Overview
The Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 is Pirelli’s flagship all-season tire designed specifically for modern SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks. Targeted at American drivers seeking year-round confidence and long tread life, it blends responsive handling, comfortable ride quality, and reliable grip across a range of weather conditions. With a performance focus tuned for daily driving, family safety, and occasional light snow, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 is a popular choice for vehicles like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
This review focuses on two of its most common US sizes: 235/60 R18 and 265/60 R18, which fit a wide variety of midsize and larger SUVs.
Key Specs
| Type | All-Season Touring (SUV/Crossover) |
| Available Sizes Range | 17″ to 22″ rim diameters, section widths from 225 to 315 mm |
| Speed Rating Examples | H (130 mph), V (149 mph), T (118 mph) |
| Load Index Examples | 99 (1709 lbs), 104 (1984 lbs), 110 (2337 lbs) |
| Tread Pattern | Symmetric, full-depth sipes, wide circumferential grooves |
| Technology Highlights | Advanced silica compound, 3D sipe tech, optimized pitch sequencing for noise |
Performance: Dry
On dry pavement, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 feels reassuringly stable and predictable for an all-season tire in the SUV segment. Steering response is crisp for daily driving, and the tire holds its line well during moderate cornering or evasive maneuvers. Braking distances are competitive, with good bite and consistent feedback, even as temperatures fluctuate. While not a performance tire, it strikes an admirable balance between grip and ride comfort, making it suitable for spirited commutes as well as highway cruising.
Owners of larger, heavier SUVs will appreciate the tire’s reinforced sidewalls, which help reduce squirm and preserve handling precision. Even when loaded with passengers or cargo, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 maintains its composure, resisting excessive flex or roll.
Performance: Wet
Wet weather is a core strength for the Scorpion AS Plus 3. The tread’s four wide circumferential grooves and numerous lateral notches are engineered to evacuate water rapidly, reducing the risk of hydroplaning. In real-world driving, this translates to confident braking and stable handling during rainstorms, with the tire maintaining grip during both gentle and sudden steering inputs.
Traction on damp roads is above average for the segment, and the tire feels secure when accelerating from a stop or making emergency stops. The advanced silica compound remains pliable in cooler, wet conditions, helping to preserve grip when other all-seasons might start to feel compromised.
Performance: Snow & Ice
As a true all-season, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 is designed to handle light to moderate snow, making it a viable option for drivers in regions with occasional winter weather but not prolonged deep snow or ice. Full-depth 3D sipes create additional biting edges, improving grip in slushy or packed snow. Starting, stopping, and steering remain manageable in up to a few inches of snow, but the tire’s limits become apparent in more severe or icy conditions.
On ice, performance is typical for the all-season category: adequate for rare, unexpected patches, but nowhere near the traction or confidence of a dedicated winter tire. For drivers in snowbelt areas or those confronting frequent ice, a true winter tire remains the safer bet.
Comfort & Noise
Pirelli’s focus on ride quality is evident in the Scorpion AS Plus 3. The tire absorbs bumps and road imperfections well, delivering a supple, composed ride even on rougher city streets or pitted highways. Its optimized tread pitch sequencing and variable sipe design help suppress tread pattern noise, resulting in a cabin experience that’s impressively quiet—especially for an SUV tire.
At highway speeds, wind and chassis noises are more noticeable than anything generated by the tires. Around town, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 stays unobtrusive, with only minor feedback from expansion joints or potholes.
Durability & Economy
The Scorpion AS Plus 3 boasts a robust treadwear warranty—up to 70,000 miles—making it an excellent long-term investment for high-mileage drivers, commuters, and fleet operators. Its advanced compound is formulated to resist uneven wear, and many drivers report uniform tread depth and shape even after tens of thousands of miles.
Rolling resistance is moderate, contributing to reasonable fuel efficiency for the SUV segment. While not the lowest-rolling tire in its class, it doesn’t impose a penalty at the pump. In the US, the typical UTQG rating for the Scorpion AS Plus 3 is 800 A A, indicating high treadwear and strong traction and temperature resistance scores.
Sizes & Alternatives
Popular sizes:
- 235/60 R18 (Toyota RAV4, Ford Edge, Honda CR-V)
- 265/60 R18 (Chevrolet Traverse, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer)
- 255/55 R20 (Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Mercedes GLE)
- 225/65 R17 (Subaru Outback, Mazda CX-5)
- 275/45 R21 (BMW X5, Audi Q7)
Key rivals:
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Continental TerrainContact H/T
- Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra
- Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
- Cooper Endeavor Plus
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent dry and wet grip for an all-season SUV tire
- Remarkably quiet and comfortable ride
- Strong treadwear warranty (up to 70,000 miles)
- Confident light snow traction for the class
- Wide range of sizes for SUVs and crossovers
Cons
- Not suitable for prolonged or deep snow/ice (not a winter tire)
- Rolling resistance is average, not best-in-class
- Dry handling less precise than some performance-oriented competitors
- Price point can be slightly higher than value-focused rivals
Verdict
The Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 stands out as an exceptionally well-rounded all-season tire for US SUV and crossover drivers. Its blend of dry and wet performance, plush ride comfort, low noise, and impressive tread life make it a strong choice for families, commuters, and anyone who needs a reliable, fuss-free tire for year-round use. While it won’t replace true winter tires for harsh conditions, it’s more than capable for the vast majority of American winters and excels in rain and dry climates alike.
Those prioritizing comfort, longevity, and balanced all-weather confidence will find the Scorpion AS Plus 3 difficult to beat in its class. Enthusiasts seeking sharper handling or drivers in persistent snow regions may want to explore more specialized options, but for everyday SUV owners, this Pirelli delivers on its promises.
Does the reinforced sidewall noticeably impact ride comfort for daily commutes, especially for those of us with older Grand Cherokees that already ride a bit firm?
The reinforced sidewall of the Scorpion AS Plus 3 does add a bit of firmness, which can be more noticeable on older Grand Cherokees with already stiff suspensions. Most drivers find the impact mild, but road imperfections might feel sharper compared to softer-walled tires. For daily commutes, the comfort trade-off is usually modest, but it’s something to consider if ride softness is a top priority.
How does the tread life of the Scorpion AS Plus 3 compare to similar all-season options from Michelin or Continental, especially for someone who drives a lot of highway miles?
The Scorpion AS Plus 3 is designed with a long tread life in mind, offering a 70,000-mile warranty, which is quite competitive. Michelin and Continental offer similar warranties on their all-season SUV tires, like the Michelin Defender LTX M/S or Continental CrossContact LX25. For heavy highway driving, you can expect comparable tread life among these top brands, with actual longevity depending on driving habits and maintenance.
With the tire being available in sizes up to 22 inches, do you think the noise suppression holds up as well on the larger diameters, or does cabin noise become a concern?
The Scorpion AS Plus 3 is designed to minimize road noise across all sizes, including the larger 22-inch options. While larger diameters sometimes transmit a bit more sound due to thinner sidewalls, real-world feedback suggests the tire’s noise suppression remains effective and shouldn’t be a major concern for most SUV drivers.