Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 90%
Wet Conditions – 90%
Snow – 70%
Comfort – 90%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 80%
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The automotive industry isn’t standing still and is constantly evolving. Cars are becoming better, bigger and more powerful, meaning that the tires need to follow the lead. Manufacturers are pushing the limits of what their tires can do, which is why we see such major improvements in tires from the past and this decade.
Tires these days have become quite good at what they do, so if you were to compare a performance model from 20 years ago with a new grand touring model, you’ll find there won’t be a massive difference. Sure, one will be better at some things, but it won’t be a night and day difference.
Thanks to the advancements in technology and materials, tire manufacturers can offer more, which is why we see new models every few years. Of the relatively new-ish models comes from Italy.
Pirelli announced the Cinturato WeatherActive in 2022 as a grand touring model, but unlike some of its rivals, this is an all-weather tire.
Pros
- Does very well in snowy conditions
- Wet performance is excellent
- Easy to handle on damp roads when pushed to the limit
- The comfort levels are very good
Cons
- Doesn’t deal with too many inputs when pushed hard on dry roads
- There is a slightly noticeable tone over certain roads
The Features of the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
The Cinturato WeatherActive is a grand touring tire, and most of the features revolve around longevity and dependable performance throughout the year.
A crucial performance aspect of any all-weather tire is the snow performance. This model comes with the 3PMSF rating, which is backed by the tread pattern, especially the zig zag central groove. This should help it deliver the necessary traction to be better than all-season models in snowy conditions.
To cover as wide a range of weather conditions as possible, Pirelli used an upgraded rubber compound that features a polymer/resin system. Based on the company’s claims, this should help it deliver excellent wet and winter performance, while maintaining its longevity.
The tire’s design features a V-shaped pattern, with a section that’s crucial or wet performance. The lateral grooves are shaped like trumpets and designed to move water from beneath the tire as efficiently as possible, which should provide exceptional aquaplaning resistance.
As tires wear, they lose a bit of performance, especially in rain or snow. To combat this, manufacturers design the pattern with deep and continuous sipes. This should allow the tire to continue performing well even when the depth is reduced. The company achieved this by designing the tire in such a way that even at 10% remaining tread, there will be 66% of the sipes visible.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive in Dry Conditions
As a grand touring option, the Cinturato WeatherActive offers pretty good performance in dry conditions.
The tire can deliver high levels of grip and traction, making it an exceptional option for daily driving scenarios. You’ll hardly notice it struggling, meaning you won’t feel like it’s lacking, even if you push it.
In more dynamic driving situations, the tire’s performance levels are more than enough even for aggressive drivers. With that said, there is a point where it will become too much for it. It’s not in terms of the performance, but in the way it won’t like too many inputs at once. This doesn’t take away from the fun on a twisty road, but at a certain point, you’ll feel like the tire doesn’t like it.
One area worth praising is the handling. It’s not a performance tire, but for a touring one, it’s pretty good. The tire responds fairly quickly and offers plenty of feedback, making it solidly dynamic considering its category.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive on Wet or Slippery Roads
I feel like wet is where the Cinturato WeatherActive truly shines.
Driving on damp roads is something this tire can do with ease. The traction is excellent, preventing any slip, even when you have a heavy right foot. Cornering isn’t a problem as well, meaning the grip levels will keep the tire planted in most scenarios. The braking distances feel like a slight downside. They’re short, which is expected from a premium tire, but they’re a tad behind the CrossClimate 2. One good thing is that unlike on dry roads, the tire doesn’t struggle too much with inputs and remains easy to handle even at the limit.
Pirelli’s V-shaped pattern with the trumpet-shaped grooves evacuate water very efficiently, making it a very stable tire in pouring rain.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive in Snow
Tires like the Cinturato WeatherActive come with a 3PMSF rating, making them all-weather tires, meaning that the winter performance is pretty good.
The tire ability to provide traction on snowy surfaces is pretty good. Pirelli’s tread pattern does a phenomenal job and the tire bites into snow well and offers a dependable performance. Surprisingly, it won’t struggle on packed snow like some of its rivals do. The braking distances are solid, but trail behind Bridgestone’s WeatherPeak. It’s not a tire that can compete with dedicated winter models, but it does a better job than many all-season ones.
