Pirelli Builds a Bespoke Tyre for the New F1 Safety Car, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO

Pirelli has developed a custom 21-inch P Zero R for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, the new official FIA Formula 1 Safety Car. It is the first P Zero R made specifically for an AMG, with a dual-compound tread and a sidewall marking showing it was developed for this model.

A tyre made for the safety car

Pirelli announced on 5 October 2026 that it had developed the P Zero R for the car that now leads F1 fields after crashes and in bad conditions. The 21-inch ultra-high-performance tyre is designed to give qualifying-level dry grip and precise steering response while staying safe and stable in the wet. A safety car often has to keep up a fast pace on tyres that aren’t in ideal condition, in rain or on changing asphalt, which is why it needs this mix.

How it was developed

• Dual-compound tread: built to handle both dry and wet running
• Virtual development: the tread pattern was designed with virtual simulation, then refined with real testing
• Co-development: worked on with Mercedes-AMG engineers in Affalterbach
• Track testing: at the Nürburgring and Nardò, with Bernd Mayländer, AMG brand ambassador and official F1 Safety Car driver, and other experienced safety car drivers

Pirelli says it is the first P Zero R developed specifically for a Mercedes-AMG. The sidewall carries an “MO1” marking, which shows the tyre was developed for this model under Pirelli’s “Perfect Fit” approach.

The car it fits

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ has a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 making 450 kW (612 hp) and 850 Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed gearbox. It is the first official F1 Safety Car with AMG’s fully variable all-wheel drive, which is why it needs tyres that can handle rapid load changes. The car replaced the AMG GT Black Series, which served from 2022 to 2026, and marks 30 years of Mercedes providing the safety car since 1996. It debuted at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July 2026.

Why it matters for drivers

Manufacturer markings such as MO1 mean a tyre has been developed or approved for a specific car. When you replace tyres on a performance car, matching the approved marking helps keep the handling the manufacturer intended. This one is a special-purpose tyre for the safety car, so you can’t assume the same product is sold in your size.

The UAE connection

Pirelli unveiled its 2026 F1 tyre range at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, during a group test with all the teams. F1’s Abu Dhabi round is on the calendar, so UAE fans can see the safety car and its tyres in person.

Sources: Pirelli, P Zero R for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, 5 October 2026; Mercedes-Benz Media, new Official FIA F1 Safety Car; Tire Technology International.