Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 vs Verde All Season

Diving into the Crossover/SUV Touring realm with Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 and Verde All Season, let’s find a better pick for you here.

Main Highlights

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 excels in:

• Wet performance: Quicker lap times and shorter braking in wet conditions.
• Winter traction: Enhanced snow-to-snow contact for better handling.
• Fuel efficiency: Lower rolling resistance for better fuel economy.
• Comfort: Softer rubber and added layers for a smoother ride.

Detailed discussion on AS Plus 3: https://tiredriver.com/pirelli-scorpion-as-plus-3-review/

Whereas Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season excels in:

• Dry braking: Shorter stopping distances due to better rubber-to-road contact.
• Noise reduction: Less cabin noise with Noise Cancelling System.
• Overall handling: Quick lap times and responsive steering.
• Stability: Stiffer construction for a stable ride.

Detailed discussion on Scorpion Verde: https://tiredriver.com/pirelli-scorpion-verde-all-season-review/

Sizes Specifications

Feature	Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season	Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3
Rim Sizes	16 to 20 inches	17 to 22 inches
Speed Ratings	H and V	T, H, and V
Load Ratings	SL and XL	SL and XL
Weight Range	26 to 40 lbs	29 to 42 lbs
Tread Depth	9 to 12/32″	11/32″ on all
UTQG Rating	600 A A	800 A A
Treadwear Warranty	65k miles	70k miles

Overall Dry Performance

Unpacking a tire’s dry performance involves scrutinizing its linear and lateral grip as well as steering response. Let’s take a closer look.

Directional Grip

When we talk about linear/directional grip, we’re really discussing how well a tire can stick to the road when you hit the brakes.

And here, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season is a bit of a standout. Comparatively, the tire stops about 1 foot shorter on average compared to its counterpart.

So, why is it better?

Well, simply put, the tire provides greater rubber-to-road contact with its middle most rib.

I mean, sure, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 competes here with more biting edges for grip, but this is a double-edged sword. I mean, more features on the tread causes less rubber to actually contact the road, lowering its braking efficacy.

And yes, the AS Plus 3 is also heavier and bulkier, which means it carries more momentum, especially at higher speeds. This makes it harder to stop quickly compared to its more streamlined counterpart.

Overall Handling

Handling in tires is all about two key factors: their side-to-side holding power (lateral grip) and how quickly they respond to steering (steering responsiveness).

Now, looking at the lateral grip first, both tires are pretty competitive, and honestly, it’s tough to declare a winner just based on my tests of lateral g-forces.

However, when you bring steering responsiveness into the equation, things get interesting.

Steering is a three-part story:

• Cornering Entry: This is about slowing down right before you take the turn.
• Mid-corner: This is where tire’s susceptibility to understeering or oversteering is checked.
• Exit: This is post-corner, where the tire’s ability to realign and get back on track is put to the test.

With the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3, it doesn’t quite dominate in cornering entry or exit. Though it’s not the best at slowing down before the turn, it does recover and straighten up quite quickly after the turn.

However, the mid-corner phase is the real deal-breaker, where the AS plus 3, being a bit heavier, tends to understeer, which isn’t ideal.

So, while both tires show strong lateral grip, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season pulls ahead, giving you quicker lap times on average. It’s all about how they handle the corners, and in this case, the Verde just does it better.

Wet Performance

Wet performance in tires mainly hinges on the design and function of their grooves and sipes. These elements are crucial for moving water away to maintain contact between the tire and the road, which is key for grip.

Basically, grooves are the big players in water evacuation, significantly impacting how a tire handles hydroplaning. On the other hand, sipes take care of the leftover water by flexing and creating a suction effect (imagine them breathing in and out water as the tire rolls).

Within this context, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 stands out in wet conditions. It’s known for quicker lap times (by about 2 seconds on average) and shorter braking distances (6 feet less) compared to Verde All Season.

This performance boost comes from its advanced siping design, where the tire features angled slits on each rib, which are great for pushing water (out) in all directions.

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde AS, however, struggles a bit here.

Its stiffer rubber composition makes it harder for the sipes to flex and create the suction needed for optimal water dispersal.

So, even though it has plenty of sipes, they can’t do their job as effectively because the tire’s harder rubber doesn’t let them bend as much.