You don’t get this kind of tire for its ice performance, but you expected to get something usable out of it. In these conditions, Pirelli’s model does a decent enough job to keep you safe, as long as you’re not asking too much of it.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Off-Roading
The Cinturato WeatherActive is a tire for passenger cars, which don’t do well in off-road conditions. Plus, it’s a tire designed to be used on paved surfaces, meaning you won’t get any usable performance out of it. The tire could be acceptable on hard packed surfaces or maybe very shallow mud patches, but you won’t be wowed by its performance.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive for Sporty Driving
Even though it’s not a tire designed for this kind of driving, there is some sportiness to it. The performance levels are superb, and the tire will handle aggressive drivers decently well. It backs this up with the dynamic handling, so it’s not the worst option in this category. The only thing letting it down a bit is that it won’t deal with many inputs when you’re at the limit.
Does the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Ride Comfortably?
Refinement is something the Cinturato WeatherActive does well, but there are some aspects that need a bit of work.
A comfortable ride experience is something this tire can deliver with no issues. Yes, the slightly stiffer sidewall means there is some firmness to it, but it’s far from harsh and uncomfortable. The tire’s ability to absorb bumps and imperfections is excellent, and you’ll notice its firm nature only when driving on bad roads. Even then, it’s still comfortable enough.
The noise levels are pretty good, but this is the area where some things can be improved. It’s a relatively quiet tire, for the most part. Surprisingly, the noise isn’t too terrible on bad roads. The problem is smoother ones, where you’ll hear tones that some of its rivals don’t have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a quiet tire, but it’s no Turanza QuietTrack.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Warranty
The Cinturato WeatherActive comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is pretty good, but not impressive. As a comparison, this is on the same level as Michelin’s flagship grand touring model, which doesn’t offer the longest warranty in this segment.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
Pirelli’s models aren’t the most affordable ones, but they’re often far from the most expensive, which is the case with the Cinturato WeatherActive. Looking at a common 18-inch size, the tire is positioned between the DriveGuard Plus and PureContact LS. The only thing worth mentioning is that the Continental tire has a lower speed rating than the other two.
Should I Buy the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive?
As one of Pirelli’s latest models, the Cinturato WeatherActive is a tire that can do almost everything well, despite some slight drawbacks.
The overall performance of the tire is excellent in multiple conditions. There’s more than enough grip and traction throughout the year, which the tire combines with some excellent handling characteristics. Surprisingly, it doesn’t handle as sporty on dry roads as some of its rivals, but it’s not the world’s worst option.
On the other hand, you have refinement which is almost perfect. The comfort levels are good, despite the firmer nature of the tire, but the noise levels aren’t the lowest in its category. It’s priced somewhere in the middle of the premium class and a slight complaint is in terms of the warranty, which isn’t the longest in this segment.
As a package, the Cinturato WeatherActive is excellent. It offers more than enough performance for most people, and it combines it with excellent refinement and super handling characteristics. It’s a tire you should definitely consider.
What Vehicles Will the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive will fit:
- Acura ILX
- Audi A5
- BMW 5 Series
- Genesis G70
- Infiniti Q70L
- Lexus IS
- Linkoln MKZ
- Subaru Legacy
- Toyota Camry
- Volkswagen Jetta
Tire Sizes of the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
16″
- 205/55R16 91V
- 205/65R16 95H
- 215/60R16 95V
17″
- 215/55R17 94V
- 225/50R17 94V
- 225/55R17 97V
- 235/55R17 99H
18″
- 225/40R18 92W XL
- 225/45R18 95Y XL
- 225/50R18 95V
- 235/45R18 98W XL
- 235/50R18 97H
- 245/40R18 97Y XL
- 245/45R18 100V XL
- 245/50R18 100W
- 255/40R18 95Y
19″
- 225/40R19 93Y XL
- 235/40R19 96W XL
- 245/40R19 98V XL
- 245/45R19 102V XL
- 255/35R19 96Y XL
- 275/35R19 96Y
- 275/40R19 101Y
20″
- 245/40R20 99Y XL
- 275/35R20 102Y XL
