Ferrari 550 tyres and Pirelli's odd stance

[tristanrogers]

I needed to change all four tyres on my 550 Maranello. The car was on the original Pirelli P Zero Rosso - 255/40/18 front and 295/35/18 rear. I started to look online and quickly realised that the rears where available but the fronts were not. To cut to the chase, the only place who said they could get Rossos for the front was a Ferrari main dealer, and at a cost £360 each. As I wanted originality, I bit the bullet. However, when I went to collect the car, the tyres were not Rossos but Rosso Direzionales. These are a completely different tread pattern.

When I complained, I was told they were correct. Clearly, however, they could not dispute that the tread was different to the rear tyres, and different to the tyres that were removed from the front axle, the original Rosso. The dealer got in touch with their account Manager at Pirelli, who sent this response:

"The P Zero system (for P Zero Giallo and Rosso) concept was to use a directional front tyre in conjunction with an asymmetric rear, when used on rear wheel drive sportscars. Front engined/front wheel drive vehicles would usually have been fitted with an asymmetric pattern all round.

I have been Pirelli’s account manager for Ferrari (and all other high performance marques) for nearly 20 years and have always recommended this fitment.

The only 255/40R18 P Zero Rosso that we still make is the Direzionale pattern"

An extract from the February 2000 P Zero Rosso's press release was also included:

"And then there is safety in the wet: behind all P Zeroes are years of intensive study of profiles, tread compounds and patterns which guarantees the ultra-low profile will provide maximum safety in potential aquaplaning situations. To the point that Pirelli introduced the exclusive P Zero System, two different tread patterns for a car’s front and rear axles, which provide exceptional handling in wet and dry conditions.

So, pretty definitive stuff from the Pirelli guy. However, when looking at the catalogue that was attached to the email, it showed that only the 550, 575 and 355 are assigned different tyres front to rear. All the newer cars have matching axles. So, as far as I can see, the statement of "maximum safety in potential aquaplaning situations" seems inconsistent as all the newer Ferraris are on matching tyres.

Anyway, the whole thing has left me rather frustrated and confused. I have never heard such a policy before, and the car used to run on a matching set of Rossos (as did a previous 550 I had). If anyone can shed any light on this, I would love to get your views. Thanks.

[Gnevans]

Sounds the automotive equivalent of builder bullst. Whatever that may be?

[johnnyreggae]

tristanrogers said:

I started to look online and quickly realised that the rears where available but the fronts were not. As I wanted originality, I bit the bullet.

Your research appears to have been trumped by your originality requirement - as you saw Pirelli's website too shows currently no non-winter tyres in 18 in for 550 or 575 so a change of brand would appear to have been necessary - possibly to Michelin PS4

Edited by johnnyreggae on Thursday 28th January 08:40

[cgt2]

550's drive far better on Michelins in my experience. Better steering, crisper turn in and ride. From memory the factory offered a choice of tyre manufacturer when new so they didn't necessarily have to be Pirelli.

[ANOpax]

tristanrogers said:

When looking at the catalogue that was attached to the email, it showed that only the 550, 575 and 355 are assigned different tyres front to rear. All the newer cars have matching axles. So, as far as I can see, the statement of "maximum safety in potential aquaplaning situations" seems inconsistent as all the newer Ferraris are on matching tyres.

Not all the tyre patterns on the newer Ferraris are matching sets. My FF's Michelin Aplin winter set have very different tread patterns front/rear which is consistent with Pirelli's "maximum safety" claim in low grip conditions.

[john_1983]

I could be wrong, but I vaguely remember something about the 355 having asymmetric tyres on one axle and not the other, similar to the explanation given by Pirelli

[TonyAM66]

cgt2 said:

550's drive far better on Michelins in my experience. Better steering, crisper turn in and ride. From memory the factory offered a choice of tyre manufacturer when new so they didn't necessarily have to be Pirelli.

+1 Agreed - I run mine on Michelins and IMO the all-rouunf driving dynamic is superior than when previously shod with the Pirellis.

[F355GTS]

john_1983 said:

I could be wrong, but I vaguely remember something about the 355 having asymmetric tyres on one axle and not the other, similar to the explanation given by Pirelli

Yes 355's are Asymmetric rear and Directional front, Car is very sensitive and I can confirm fitting Asymmetrics to the front is a bad thing to do!!

[456mgt]

cgt2 said:

550's drive far better on Michelins in my experience. Better steering, crisper turn in and ride. From memory the factory offered a choice of tyre manufacturer when new so they didn't necessarily have to be Pirelli.

This. True on all cars in my view. They're in a different league to Pirelli.

[harrykul]

There was also a Bridgestone OEM tyre, which my car is shod with.

[tristanrogers]

Thanks, Everyone for the feedback. The Ferrari dealer ended up sharing with me the Pirelli catalogue that shows the Direzionales on the front of the 550 and the Asymetricos on the rear. So, at some point, either Pirelli or Ferrari decided this was the correct tyre set for the car.
In response to other recommendations, I did try to find a matching set of Michelins, but I could not find PS4s for both axles. Anyway, I now have the Pirellis and I will see how I get on. Thanks again.

[barchetta_boy]

It's not builder's bullst, this is how the P Zero system works. If you want originality, you have it. Otherwise, fit PS4S

[MDL111]

My main takeaway from the post - Did I read that right, your car up until now was on a set of tyres that are c 20 years old?
I bet those were fun to drive ....

[mrditto]

Just to complicate things a little further, these are pictures of a Pirelli leaflet showing recommended fitments for various Ferrari models.









According to the leaflet, 575 is asymetric rears and directional fronts and 550 is asymetric all round.

It is a very old leaflet though and their current recommendations may have changed since then.

Edited by mrditto on Tuesday 27th April 18:06

[john_1983]

Seemed daft to start another thread so bumping this back to the top. I've always struggled to get rear tyres in the correct size for my 550s and had to use Bridgestones the last few times.

I want Michelins, and noticed a 550 for sale with 285/40 Michelins on the back, which I can get in a PS4S. Does anyone run rear tyres in this size?