scorpion All Terrain Plus is more suited to extreme mud terrain driving. This is why the former is better in drive quality, and the latter is better than the former in off-road driving.
If you are after more durable and comfortable rides, then BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A will make more sense, and if you are after a rugged drive in extreme mud terrain, then Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus will make more sense.
Final Feedback
As you can see, the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus still has its pros compared to the top tires that recently launched in the all-terrain tires category. Although the tire has its lows and ups, just like any other tire, if you find this tire balances your needs, then it is still a great tire to drive. At this price, it is hard to find a tire that performs that well and is as reliable to drive.
