Pirelli’s P Zero Race TLR RS tyre is billed as the first tyre in the cycling industry to use FSC-certified natural rubber. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council – a globally recognised NGO devoted to responsible forest management.
The TRL RS tyre, made in Pirelli’s Milan-Bollate plant in Italy, is the first in a future range featuring FSC certification. It indicates that the natural rubber used comes from plantations managed to preserve biodiversity, also helping to benefit the lives of local communities and workers.
FSC is a recognized global authority that certifies materials of forest origin. The certification process provides that the material with the FSC logo is managed separately from any non-certified material throughout the entire supply chain.
A dedicated monitoring system has had to be introduced in the entry and exit points of all materials used in FSC-certified products in the Pirelli’s Bollate plant. The plant itself has been completely renovated and converted for the production of bicycle tyres.
World Tour team Lidl-Trek is taking the P Zero Race TLR RS to major professional races and grand tours all over the world, and the FSC-certified tyre is now available for sale via international retailers. The certification of its forest origin components will be highlighted by a logo engraved on the side of the tyre.
“Choosing to increasingly use FSC certified natural rubber in our products is in line with Pirelli’s attention towards nature and biodiversity,” said Piero Misani, Pirelli’s Chief Technical Officer.
“Environmental and social commitment is combined with the pursuit of high performance that does not compromise on safety to meet the expectations of professional cyclists and the most demanding amateurs. Our Formula 1 experience, where starting from this year all tyres contain FSC-certified natural rubber, is proof of this: environmental awareness can and must be complemented with safety and top performance levels.”
P Zero Race TLR RS is a tubeless-ready tyre and is the latest evolution of Pirelli’s road bicycle tyre offering. Specifically developed for competitions, its focus is grip in all weather conditions and low rolling resistance.
The thickness of the tread and the structure’s fabric layers have been modified to reduce weight and contribute, together with the compound, to reducing rolling resistance.
For a number of years, Pirelli adds that it has been devoted to responsibly managing its natural rubber supply chain, by training and sharing best practices in the material’s countries of origin, in line with the principles and values contained in its Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy, launched by the company in 2017.
