255/60 R 15 102W PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12

PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CN12: The Low Profile performance Tire

Pirelli first introduced the PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CN12 tire in 1971 in order to meet the specific needs of the new high-performance vehicles of the day. These vehicles required larger rear tires to enhance their performance capabilities. Pirelli recognized the demand for a tire size that was not commonly available at the time, particularly the low profile 255/60 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12, and saw an opportunity to cater to this niche market.

By developing the CN12, Pirelli aimed to provide a tire that would offer exceptional performance, traction, and handling characteristics. The larger dimensions and low profile of the CN12 contributed to improved stability, cornering capabilities, and grip, allowing drivers to fully exploit the potential of their high-performance vehicles.

Introduced specifically for the Lamborghini Miura SV, 255/60 WR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12 tires were designed to provide exceptional performance for large section applications. As development progressed, there was a particular focus on creating high-performance tires with a lower profile than was previously imagined.

The Cinturato CN12 played a crucial role in enhancing the Lamborghini Miura SV's final iteration. With tire sizes reaching an impressive 255/60 WR15 on the rear, these tires were significantly larger than their counterparts at the time. This ground-breaking size prompted other prestigious brands like Aston Martin, Maserati, and Jensen to adopt the 255/60 WR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12, recognizing its exceptional qualities. Similarly De Tomaso began adopting the CN12 for use on its performance vehicles. Additionally, the Cinturato CN12 now offers a range of 15" tires that are particularly well-suited for late e-type and XJ6 Jaguars.

The tire size 255/60 R 15 is relatively uncommon, and for some time, there was a lack of high-performance tires available in this size. However, the demand for a larger rear tire arose when Lamborghini developed the SV version of the elegant Miura. To address this need, Pirelli introduced the 255/60 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12 specifically for the rear, complemented by the 215/70 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN12 HS for the front.

During 1979, Aston Martin made further enhancements to its V8 Vantage model by introducing wider 15" wheels. To complement this upgrade, Pirelli's 255/60 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12 tires were fitted, which remained the preferred choice for Aston's Vantage models until 1984. At that point, they switched to fitting 275/55 R15 P7 Pirelli tires. Nevertheless, the article below suggests that the 255/60 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12 tires were still favoured, even after Aston later transitioned to 16" wheels. 255/60 R 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12 was also considered a significant improvement for standard V8 and V8 Volante models.