Pirelli is officially known as Pirelli & C. S.p.A. and is an Italian multinational tyre manufacturer with a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1872. Established by Giovanni Battista Pirelli in Milan, the company has evolved from producing rubber goods to becoming one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers.
The Pirelli logo reflects its rich heritage and the evolution of design trends over more than a century. The Pirelli logo is not just a brand identifier; it symbolises the company’s commitment to quality, innovation, and style. The logo has undergone numerous transformations since its inception. The article explores the various logo changes of Pirelli, among other details, that have taken place over the years.
The Genesis of the Pirelli Logo (1888 – 1901)
The inaugural Pirelli logo was introduced in 1888. It featured a circular design with a grey star with a black outline at its centre and the words “Pirelli & C Milano” in uppercase encircling it. Also, the letters “P,” “C,” and “M” were shown inside the circle. This early logo had a simplistic design that starkly contrasts with the confident identity recognised today.
(1901 – 1906)
In 1901, the logo evolved into a more elegant form and adopted a medallion frame adorned with vignettes. Inside the medallion, the wordmarks “P&C” and “MILANO” were placed in two levels. The tagline “Marca Depositata” in black capitals was added outside the frame to enhance its sophistication.
(1906 – 1910)
The next iteration from 1906 to 1910 showcased a vibrant blue octagon framed in an elaborate floral design in golden colours. The octagon featured the overlapping letters of “PIRELLI & C.”. This design marked a shift towards more colourful branding.
(1910 – 1914)
The first text-based logo featuring an elongated “P” with the rest of the letters tucked beneath emerged during this period. Although it was still a work in progress, this version began to establish elements that would become central to the Pirelli identity.
(1914 – 1916)
By 1914, the previous “Pirelli” lettering with an elongated “P” and other letters in tow became bolder and more confident. This change made the logo appear stronger and better balanced and brought it closer to its eventual iconic form.
(1914 – 1916)
This two-level logo iteration had the word “Pneus” added to the brand name. The logo showed the branch of the company in question and created the impression of a pyramid.
(1916 – 1924)
Throughout this period, various modifications were made to the typeface used in the logo. The word “Pneumatici” was added, while adjustments were made primarily to other letters without altering the elongated “P.”
(1917 – 1924)
A new logo introduced in 1917 featured “Pneus Pirelli” in black on a white background by using a handwritten serif typeface. This design emphasised the two elongated “Ps” with their stretched upper parts covering the rest of the letters horizontally.
(1919)
This appeared to be a redesign of the 1914 logo but with adequate spacing added between the seemingly handwritten letters to make the logo look more stable. Also, the individual letters had extended pointed serifs.
(1920)
In the 1920 logo redesign, the elongated “P” was emboldened, and inside its thick stretched loop, the letters “Neus” were placed. The other letters of “Pirelli” were covered below by the stretched upper part of the letter “P.”. The individual letters were thicker at their bases and thinner elsewhere.
(1920)
In another logo redesign of 1920, the refined geometric brand name “Pirelli” continued to feature the elongated upper part of the letter “P.”. The vertical bar of the letter “P” was massive, and the serifs of other letters became prominent. The brand name was followed by a thinly outlined ampersand and a prominent letter “C.”
(1921)
The logo redesign of 1921 saw the logotype rendered using an extra bold serif typeface. Each letter was characterised by its thickness and sharp serifs. However, the stretched loop of the letter “P” had thin lines.
(1921 – 1923)
In yet another logo design of 1921, the handwritten logotype used a sans-serif typeface to look minimalist.
(1924)
The 1924 logo redesign showed the words “Gomme Pirelli” written in the previous logo styles, that is, the first letters stretched and enlarged.
(1924)
Another logo designed in 1924 featured the words “Pneumatici Pirelli” in uppercase and in a modern, bold sans-serif typeface. Also, both Ps in the words are rendered in the same style.
(1924 – 1930)
The third logo, redesigned in 1924, featured the word “Pirelli” using two typefaces. The first letter, “P,” was written using a modern serif typeface, while the rest of the letters were written in a bold sans-serif typeface.
(1930 – 1946)
In the late 1930s, the font used in the “Pirelli” logotype became bolder and thicker. It appeared to project a more complete visual identity. This period marked significant progress toward what would become the modern Pirelli logo.
(1946 – 1970)
The foundational design for today’s logo was established in 1946. This version featured a shield-like emblem comprising the letter “P” in a bold and thick geometric pattern and a black star inside the shield.
(The 1970s)
The logo underwent slight modifications in the 1970s, such as the removal of the serifs and the letters being made straight and fat. The design enhanced the overall presence and completion.
(1974 – Today)
Designed by Salvatore Gregoriette, the logo of 1974, which exists to this day, featured the brand name in red against a white background to symbolise fire and energy.
(1997 – Today)
In 1997, Pirelli introduced its first red and yellow logo. This version emphasised strength and modernity while becoming an instant icon of visual identity. Today, the Pirelli logo is recognised worldwide as a symbol of quality and design excellence.
The Elements of the Pirelli Logo
Font
The typeface used in the Pirelli logo looks similar to House Sans Heavy with a modified R.
Colour
The primary colour of Pirelli is black, which is the colour of rubber, tyres, and asphalt. The secondary colour is pigment red and yellow.
Finally
The Pirelli logo and its various iterations reflect changes in design trends and the growth of the company as a leader in tyre manufacturing. Each logo iteration has contributed to Pirelli’s legacy of innovation and style. The elongated letter “P” remains a central feature of this visual identity, symbolising elasticity. It is the essence of rubber and Pirelli’s commitment to excellence in engineering.