Pirelli just dropped what might be its fastest mountain bike tire yet — the Scorpion XC RH (Racing Hardpack). Designed for modern cross-country race conditions where speed is everything, but, as the tagline says, “power is nothing without control”. This Italian-made tire is built for efficiency, precision, and control on hardpack terrain. Oh, and it’s over 40% faster than the previous-generation RC.
Made entirely at Pirelli’s Milan–Bollate facility using FSC-certified natural rubber, the Scorpion XC RH rounds out the brand’s top-tier XC lineup alongside the Scorpion XC RC and XC M.
And this one isn’t just another lab project. It’s already been under the fastest legs in the sport; riders from Alpecin–Deceuninck, Trek Factory Racing–Pirelli XC, BMC Factory Racing, and Klimatiza Orbea have been testing it all season. In fact, Samuele Porro raced it straight to silver at the 2025 Marathon World Championships in Valais, Switzerland.
Built for Hardpack Speed
The new RH tread pattern is pure race engineering. A wide, tightly packed central band of low-profile knobs minimizes rolling resistance while smoothing out vibrations. Moving outward, the shoulder lugs, borrowed directly from the Scorpion XC RC, deliver the kind of cornering traction you usually lose with ultra-fast tires.
The result is a tire that rolls like a road slick but still bites when you lean it over through dusty, loose corners. Pirelli calls it their most efficient XC tread ever, and internal testing claims it’s over 40% faster than the previous-generation RC.
Race Compound
At the heart of the new Scorpion XC RH is Pirelli’s updated Race XC compound, the brand’s fastest off-road rubber to date. The Race XC compound is developed by the same engineers who created the MotoGP and World Rally compounds. This new formulation strikes that impossible balance between chemical grip and straight-line speed.
The RH’s compound was tuned explicitly for compact terrain and high-intensity racing. Blending ultra-low rolling resistance with stable cornering at max effort needed to squeeze out every ounce of speed. Pirelli says it’s within the company’s top percentile for speed, but still maintains that crucial bite for mixed surfaces.
Casing Options: Lite or ProWALL
Like its siblings, the RH comes in two constructions:
- LITE – the lightest option for pure race-day setups.
- ProWALL – redesigned with a reinforced 120 TPI nylon layer and improved sidewall structure for added stability and puncture protection.
Both casings are tubeless-ready and optimized for 29 x 2.4” setups. Riders can choose between standard graphics or the Team Edition, the same version used by Pirelli’s World Cup athletes.
Available now in 29×2.4”, Lite or ProWALL casings, from Pirelli retailers and online.
Look for a review coming up when our samples arrive!
