Pirelli is an iconic tyre brand in the motorcycle industry that boasts a record of over 82 world titles. In 2025 Pirelli released a new version of their Pirelli Scorpion MX32 MidSoft tyre that was unveiled to the world being used by riders in the MXGP World Championship in Italy, bringing success to Tim Gajser and Andrea Adamo. The Pirelli MX32 MidSoft tyre was already popular right around the motocross paddocks; in fact, its popularity even extended into the enduro scene, with many enduro and trail riders also claiming the MX32 MidSoft to be their favourite tyre of choice. We at ADB have run many shootouts, tests and even raced with the Pirelli Scorpion tyre range, with them always giving us great results. With all this praise and success on one range of tyres, it would be easy to rest and allow the tyres to sell themselves, but instead Pirelli is a company that relies on being innovative, and resting on their popularity was never going to be enough. So Pirelli set about improving the tyre and created one with better durability and performance, which we were able to test out on several different makes and models at Australian superbike legend Troy Bayliss’s private test track in sunny Queensland.

Pirelli’s updated MX32 MidSoft tyres feature several key changes aimed at improving durability, grip, and stability. The front tyre now has a stiffer structure with two new off-centre knobs down the middle, no centreline knobs, and a revised sidewall compound, all designed to enhance corner entry and braking stability. The rear tyre introduces new scoop-shaped lateral knobs for better drive, reshaped side knobs to cut weight and reduce tearing, plus a softer vertical cap for bump absorption. Both tyres use a new tread compound and sidewall material to improve wear, and Pirelli has added high-visibility sidewall logos to finish the redesign.

Front Tyre

The new Pirelli MX32 MidSoft front tyre now has a stiffer structure and a new sidewall compound. My biggest complaint about the old model was the soft sidewalls, which meant you needed to run heavy-duty tubes in the tyres to get a better feel and to prevent pinch flats. I also felt the front tyre wandered and felt vague on corner entry, but the new tyre pattern from Pirelli has set about fixing that. The new design features no centreline knobs but instead has two off-centre knobs that run down the middle of the tyre. These knobs, along with the rest of the knob configuration, are designed to bite into the dirt and penetrate for better stability and traction. One of the key areas Pirelli said they wished to address with this change was stability under brakes and corner entry.

Rear Tyre

The new Pirelli Scorpion MX32 MidSoft rear tyre has new lateral-shaped knobs that not only improve torsional stiffness but also work like a scoop to bite into the dirt. The knobs are shaped and designed to prevent tearing, and the side knobs are designed to reduce rotational mass. The structure of the tyre is stiffer, as is the sidewall, but the vertical cap of the tyre has been made softer to help with bump absorption. The older model MX32 MidSoft was a very good tyre with great drive and straight-line traction, but it wasn’t long lasting. The soft structure meant the tyre would get torn up and worn very quickly, so Pirelli has set about keeping all the performance of the old MX32 MidSoft but making it more durable.

In the Dirt
On the track, the improvement in these tyres is felt right away. The front tyre is more planted and stable, especially when braking hard, but possibly my favourite improvement with these tyres is the lean angle. Braking and even accelerating hard while on a lean used to be a little dicey, but now the lean-angle grip is incredible. It took me a few sessions of pushing the tyres to learn how hard I could go and what I could get away with. To my surprise, I got away with far more than I thought possible. The front tyre hooks up well in ruts and doesn’t give up or slide on fast corner entries. I used to get a vague feeling in the old front tyre and felt it wandered under hard braking, but all the improvements Pirelli made feel like they were in exactly the right areas.

The rear tyre hooked up in this terrain perfectly. On flat turns, a little bit of pressure on the outside footpeg meant the tyre would bite in and drive, no matter how far over I had the bike leant. The old MX32 MidSoft was a really good driving tyre that, performance-wise, was hard to fault. My only gripe with it was that it wore quite quickly and didn’t last very long. Unfortunately, I would need to put these tyres through a long-term test to tell you just how well they wear, but with the stiffer sidewalls and knob configuration I think it would be safe to say Pirelli has been able to develop and build a more durable tyre without losing any performance at all.

The Track
Troy Bayliss’s private track is quite unique. It is set up with a main grass-track section that winds itself around the paddocks, and right next to that is a full-size flat track situated alongside the fence line for passing motorists to pull up and get a full-on show for free. The soil Troy has here is a farmer’s dream. It is rich, thick soil that is great for riding in. Troy grades the soil then waters it in, so it was the perfect condition for these MX32 MidSoft tyres. Also on Troy’s property is a full-size straight rhythm track that is unlike anything else I have ever seen sitting in someone’s paddock.

Fun Fact
Pirelli was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1872 by Giovanni Battista Pirelli. Initially the company focused on rubber products before expanding into tyre production, with the first bicycle tyre coming in 1894.

Rub down
It’s no surprise to me that Pirelli has been able to improve on their already great MX32 MidSoft tyre. They are innovators in their field, and it’s not the first time we have seen them improve on something when new technology becomes available. These guys know that to stay at the front of the industry you need to keep growing and developing, and they do it very well. They have managed to improve on an already great tyre, but even better, they have been able to make it more durable while gaining even better performance. This was only a short one-day test for us, so just how much more durable these tyres are and whether they work in an enduro setting aren’t questions we can really answer just yet. We would even like to know for our own sake: “Do these tyres respond better with heavy-duty tubes like the old tyres, or can they handle standard tubes?” These are all questions we will get answers to in coming issues, so bear with us while we hit the dirt and figure this all out for you guys. In the meantime, be sure to give the Pirelli MX32 MidSofts a go—you won’t be disappointed.

What’s New?

  • Two new off-centre knobs on the front tyre to enhance stability and control.
  • The innovative front tyre pattern features no centreline knobs, while the new configuration enhances mechanical grip where the tyre penetrates into the soil.
  • The rear tyre has new lateral knob shapes that enhance torsional stiffness.
  • The rear knobs are now configured in a scoop shape for enhanced lateral thrust.
  • The tyres are made from a new tread compound to improve wear.
  • Rear knobs shaped to reduce tearing.
  • New shoulder knobs that reduce weight.
  • Both front and rear tyres get a new sidewall compound to improve the tyre’s feel.
  • The front tyre receives a new stiffer structure.
  • The rear tyre receives a softer vertical cap.
  • New high-visibility sidewall logos added to both front and rear tyres.