Between winter tires and regular all-season tires, some drivers prefer the convenience of not having to change tires between seasons. There are several types of all-weather tires, but they are not all equal. Between Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs Toyo Celsius tires, which are the best tires for you?
With this detailed comparison between both models, blackcircles Canada helps you make the right selection.
How do Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs Toyo Celsius tires compare?
Both Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires and Toyo Celsius tires belong to the same category of tires: winter certified all-season tires, also called “all-weather tires”. In fact, they also both have the three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol, which certifies that they are capable of facing winter conditions.
The Toyo Celsius is already known for the excellent value it offers. In 2015, this model was among the first of the all-weather tires to be created. In fact, this category has become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks to efficient technology and innovation developments.
This Toyo tire is just as suited to sedans and minivans as it is to crossovers and SUVs. It is a tire that is offered in dimensions ranging between 14- and 20- inches, with H, S, T, V and W speed ratings.
When it comes to the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive, it is a new model in this segment. This tire was revealed in 2022 and focuses on offering the best, with technologies that were recently developed by Pirelli.
This Pirelli tire is made for crossovers, SUVs and pickups. For touring car drivers, the manufacturer offers another model, the Cinturato WeatherActive. The Scorpion comes in dimensions ranging from 17- to 22- inches, with H, V, W and Y speed ratings.
Both also offer XL dimensions, for those who need a higher load index.
At first glance, both tires are easy to tell apart. On the one hand, the Toyo Celsius tire has an asymmetrical tread. Among other things, it stands out with the sipe design, which are more abundant on one side for winter traction, and less numerous on the other side.
On the other hand, the Scorpion WeatherActive has a directional tread, which was designed for quick water evacuation. It also has a zigzag shaped groove and the center along with multiple sipes.
Several other aspects and features can also be compared, but you should first understand what makes the models different when it comes to technical features.
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive: Specs
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires arrived on the market with key features, like:
- A flexible rubber compound with a polymer/resin
Thanks to this new and innovative tread compound, Pirelli creates a tire that can offer good performance levels both in the summer and in cold temperatures. The flexible compound maintains good traction in the winter, while also offering more durability than one would expect from a winter tire in warmer temperatures.
- Deep sipes
The continuous sipe design allows the tire to grip onto the road, especially when it matters, like when covered in water or snow. Moreover, the sipe depth ensures that traction is durable, even as the tire wears.
- Zigzag and “trumpet” shaped grooves
The directional tread allows for quick water evacuation out and away from the tire surface; this is even improved thanks to the grooves’ “trumpet” shape. Moreover, the zigzag shaped central groove contributes to both water evacuation and better traction on slippery road surfaces.
- Optimal durability
The tire’s long and narrow footprint creates a uniform contact surface with the road that helps avoid uneven wear. The 3- rib treadblock design also helps increase the tire’s rigidity. These features contribute to the tire’s excellent durability.
- A comfortable driving experience
The tread’s rounded shape and a block design that ensures a smooth transition while driving, both contribute to providing you with a comfortable and quiet driving experience. The void ratio distribution was also designed to help noise from forming within the tire.
Toyo Celsius: Specs
Toyo Celsius tires rank high in the all-weather tire category, thanks to features such as:
- Multiwave sipes
To ensure maximum traction on snow, this tire is equipped with mutliwave sipes which help improve block rigidity. They are also more numerous and dense in the internal part of the tire, for more grip while cornering, braking and accelerations.
- Snow claws
For even more traction in deep snow, gripping edges are added to the interior and exterior grooves in order to offer better maneuverability. The tire also has a jagged-edge tread for maximum traction.
- Wide evacuation grooves
To drive on water or melted snow, you need wide grooves! This tire is equipped with circumferential grooves and wide lateral grooves that provide you with maximum grip levels.
- An evolved rubber compound and tread design
On top of the performance it offers on wet or snow covered roads, Toyo also focuses on comfort and durability. The design helps ensure a comfortable drive on dry roads as well. As for the flexible rubber compound, it ensures excellent all-season performance while also optimizing the tire’s lifespan.
Moreover, the tire has staggered tread blocks, designed to help reduce noise.
- Alignment indicators
The Celsius is the manufacturer’s first tire with indicators integrated into the blocks. They will allow you to quickly detect uneven wear caused by bad alignment, for example. This will help you correct the problem quickly and, by doing so, prolong your tire’s lifespan!
Choosing between the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive and the Toyo Celsius
Apart from the dimensions, which obviously need to be suited to your vehicle, there are several different factors that can help determine which model is best for you. So, which should you choose between the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs Toyo Celsius?
Firstly, it is important to remember that Pirelli makes high-end tires –including this model-, while Toyo is known for the excellent price-quality ratio it offers. In fact, the Toyo Celsius is a more affordable choice, but that offers excellent value for your money. If your budget is limited but you are still looking for a tire that is safe for you to use year round, this is an excellent model for you.
As for the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive, it integrates the latest Pirelli technologies and provides you with performance levels that are truly among the best for this segment. If you are looking for a more refined driving experience, then this is the tire for you.
What helps the Toyo tire stand out is the internal part, which has narrower grooves, blocks that are closer together and a higher number of gripping sipes. This design allows the tire to better grip onto the road surface, but also improves overall road handling. As Mathieu St-Pierre mentions, for Auto123, “steering response is quicker and the car’s overall dynamics are improved ”.
According to different test drives that were completed by AutoBild, it offers good road handling on snow, along with short braking distances. Maneuverability is just as good on wet or dry roads.
However, for competitive braking distances on wet roads, the Pirelli tire is hard to beat. The tread focuses on performance under the rain, where it offers optimal maneuverability and traction. It is a premium tire with a remarkably comfortable driving experience that is also precise and natural.
Comparing warranties
Despite a higher price, Toyo still seems to offer a warranty that is similar to the one offered by Pirelli. In fact, the “Millenium” warranty includes a 5- year warranty on materials and workmanship. Limited warranty on wear reaches 100,000 km for dimensions with an S, T and H speed rating. When it comes to models with a V or W speed rating, they still come with a generous warranty of 80,000 km.
As for Pirelli, limited warranty on tread life is also 100,000 km. Moreover, both manufacturers provide you with added peace of mind thanks to a 30- day satisfaction guarantee.
No matter if you seem to be leaning towards the exceptional price-quality ratio the Toyo Celsius tire offers or a higher-end model like the Pirelli, you will find them at the lowest price with blackcircles Canada. Get your hands on a good deal for performance tires!
