Pirelli P Zero

January 2009. The Pirelli P Zero is a luxury high-performance tire, reviews say. New Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches come fitted with P Zeros, and you'll pay about $200 each if you buy them yourself. No tire gets a better grip on dry or wet roads, expert tests show. Testers say the P Zero also delivers a surprisingly comfortable ride, for a high-performance tire. However, the P Zero isn't recommended as often as the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (*est. $185). Besides being slightly less pricey, tests find that the PS2 offers less rolling resistance than the P Zero (which can mean better gas mileage), and it is less likely to hydroplane.

Consumer Reports compares the Pirelli P Zero with 20 other ultra-high-performance summer tires in its most recent tests. The Tire Rack also conducts expert tests, but it compares the P Zero against only three other tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posts official treadwear, traction and heat-resistance scores for the Pirelli P Zero in its searchable database of tire ratings. Reviews of the P Zero at CanadianDriver and Car and Driver are derived from demonstrations at a Pirelli press event.