In the world of bicycle tires, where performance has long trumped provenance, sustainability is gaining traction. Tire makers now flaunt green credentials, some more credibly than others. Pirelli, for its part, aims to lead, not follow.
Pirelli’s latest offering, the Cinturato EVO TLR, is emblematic of its ambitions. A successor to the popular Cinturato Velo, the new tire claims a 40-percent improvement in lifespan while maintaining its hallmark grip and puncture protection. Yet its most striking features are not its specs, but its materials. Produced in Milan-Bollate, the Cinturato EVO TLR is composed of over 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials, verified by Bureau Veritas. The tire is also FSC certified.
“We do not believe there are insurmountable problems when it comes to making bicycle tires more sustainable,” says Aldo Nicotera, head of moto & cycling business at Pirelli. “There are challenges that require time and investment. Among these, the increasing use of recycled materials is an important challenge for the near future.”
A closer look behind the scenes shows that Pirelli’s efforts go beyond headline-grabbing product launches. The company is investing heavily in transforming its entire value chain, from sourcing to manufacturing. The Milan-Bollate factory serves as a case study in sustainable industrial overhaul. Already powered by 100-percent purchased renewable electricity, the site is set to achieve full electrification of its presses by 2030. It also uses only FSC-certified natural rubber—a milestone Pirelli plans to replicate across all its European factories by the end of 2026.
One of the main hurdles, Nicotera explains, lies in materials innovation. “An in-depth study on materials is underway, particularly on new natural-origin polymers capable of better performance than the raw materials currently in use.” One challenge, he notes, is scaling up the use of recycled materials without undermining product reliability and performance. “These innovative materials must have performance no lower than traditional ones, in terms of durability, resistance, elasticity, and naturally weight, grip and friction,” Nicotera emphasizes. That principle guides a research strategy spanning multiple business units and product categories, he adds.
Pirelli’s cross-sector R&D ecosystem accelerates this progress. Technologies first tested in motorsport or automotive applications often find their way into cycling. The company’s use of lignin—a bio-based byproduct from the paper industry—is a case in point. Initially developed for e-MTB tires to enhance tear resistance, the compound has since been applied to car tires, demonstrating how cycling innovation can ripple outward.
This knowledge transfer is intentional. “The research and development teams that develop innovative compounds, technologies, and prototypes, and perform tests within the Milan headquarters, are transversal,” says Nicotera. “Their results serve the car, cycling, motocross and Formula 1 sectors alike.”
In a sector still learning to reconcile high performance with low emissions, the Italian tire manufacturer is making a case that both are possible. The Cinturato EVO TLR may be just one tire—but it rolls on the momentum of a much larger shift.
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