Pirelli Scorpion MTR Tire Review and Rating

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Pros

  • Slightly cheaper than premium models
  • Top-notch performance on mud and gravel
  • Decent performance on dry surfaces
  • Can tackle unpacked snow very good
  • Self-cleaning tread

Cons

  • Not the quietest tires on for highway driving
  • Limited size options
  • Rock-crawling capabilities are slightly behind the best

What are the features of the Pirelli Scorpion MTR?

With over 150 years of tire heritage, Pirelli is not a tire manufacturer that produces bad models, and the same can be said about the Scorpion MTR.

While Pirelli advertises it as an all-season and all-terrain SUV tire, I’d say that it’s more of an off-roading tire than a touring one.

Pirelli Scorpion MTR Tire Review

An all-terrain tire should be tough for non-ideal driving conditions, which is the first thing worth mentioning about the Scorpion MTR. Like most mud-terrain tires, Pirelli designed it with a reinforced and thicker sidewall to prevent accidental damage to the sides. Considering the primary use case for this model, it is understandable why it’s designed to be more durable than most road tires.

Another significant characteristic on the side of the tire is the additional layer around the bead which protects the rims from damage in some extreme off-roading scenarios.

Most of the features of the Scorpion MTR revolve around the tread pattern. The transversal grooves are larger and, combined with the more rugged tread compound, give them off-roading capabilities. They improve the grip on most off-roading surfaces while improving traction when you’re going downhill.

An off-road tire loses its performance once the tread gets filled with dirt and mud, which is why Pirelli designed the Scorpion MTR with a self-cleaning tread pattern. Thanks to it, the gravel, mud, and dirt get channeled out, ensuring that the tires have maximum grip at all times.

This aggressive tread pattern and self-cleaning design also help in snowy and wet conditions on the road. It can help keep the tread clean of snow so that the tires can bite down and find traction. A similar story is with wet surfaces, where the water gets channeled outward, enabling the blocks to stick to the pavement.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The Scorpion MTR, like most off-road tires, are acceptable to be driven on dry tarmac, as long as you keep in mind that they are not touring tires and don’t expect too much from them.

You will have a decent amount of grip, enough for everyday driving. The stability at higher speeds is also decent, just as is the braking distances.

Going into a corner is where you will definitely feel that you have off-road tires. The higher sidewall means that they will flex in the bends, meaning that you shouldn’t push them too hard.

Overall, the performance is okay on dry tarmac if you don’t push the tires too much or expect them to break world records.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The wet and slippery road results are a bit better, despite not being designed explicitly to those conditions.

As I mentioned previously, the tread pattern and sipes help evacuate water from beneath the tire, enabling the blocks to grip on the pavement. This design helps with traction in the corners as well as braking distances. The aquaplaning resistance is also good enough for most people.

Don’t expect to compare the wet performance with some decent touring tires, as the Scorpion MTR won’t outperform them. With that said, they are still decent in these kinds of conditions.

How is it over snow?

The snow performance of the Scorpion MTR will mostly depend on the type of snow you plan to drive it on. Unpacked snow with a loose surface beneath will not be a problem for these tires. Thanks to the tread pattern and deep grooves, they can dig down and find grip with ease, even in deeper snow.

On the other hand, packed snow is not something you’d want to encounter with these tires. You will have very limited traction, and tires will constantly struggle for grip. In this case, they are incomparable with dedicated winter tires.

If you are off-roading on snow, then you won’t have too many issues, but on the pavement with packed snow, the tires will not perform anywhere near as you’d want them to.

Is it comfortable and refined?

If you’ve ever driven off-road tires, you probably already know the answer to this question.

On the comfort side of things, the Scorpion MTR are decently comfortable tires. The high sidewall means that it can flex slightly more than regular road tires, meaning that it can absorb bumps quite nicely. While I wouldn’t compare them with touring tires, in this department, things are not so bad.

One thing I will criticize the Scorpion MTR about is the road noise. At lower speeds around town, things are not that bad until you get on the highway. At higher speeds, the noise may be a problem on longer journeys.

Off-road tires are not known for being quiet, but the Scorpion MTR is not the quietest of the bunch.

Is it good for off-roading?

Off-road is what the Scorpion MTR is all about, but not without some slight drawbacks.

Starting with the positive, these tires are among the best you can find for mud, sand, or dirt roads. The tread design enables them to dig in and find traction even when you think that it’s impossible to do so.

One area where it falls slightly short is rock-crawling. I don’t claim that it’s terrible at it, but some of Scorpion MTR’s rivals are a tad better.

In general, I have to say that these are impressive off-road tires that won’t put you in a situation where you’ll be asking for more out of them.

Is the Pirelli Scorpion MTR ideal for sporty driving?

Let’s be honest; off-road tires are not designed for sporty driving. The Scorpion MTR is a set of tires that can drive okay under normal conditions but don’t like it when you push them too hard. For sporty driving, get yourself some high-performance tires, and you’ll be good to go.

Should I buy the Pirelli Scorpion MTR?

Considering the main application for the Scorpion MTR, I would say that they are worth every penny, as long as you are off-roading constantly. While Pirelli advertises them as all-terrain, they won’t replace touring tires.

If you spend more time on paved roads and do off-road occasionally, then the Scorpion MTR may not be an ideal option. When you look at purchasing these tires, first check if you can benefit from them.

Pirelli Scorpion MTR Warranty

Off-road tires are designed to be put under a lot of stress and non-ideal conditions. With that in mind, these kinds of tires don’t come with any warranty from the manufacturer. The same goes for the Scorpion MTR, so don’t expect a warranty from Pirelli.

Pirelli Scorpion MTR Pricing: Is it worth the money?

When you look at the overall performance of the Scorpion MTR, factor in the price; you have excellent tires that are totally worth it.

With a starting price a tad north of $200, these tires may seem expensive, but they are a good bargain in reality. You will get slightly better performance in terms of rock-crawling with other more costly tires, which may be worth it for the most extreme cases.

The Scorpion MTR is more than capable for regular off-roading and is an excellent option if you don’t need that extra 1% performance.

Conclusion

The Scorpion MTR is a set of tires that I can find too many faults with. When you drive them on the road, they will perform adequately, as long as you don’t start to get too enthusiastic. You will start to notice a drop in grip in those cases, as you would with any off-road tires. Great for regular driving, but not so good for a sprint down the twisties.

In off-road conditions, the Scorpion MTR feels like home. There is hardly any scenario where you will feel that you need better-performing tires. While rock-crawling is not the best, and you will find models that perform better, you should keep in mind that you will be paying a premium price.

One of the most significant downsides to the Scorpion MTR is the available sizes. With only a handful of dimensions that Pirelli offers, things can get pretty limiting.

What Vehicles Will the Pirelli Scorpion MTR Fit?

  • Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser, Tacoma
  • Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee
  • Ford Ranger
  • Land Rover Discovery
  • Mitsubishi Pajero

Combining the limited tire options means that there aren’t too many models where you can fit the Scorpion MTR. Keep in mind that the biggest limitation is the size of the rims. Some other models can accommodate these tires, but you will need to double-check with the retailer

Tire Sizes for Pirelli Scorpion MTR

16″

  • 265/75R16
  • 285/75R16

17″

  • 285/70R17

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