In MOTORRAD (issue 07/2023), sport and sport-touring motorbike tyres were tested on the KTM 390 DUKE in the dimensions 110/70 R17 and 150/60 R17.
Three manufacturers received the test rating "very good" BRIDGESTONE S22, METZELER M9 RR, MICHELIN ROAD 6
One manufacturer received a "good" DUNLOP GPR 300
Two have to be content with a "satisfactory". CONTINENTAL CONTIMOTION CHENG SHIN CST CM-615 CM-616
How MOTORRAD tests
A quick tyre test on a country road? Not conceivable! Such tests are only seriously feasible on specially designed test tracks of the tyre industry. In this case, we were able to use the premises of the Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone in Nettuno (near Rome). For the asphalt test, we used the 2.2 km long "Carrera track" with many bends, for the wet test we used the permanently watered, 1.6 km long handling track. These criteria are the focus of the MOTORRAD evaluation:
*Sections marked with an asterisk are transferable to motorbikes that have a similar geometry to the KTM 390 Duke. **Indicated is the price range for a set of tyres (front/rear) in the tested version in common tyre online shops, as of 1 March 2023.
BRIDGESTONE S22 - "Conclusion: The Bridgestone S 22 is a sports tyre that shines in this test above all with its excellent everyday qualities. Perfect handling is joined by 1a rain qualities with the best braking values in the test."
METZELER M9 RR - Verdict: "Sportiness in sun and rain - the Metzeler is a recommendation for cornering junkies, whatever the weather. For a sports tyre, a very unusual and, in this test, very impressive combination."
MICHELIN ROAD 6 - Verdict: "The bottom line is that the Michelin offers a very balanced package for everyday riding. Beginners who ride their 125 or 48 hp bike year-round will quickly come to appreciate the Road 6's good-natured characteristics."
DUNLOP GPR 300 - Conclusion: "With the Dunlop, an entry-level bike like the 390 KTM in this test clearly gains in sportiness. Even in the rain, the GPR-300 delivers enough grip to push around corners with decent confidence."
CONTINENTAL CONTIMOTION - Conclusion: "In good weather, the ContiMotion is really fun on country roads, even if they are small and winding, and leaves a good impression. In the rain, its restrained grip quickly makes it lack confidence."
CHENG SHIN CST CM-615 CM-616 - "Conclusion: Fair-weather riders on 125s won't feel any shortcomings, but in the rain you quickly reach the CST's limit. On bikes in the 48 hp class, however, the tyre is not a recommendation on dry or wet asphalt."
The entire tyre test can be reordered as a print edition or PDF here.
Also in the next issue there will be a test and technical analysis tyre wear. Which factors are decisive for outstanding mileage?
Expected to hit the market in April 2023, the additional sizes, 120/70ZR17, 180/55ZR17 and 190/55ZR17, expand the range to a total of six sizes.
Although the tire had already been removed from the Michelin portfolio and was no longer available, lo and behold, the MICHELIN PLOT POWER will be relaunched again in 2023.
We cannot say whether so many customers mourned this, and the 2CT remains in the program.
"Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. is introducing DUNLOP SPORTMAX Q-LITE, a versatile diagonal tire with high grip that can be used on a variety of racing tracks and roads starting in the 2023 season. Seven sizes are available.
The Dunlop SPORTMAX Q-LITE has a new design pattern related directly to the high-grip tire of the "Q-series," a single R-tread pattern, a high-grip mixture, and an optimal combination of structures to achieve sufficient grip performance for sporty driving and the road. It is a diagonal tire with a long lifespan. You can confidently drive in various driving situations, from cornering, touring, daily tours, and circuit courses.
Main features and representative technologies
Profil pattern that achieves high drainage performance and wear resistance Long grooves that penetrate the contact area at all lateral inclination angles, changing the angle from the center of the tread to the shoulder to achieve high drainage performance The groove form and angle are improved by wear simulation and enhanced durability by suppressing uneven wear Handling profile for gentle handling By using a single R-profile with a uniform curvature radius of the tread cross section and suppressing ground shape changes during turning, the control performance during turning is significantly improved compared to conventional products
Available in Japan in 2022, probably not available in Europe until 2023."
Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa V4: from track to road, the fourth generation of the tyre that symbolises sports riding.
The new product, both in SP race replica and SC compound versions, is in the final stages of development and testing, to be on sale from the beginning of 2023
The fourth generation of Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa tyres, both in the SP racing street version and SC option (available in different compounds and designed for track use), is successfully completing final stages of development and testing and it will be available to the public from the start of 2023.
Compared to its predecessor, the DIABLO Supercorsa V4 (V4 indicates the fourth generation) is a completely renewed product in terms of tread design, compounds, structures and profiles. DIABLO Supercorsa, both in the racing and in the race replica version, is a tyre homologated for road use and has always been an emblem of pure performance and absolute sportiness, in other words ‘speed’.
Avon Tires has launched the newest member of its motorcycle tire range: AVON 3D SUPERSPORT, a hypersport tire designed for both street and track use to offer riders exceptional grip, handling and stability.
Designed, developed and manufactured at Cooper Tire's European engineering center in Melksham, the Avon 3D SUPERSPORT combines grip and durability to offer sport and superbike riders a superb hypersport package.
Dunlop's long-standing reputation in the field of sports tires brings with the new Dunlop Qualifier Core what matters most to Hypersport tyres: dynamic handling, excellent grip on dry and wet roads.
Modern technology and innovative manufacturing methods allow customers to experience the best performance at a great price that until now has only been reserved for top racing tyres.
HCT technology helps the tough floor deliver superior performance.
The rubber cross section and mold shape were developed using a DFF formula that ensures excellent workability.
The design inspired by the first generation SportSmart tire offers balanced tread stiffness, even tire wear and excellent handling on dry and wet surfaces.
Avon Tyres and two-time Isle of Man TT race winner and former British Supersport champion Steve Plater has become brand ambassador for Avon’s motorcycle tyre range. Avon has been working closely with Plater in recent months to enhance the 3D Ultra Xtreme and 3D Ultra Xtreme Slick products. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the AVON 3D Ultra Xtreme and 3D Ultra Xtreme Slick, along with the wet-weather 3D Ultra Xtreme Rain Racer, are high-performance tyres developed with demanding track use in mind. Cooper has previously introduced brand ambassadors for particular product ranges, like Formula 1’s David Coulthard, who represented Cooper UHP tyres.
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Some of the best-selling mid-range bikes from manufacturers such as Kawasaki, Suzuki or Honda can now be equipped with the new DUNLOP SportSmart Mk3 rear tire size 160/60 ZR17 (69W) SPORTSMART III MK3. Including naked bikes like Kawasaki Z650, Suzuki SV650 or Honda CBR500R, but also Triumph retro models like Thruxton 1200 and Speed Twin or supermoto like KTM 640 LC4 or Husqvarna 701 Supermoto.
The SportSmart Mk3 hypersport tire was launched on the market in 2019 as a high-performance country road tire and has since complemented the SportSmart TT, which is also part of Dunlop's 1st line hypersport tire range and is for both country roads and racetracks (50/50) has been developed.
Along with the Indian Challenger, METZELER CRUISETEC will be original equipment tires of the Indian Roadmaster, Chieftain, Springfield and Vintage models. METZELER SPORTEC M9 RR will now be original equipment on the brand new Indian FTR
The technical partnership between the brands METZELER and Indian Motorcycle forges ahead since the first collaboration between the German-born tire brand and the legendary US motorcycle manufacturer happened in 2019. METZELER brand was chosen as the development partner and exclusive supplier for the powerful touring model, the 2020 Indian Challenger. It was an extremely successful project, thanks to the joint work between two brands that share the same philosophies of enhancing their company heritage and at the same time aiming for the highest level of performance, in compliance with the most challenging quality standards.
The Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM and Continental Motorcycle Tires announce a great cooperation in the new year: the sporty naked bike 890 DUKE will have two hot soles on its rims as standard for its market launch in 2021: the “ContiRoad”. This latest sport touring tire is a new development from Korbach and produced in a Continental factory in Asia using latest machines and technologies. The genes of the multiple test winner ContiRoadAttack 3 were used during its development. The ContiRoad impresses with its agile handling, high mileage, excellent wet performance and grip.
The PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO tyre family enters the new year with record numbers and celebrates the achievement of an important milestone: over five million radial tyres sold since its introduction on the market in 2008.
Respectable numbers that allow Pirelli to announce with great satisfaction and pride the fourth generation of this tyre family, with the arrival of PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO IV, the new supersports product created to continue the history of this successful brand. As the direct successor of DIABLO ROSSO III, DIABLO ROSSO IV raise the bar of this product range even higher, pushing the qualities of handling and grip to the highest levels, both in dry and wet conditions.
DIABLO™ represents Pirelli's excellence in the world of high-performance tyres designed for two-wheeled vehicles. The DIABLO™ product family, after its introduction into the market in 2002, has rapidly evolved to include in its broad portfolio tyres dedicated to other market segments, from professional racing to the supersports road arena. The DIABLO™ brand brings with it more than eighteen years of experience, technology and victories in the most prestigious national and international two wheeled competitions.
Within the DIABLO™ range, the DIABLO ROSSO™ products are dedicated to road machines of a sport leaning. The name DIABLO ROSSO™ was born with the intention of honouring the distinctive colour of the Italian national motorsport team since 1922, which was the colour racing red (PANTONE® 185C).
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The only naked with a supercharged engine currently on the market relies exclusively on PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO III tyres as original equipment in the sizes 120/70 ZR 17 and 190/55 ZR 17
Protagonist at the EICMA show last November and recently presented to the international press in Las Vegas, the Kawasaki Z H2 represents the most radical and powerful motorcycle ever produced of the historic Z series. Now the flagship model of this family, the supercharged naked from Akashi is able to satisfy the most demanding motorcyclists thanks to a long list of cutting-edge technical and electronic features. The most defining feature is certainly the 988cc four-cylinder in-line supercharged engine that is able to deliver up to 200 PS at 11,000 rpm.
To transmit the high power generated by the engine to the ground, Kawasaki has selected Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ III in the 120/70 ZR17 (58W) "K" size for the front and 190/55 ZR17 (75W) "D" for the rear of the Z H2. The version of the front tyre (K) was designed by Pirelli engineers specifically in order to meet the Japanese company's goals in terms of agility and handling. The rear version (D) manages the incredible power and immense torque of the supercharged engine ensuring high stability and traction management.
The top spec tyre from Pirelli’s road range has been confirmed as standard equipment for the most prestigious supersport motorcycles
Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa SP "V3" has received another recognition of its leadership in the segment of racing replica tyres for road use. It has been chosen by Honda, as original equipment for the HONDA CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP (in 120/70 ZR17 front and 200/55 ZR17 rear), the much awaited supersport machines of the Japanese manufacturer. The top performing member of the DIABLO™ road family from Pirelli, now in its third generation, is confirmed once more as the first choice for high-performance motorcycles recently introduced on the market by the most prestigious motorcycle manufacturers.
Developed in 2018 and now in its third generation, this race replica tyre is chosen by the most prestigious motorcycle manufacturers in the world as original equipment for their flagship supersports and naked bikes
The new PIRELLI DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP is the ultimate expression of Pirelli technology, its racing soul approved for road use.
In fact, the DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP is the third generation "V3" of Pirelli's highly popular race replica tyre featuring profile and structure that are nearly identical to those of the slick racing tyres that are used in national and international competitions such as the FIM World Superbike Championship.
The DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP establishes a benchmark for the race replica segment and thanks to its innovative features it has been chosen by Ducati as original equipment of its new Panigale V4 model year 2020, currently in action at the Bahrain International Circuit, where the official press launch of the new Italian supersports machine is taking place.
