Bently Supersports fitted with Pirelli P Zero

Milan, Italy – Pirelli has developed two dedicated tire fitments for the new Bentley Supersports, the coupé engineered to deliver the ultimate driving experience. They are the P Zero Trofeo RS, designed to enhance the car’s sporting character, particularly on track, and the P Zero, developed for everyday driving. To mark the centenary of the “Super Sports” name, first introduced in 1925, the Crewe-based manufacturer has once again chosen Pirelli as its partner to harness the capabilities of a car that is radically different from any previous Continental GT: rear-wheel drive for the first time in the model’s history (excluding the Continental GT3 race car), curb weight below two tons, and 666 hp, 800 Nm twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain.

Pirelli’s collaboration with Bentley on the Supersports began with the most demanding technical brief ever set for a road-going Continental GT. The switch to rear-wheel drive, the introduction of an electronic limited-slip differential combined with brake-based torque vectoring, active rear-wheel steering, and a chassis featuring a rear track widened by 16 mm required tires capable of managing completely different load transfers and drive force distribution compared with the all-wheel-drive Continental GT Speed.

This is further complemented by the car’s aerodynamic package, which generates more than 300 kg of additional downforce compared with the Continental GT Speed through a larger front splitter, dive planes, side skirts, rear wheel arch vents and a rear diffuser. These elements significantly alter the vertical load acting on the tires as speed increases. Pirelli engineers therefore fine-tuned the compounds, construction and tread pattern through an extensive development program—starting with virtual simulations before progressing to road and track testing—in close collaboration with Bentley’s engineering team. The objective was to deliver consistent performance across all driving modes specified by the manufacturer, from Touring to Sport.

The result is two dedicated homologations, both identified by the “B” marking reserved by Pirelli for tires developed specifically for Bentley.

P Zero: the original equipment fitment
The 22-inch Pirelli P Zero is fitted to the Supersports as its original equipment tire, designed to complement the car’s everyday usability and grand touring capabilities without compromising the sporting character that defines it. Its construction and compound have been optimized to combine ride comfort, low noise levels and steering precision, while delivering grip levels commensurate with the car’s power and weight. Although significantly lighter than the Continental GT, the Supersports places considerable demands on its tires due to its exceptional performance.

The P Zero has been specifically tuned to work in harmony with the Supersports’ suspension and dual-chamber dampers, ensuring precise responses and outstanding stability.

P Zero Trofeo RS: the choice for track driving
For customers seeking the ultimate performance, Pirelli has developed the first bespoke P Zero Trofeo RS ever for a Bentley. This 22-inch semi-slick tire is road legal yet engineered with a clear track-focused philosophy, representing another milestone in the partnership between the two brands.

Drawing directly on Pirelli’s motorsport expertise, the compound, carcass construction and internal reinforcements have been specifically designed to withstand the significant aerodynamic loads generated by the Supersports, allowing the car to express its full dynamic potential. Equipped with this fitment, the Supersports achieves peak lateral acceleration of 1.3 g and improves cornering speeds by approximately 30% compared with the Continental GT Speed.

One anecdote from the development program illustrates just how impressive the performance proved to be. During the first track test on P Zero Trofeo RS tires, the level of lateral grip exceeded the parameters anticipated by the vehicle’s electronic control systems, triggering the seat belt pretensioners.

The P Zero Trofeo RS therefore represents the intersection of Pirelli’s road tire engineering and its motorsport know-how, offered as an option for customers wishing to explore the Supersports’ full capabilities with complete confidence and control.

Perfect Fit: the hallmark of Pirelli’s bespoke development
Both tire fitments have been developed through Pirelli’s “Perfect Fit” program, the co-development process through which the company designs bespoke tires for individual vehicle models in close collaboration with manufacturers’ engineering teams. Combining advanced virtual simulations with joint testing programs, Perfect Fit enables every aspect of the tire—from compound and construction to tread pattern and carcass stiffness—to be optimized for the specific characteristics of each vehicle, ensuring seamless integration between tire and vehicle.

This latest development builds on the long-standing partnership between Pirelli and Bentley, over the many years of the evolution of the Continental GT range which now enters a new chapter with the Supersports, the purest and most driver-focused Bentley ever produced.

The relationship dates back to the early 1980s, when the first dedicated tires were developed for the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo R and RT. Pirelli has since engineered bespoke solutions for a wide range of Bentley models, from the Arnage and Continental GT to the Bentayga, for which specific 23-inch P Zero tires were developed. Over the years, Pirelli has also supplied tires for several Bentley racing programs, including the Continental GT3, contributing to the cars’ success across multiple championships.

The partnership with the Crewe marque has also helped secure some of Bentley’s most significant achievements, including the production SUV record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the Bentley Bentayga in 2018, followed by the outright production car record with the Bentley Continental GT in 2019. Most recently, in 2024, the Continental GT Speed set a speed record inside a subsea tunnel in Norway.