Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Our Alfa is getting through front tyres at an astonishing rate. One of the parties responsible explains why

YOU’VE GOT ME THIS MONTH, not our Quad’s regular custodian, Mr Gallagher, but sadly that’s not an indicator that I’ve snaffled the keys to our beloved Alfa on a more permanent basis. No, my act of putting fingers to keyboard this month is for rather less savoury reasons, and it concerns the Alfa’s tyre-wear issues.

The conversation with the editor, somewhat one-sided, went something like this: ‘You destroyed them at Rockingham, so you can write about it.’ Fearing the headmaster’s office, I immediately pointed out how hooligan James Disdale had done the same to another set on a different occasion and, please sir, that’s so unfair, sir. James is on holiday, though, so I’m writing this.

So what exactly is going on? Have we suddenly turned into thugs every time we get a sniff of a circuit? Well, I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. I managed to melt the front Pirellis over the course of just four laps while filming a video. It was hardly ragged-edge stuff, and there were a cooling off laps in between, too. Also note how we’re talking about the fronts here, not the rears, as you might expect with a 500bhp rear-drive supersaloon.

When our Giulia undertook twin-test duties against a BMW M3 Competition Package earlier this year ( evo 237), John Barker noticed the treadwear rating on the Alfa’s front Pirelli P Zero Corsas – an almost unbelievably low 60. By comparison, the M3’s Michelin Pilot Super Sports are rated at 300.

This means the Alfa’s rubber is extremely sticky. After a few laps of a track they are so squidgy to the touch they feel more like liquorice than tyres. Great if you’re using them as one-lap ‘qualifiers’ at the Ring with a Pirelli support truck in the paddock; less good when you’re paying for them yourself.

Frankly, I was amazed at the carnage just a few laps could wreak on the P Zeros. Great chunks of rubber had been lost from the tyres’ shoulders, and the main bands of tread had been warped sideways, wearing unevenly. I don’t think we’ll be using our Quadrifoglio on track again anytime soon. Then again, maybe we should try some Trofeo Rs…

‘I was amazed at the carnage. Great chunks of rubber had been lost from the tyres’ shoulders’