Pirelli Scorpion XTM Tire Review: Passing the Desert Torture Test?
The Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT tire excels in rugged conditions, proving durable and effective on off-road SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco in the Mojave Desert. It offers strong grip and minimal wear, and is available in multiple sizes, including options for electric vehicles.
This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next
Pirelli positions the Scorpion XTM as the next step in its Scorpion lineup, just ahead of the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tire. Where the previous Scorpion might have looked tame, the Scorpion XTM AT glares at you with a chunky sidewall design that hints at the tire's rugged construction.
Looking closer at the sidewall reveals another key feature of the Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT—the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.
This means the tire is certified for severe snow service and should perform better than an average tire (accelerating in a straight line) on a packed-snow surface.
Tread blocks are spaced to create larger voids than the average all-terrain tire, reinforcing the Scorpion XTM AT's ability to clear itself of mud when it spins.
When driving on gravel, a common failure point for tires is when small stones become lodged in the tread and drill into the carcass, a process known as stone drilling. The Scorpion XTM AT has elements built between the treads to eject those stones before they can damage the tire.
We put the Scorpion XTM AT to work beneath two popular off-road SUVs: the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Ford Bronco Badlands. Owners of these vehicles often choose tires based on their off-road capability, reliability, and appearance; we sought to evaluate the tire in each of those aspects.
When fit inside the wheelwells of the Wrangler and Bronco, the Scorpion XTM AT looked right at home. Where some tires just appear round and black, the Scorpion XTM AT asserts itself as aggressive the moment you lock eyes with its sidewall.
We hit the desert—hard. Fifty miles of high-speed dirt track lay ahead of us, and the trail was littered with fist-sized rocks ready to tear into any unlucky sidewalls or tread patches. We dipped into the throttle and sent the SUVs ripping across the desert, free to steer with the rear end on the loose turns. When the rpms settled, we inspected the tires for any signs of chunking, dangling tread elements, or slashes to the sidewalls. This type of terrain has spelled disaster for many tires before, but we were impressed by how the Scorpion XTM AT fared. The tires barely looked used.
Pointing the SUVs at a series of rocky hill climbs demonstrated more of the tire's off-road grip. Where some all-terrain tires spin and slip climbing up rocks, the Scorpion XTM AT used its large tread blocks and voids and clawed up every incline.
Although it is in no way a sand paddle, we slashed across the dunes with ease.
After the tires had seen a full day of relentless off-road punishment, we lapped the Broncos around a cone course in the dirt. No driver was shy about throttle application through the series of tight turns, and every part of the tire took a severe beating.
Even after hours of lapping the brutal course, our only quasi-complaint was a few pebbles sneaking between the wheel and the bead—driver error, no fault of the Scorpion XTM AT. Damage report from the treadwear department: The entire fleet of tires looked next to brand-new. No flats, punctures, or sidewall traumas.
Even tires on dedicated off-road rigs must behave on pavement, so we listened closely as we stepped up the speeds on the highway for signs of droning or the telltale 'whum, whum, whum' of a mudder passing by. You will hear more noise than your stock equipment if the Scorpion XTM AT replaces a garden-variety all-season tire. However, in the world of aggressive all-terrain tires, nothing is out of the ordinary. What Did We Learn?
Our time with the Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT wasn't an instrumented test, we didn't compare the tire to any competing products, and our experience was on new tires for a few hundred miles. This was a chance to experience the tire's strengths and really find out if it would fail. We weren't gentle in any way, and since this gaggle of aggressive drivers didn't encounter so much as a sidewall blemish, it means we now vouch for the Scorpion XTM AT's durability.
The Scorpion XTM AT is not just for Jeeps and Broncos. Pirelli offers select sizes of the tire with its Elect technology. This compound promotes low rolling resistance and targets electric vehicle (EV) drivers. We spent time with the Scorpion XTM AT under the Rivian R1S, an electric SUV with upwards of 600 horsepower that weighs more than three tons. Not only did the tire handle the electric SUV's incredible torque on the rocky trails, but it also looked stunning in the wheelwells. It's certainly more aesthetically pleasing than the All-Terrain Plus that was standard on some Rivian vehicles. We hope this new Pirelli will become standard on future Rivians. Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT Sizes
The Pirelli Scorpion XTM AT is available now in select sizes and will ultimately be offered in 37 sizes for 17- to 24-inch wheels. Depending on size, you can have the Scorpion with a speed rating of R (106 mph), S (112 mph), or T (118 mph). Off-roaders will find common flotation sizes, as well.
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