MTB Tire Test: Pirelli Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition
Contents and Test Summary
- Introduction
- Manufacturer Specifications
- Size, Weight, Thickness
- Rolling Resistance: 28.8 Watts
- Puncture Resistance: 30 Points
- Static Wet Grip: 68 Points
- Conclusion: 3.5 / 5 Recommended
- Comments
- Pirelli Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition
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After testing nearly all of Pirelli's road bike and gravel bike tires, we're finally going to look at one of their mountain bike tires: the Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition. As the name suggests, the Scorpion XC RC is designed as an all-round XC tire that should serve various conditions, from casual weekend carving to demanding racing conditions.
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We've tested the 29x2.4 Lite version, that's tubeless-ready but doesn't come with reinforced sidewalls to keep the weight to a minimum. If you prefer reinforced sidewalls and don't mind the additional weight penalty (50 grams for the 29x2.4 version), you should opt for the ProWall version of the Scorpion XC RC. Even though the Lite version doesn't come with reinforced sidewalls, we had no problem with inflation or sealing of the Lite version.
From experience with other tires, reinforced sidewalls don't add much rolling resistance (probably just 1 to 2 watts per tire), and the reinforced sidewalls are usually the better choice in a tubeless set up. If you need that last bit of rolling resistance and low weight performance, we recommend the Lite version over the ProWall version.
Unlike most of Pirelli's gravel bike tires that use their SpeedGrip compound, the Scorpion XC RC comes with their SmartGrip compound. We're not sure we had the SmartGrip compound in the test lab yet, but it's an indication Pirelli's mountain bike and gravel bike tires are more different than you might expect.
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer Specs | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pirelli |
| Model | Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition |
| Year | 2023 |
| Supplied By | Bought in store |
| New or Used | New |
| Mileage | 0 km |
| Price Range | High |
| Buy At | Ad Amazon.com |
| Manufacturer part number | 3022100 |
| EAN | 8019227402216 |
| TPI | 120 |
| Compound | SmartGrip |
| Bead | Folding |
| ETRTO | 60-622 |
| Size Inch | 28" |
| Width Inch | 2.40 |
| Specified Weight | 650 grams |
| Max Air Pressure (psi) | 58 |
| Made In | Members Only |
| Available Sizes |
29x2.2 29x2.4 |
Pirelli Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition Test Results
Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements
| Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Specified Weight | 650 grams |
| Measured Weight | 625 grams |
| Measured Width Carcass | 57 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Width Tread | 58 mm |
| Measured Height | 56 mm (un-round) |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.0 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 4.0 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Center (excluding knobs) | 2 mm |
| Measured Total Thickness Sidewall | Members Only |
| All size measurements are taken at an air pressure of 35 psi / 2.4 bars on a 17.8 mm inner width rim. | |
Rolling Resistance Test Results
| Rolling Resistance Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Inner Tube | None (40 ml sealant) |
| Rolling Resistance 55 PSI / 3.8 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 45 PSI / 3.1 Bar |
Members Only |
| Rolling Resistance 35 PSI / 2.4 Bar |
25.4 Watts CRR: 0.00761 |
| Rolling Resistance 25 PSI / 1.7 Bar |
28.8 Watts CRR: 0.00863 |
| All numbers are for a single tire at a speed of 29 km/h / 18 mph and a load of 42.5 kg / 94 lbs. Use the formula: RR (Watts) = CRR * speed (m/s) * load (N) to calculate rolling resistance at a given speed and load. |
|
Puncture Resistance Test Results
| Puncture Resistance Test Results (higher is better) | |
|---|---|
| Total Puncture Score Tread | 30 Points |
| Total Puncture Score Sidewall | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Tread Total Tire Thickness | 2 mm |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Sharp Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Puncture Force Blunt Needle | Members Only |
| Sidewall Total Tire Thickness | Members Only |
Hard Surface Static Grip Test Results
| Static Grip Test Results | |
|---|---|
| Wet Grip Average | 68 Points |
| Wet Grip Center | Members Only |
| Wet Grip Edge | Members Only |
| Measured Knob Height Center | 2.0 mm |
| Measured Knob Height Edge | 4.0 mm |
| Grip in points = coefficient of friction * 100 MTB grip test rim width = 30.0 mm |
|
| Wet Grip Test and Off-Road Tires (info) | |
Conclusion
- Pirelli Scorpion XC RC Lite Team Edition
(100% is fastest - lightest - highest - strongest)
The Pirelli Scorpion XC RC doesn't blow us out of the water when it comes to its overall performance in our tests. Rolling resistance is quite high for a "lite" all-round XC mountain bike tire that also doesn't offer impressive puncture resistance of either the tread or sidewalls.
What saves the Scorpion XC RC is its performance in the hard surface wet grip tests, where it comes out as the best gripping mountain bike tire when we look at the average grip. Most of this high average grip comes from the very strong performance in the center grip test; the edge grip is still decent but not as impressive.
It's not an overall great performer, but if you're not too worried about rolling resistance, we can see it working well in areas where its strong points meet your needs.
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RATING:
3.5
/ 5
TEST VERDICT:
Recommended