Pirelli's New Scorpion XC RH - The Fastest XC Tire They've Ever Made

"Pirelli just dropped what might be its fastest mountain bike tire yet - the Scorpion XC RH (Racing Hardpack). Designed for modern cross-country race conditions where speed is everything, but, as the tagline says, "power is nothing without control". This Italian-made tire is built for efficiency, precision, and control on hardpack terrain. Oh, and it's over 40% faster than the previous-generation RC."

"Made entirely at Pirelli's Milan-Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber, the Scorpion XC RH rounds out the brand's top-tier XC lineup alongside the Scorpion XC RC and XC M. And this one isn't just another lab project. It's already been under the fastest legs in the sport; riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Trek Factory Racing-Pirelli XC, BMC Factory Racing, and Klimatiza Orbea have been testing it all season. In fact, Samuele Porro raced it straight to silver at the 2025 Marathon World Championships in Valais, Switzerland."

"The new RH tread pattern is pure race engineering. A wide, tightly packed central band of low-profile knobs minimizes rolling resistance while smoothing out vibrations. Moving outward, the shoulder lugs, borrowed directly from the Scorpion XC RC, deliver the kind of cornering traction you usually lose with ultra-fast tires. The result is a tire that rolls like a road slick but still bites when you lean it over through dusty, loose corners."

Pirelli's Scorpion XC RH is engineered for modern cross-country racing on hardpack terrain, prioritizing speed without sacrificing control. The tire features a wide, tightly packed central band of low-profile knobs to minimize rolling resistance and smooth vibrations while shoulder lugs borrowed from the Scorpion XC RC provide cornering traction. The tire is manufactured at Pirelli's Milan-Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber and joins the Scorpion XC RC and XC M in the brand's top-tier XC lineup. The updated Race XC compound balances chemical grip and straight-line speed, leveraging expertise from MotoGP and World Rally developments. Pro-level teams have tested the tire in competition.

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