Moreover, the tire’s groove design doesn’t help much either.

It’s less effective at getting rid of water compared to the AS Plus 3’s “interconnected” channels.

So its not just lacking in wet traction, but also when it comes to resistance to hydroplaning.

Overall Comfort

Driving comfort is shaped by two key elements: the volume of noise from the tread and how effectively the tire cushions against road irregularities. We’ll examine these aspects in detail.

Noise Reduction

The design of a tire’s tread plays a key role in how much noise it makes while rolling.

Here’s the deal: the noise mostly comes from air particles smacking into the tire’s tread.

These particles usually slip into the tread via shoulder gaps and, on hitting the surface, create sound vibrations. These vibes bounce around in the tread grooves, making in-groove resonances that add to the overall noise, further.

Now, the Scorpion Verde All Season is doing better here, comparatively, particularly in sizes equipped with Pirelli’s Noise Cancelling System.

This tech involves sticking a layer of sound-absorbing foam onto the tire’s inner liner, which significantly cuts down on the noise which enters the (vehicle’s) cabin.

Impact Comfort

Of course, a tire’s ability to glide smoothly over roads, soaking up the bumps and jolts, depends on its internal and external construction. It needs to be flexible enough to handle vibrations effectively.

Taking the lead here is the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3, thanks to its relatively softer rubber. This tire benefits from a more complex build, including an extra polyester layer in its casing and an additional nylon cap ply.

These features, along with the tire’s slightly deeper tread, enhance its ability to absorb bumps. There’s more space for the vibrations to dissipate, making for a smoother ride.

On the other hand, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season, while stable, doesn’t offer as smooth a ride. It tends to feel rougher, especially when you’re cornering.

This is likely due to its stiffer nylon reinforcement in the shoulders, paired with tougher rubber. This combo can make the ride less comfortable, particularly noticeable when you’re looking for that seamless driving experience.

Winter Traction

When we talk about winter traction, both tires do a decent job. But it’s important to note that neither secures the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, which is a big deal.

Why? Well, although I’ve talked about it in detail here, simply put, this certification means a tire is about 10% better at accelerating in snowy conditions compared to regular all-season tires.

So, without this certification, it’s clear both tires have their limitations, particularly on ice. Sure, there are better options, (especially in grand touring category), and you might want to explore those using my site’s search.

But between the two, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 pulls ahead with its performance in snow. This tire is packed with features like curved notches and siping slits in its tread.

Particularly on its central rib, the tread splits into wavy and linear siping patterns.

In simpler terms, this tire has slits going every which way, which really boosts its contact with snow. This is key because snow sticks better to itself than to rubber, so more snow-on-snow contact means better braking and handling.

The Scorpion AS Plus 3 also has a slightly more open tread design, which helps it pick up and throw back snow, enhancing acceleration. Plus, its shoulder siping, with a mix of lateral and diagonal cuts, provides even better handling in colder environments.

Fuel Consumption

Fuel efficiency is pretty much tied up with a tire’s rolling resistance, which is affected by how much the tire weighs and how it grips the road.

Here’s the deal with grip: Tires with more traction elements, or “biters,” create more friction with the road, which naturally means your car uses more fuel.

In this context, the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season, with its higher number of biters, naturally creates more friction and, therefore, tends to guzzle more gas.

Also, this tire’s heftier build puts more stress on its lugs when they hit the road, ramping up the friction even further.

On the other side, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 stands out as the more fuel-efficient option. Its sleeker design, combined with a shallower tread and reinforced ribs, helps it resist bending too much.

This means it doesn’t use up as much energy reshaping its tread or dealing with heat, leading to a more fuel-friendly ride.

Wrapping Up

In sum, both the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season and the Scorpion AS Plus 3 have their strengths and weaknesses across various performance metrics. The Verde All Season offers superior dry braking and noise reduction, thanks to its specialized tread design and noise-canceling tech. However, it falls short in wet conditions and fuel efficiency, where the AS Plus 3 shines with its advanced siping and leaner build. The AS Plus 3 also leads in comfort and winter traction, making it a versatile choice despite some handling drawbacks. Ultimately, the right tire depends on your specific needs, balancing dry performance, handling, comfort, winter safety, and fuel economy.