Pirelli has developed a dedicated 21-inch P Zero R tyre for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, combining dual-compound technology, wet-weather performance and precise handling for Formula 1 Safety Car duties.
Pirelli has developed a bespoke P Zero R tyre specifically for the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, which has been introduced as the first Official FIA Formula 1 Safety Car equipped with fully variable all-wheel drive. The ultra-high-performance tyre has been designed to deliver strong dry-weather performance, precise steering response and controlled handling in wet conditions during Safety Car deployments.
The new tyre uses a dual-compound tread and a dedicated tread pattern developed through Pirelli’s virtual simulation and vehicle-specific testing processes. Engineers optimised the two compounds, land-to-groove ratio and tread-channel dimensions to work with the Mercedes-AMG’s suspension geometry and camber characteristics. This approach is intended to maximise the tyre’s contact patch, improve grip and steering precision, and provide greater high-speed stability.
The bespoke P Zero R measures 21 inches and has been engineered to handle the performance of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+. The vehicle is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing 450 kW, or 612 hp, and 850 Nm of maximum torque. Its fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system can generate rapid load transfers, placing additional demands on tyre grip, stability and response.
Pirelli and Mercedes-AMG refined the tyre through extensive testing at the Nürburgring and Nardò. The testing programme involved Official FIA F1 Safety Car driver and AMG brand ambassador Bernd Mayländer, along with other experienced Safety Car drivers. The testing focused on consistency, grip and performance across a wide range of driving conditions.
The project is part of Pirelli’s long-standing role in Formula 1 as the championship’s sole tyre supplier, a position recently extended through 2028. The company says experience gained from developing and testing tyres in motorsport provides valuable input for its road-tyre technology and innovation programmes.
The new P Zero R also continues the long-running technical relationship between Pirelli and Mercedes-AMG. The two companies have collaborated on more than 150 tyre fitments, with vehicle-specific development beginning during the early stages of model development. The new tyre carries the MO1 marking on its sidewall, identifying it as a specification developed specifically for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+.
The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series previously served as the Official FIA F1 Safety Car from 2022 to 2026 and was also equipped with Pirelli P Zero tyres. The latest development therefore extends Pirelli’s involvement with Mercedes-AMG’s Safety Car programme while introducing a new tyre tailored to the capabilities of the latest vehicle.
The collaboration also builds on other high-performance projects between the two companies. Most recently, a Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres set a Nürburgring Nordschleife record for its vehicle segment with a time of 7:32.070.
Pirelli’s latest development demonstrates how motorsport requirements can drive highly specialised tyre engineering. By combining virtual development, vehicle-specific tread design and extensive track testing, the company aims to provide the new Formula 1 Safety Car with the grip, consistency and control required to operate safely at high speeds in changing conditions.