In the 2025 tire test by Motorrad magazine, six sport and six hypersport tires in sizes 120/70 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17 were tested on a BMW S1000 RR on country roads, racetracks, and a wet test track, with the prescribed country road pressures of 2.5/2.9 bar (front/rear). For the racetrack, the pressure was lowered according to the tire manufacturer's recommendations.
"Country roads are the primary territory of motorcyclists. This is precisely where tires must always be reliable, ideally transparent, and perform well for a long time. Maximum riding pleasure goes hand in hand with plenty of grip, good feedback, and precise handling. Add to that excellent wet grip, and everyone could be happy."
"The crowns in the country road classification go to the two freshest tires. The Dunlop Sportsmart MK 4 achieved the highest overall score of the large test field, making it "King of the Road," while Michelin's Power GP2 took home the biggest trophy among the hypersports. A closer look at the table clearly shows where the hypersports lose their points on country roads."
"Anyone who knows a little about tires knew in advance about the dominance of road sport tires in the wet test. We didn't expect the new Dunlop Sportsmart MK 4 to perform directly on par with last year's rain champion, the Bridgestone S23. Also unexpected was the performance of the Michelin Power GP2, which outpaced its hypersport counterparts in the rain."
"Hypersport – the name says it all. When it's all about orbital time on the infinity of a racetrack, the hypersports score points.
Finally, they can exploit their grip advantage and give the road riders a run for their money. However, the boundaries are fluid. Even with the Metzeler M9 RR or a Diablo Rosso IV, you're well-dressed as a casual racer without lap record ambitions.
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The Ducati Diavel still comes OE on Pirelli Diablo Rosso III but they can be replaced 2025 with the new 240/45 ZR17 (82W) Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
The new Pirelli SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT is the successor to Pirelli's most successful product in the Motocross World Championship.
The new SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT is the successor to Pirelli's most successful motocross tyre in the FIM Motocross World Championship, a discipline in which the brand has won 82 world titles since 1980 thanks to the successes achieved with riders such as Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, André Malherbe, Eric Geboers, Jöel Smets, David Thorpe, Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado. It has been developed thanks to Pirelli's decades of experience in top motocross competition and is completely new compared to its predecessor. The new front tyre improves braking behaviour and facilitates cornering, the rear offers even more traction for the holeshot and exiting corners. Finally, the new Pirelli SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT also improves versatility on medium-hard terrain.
The new SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT will make its official debut in the next Motocross World Championship equipping the bikes of some of the greatest riders of this Championship and, like all Pirelli racing tyres, will also be available for purchase by all motorcycle fans of this discipline.
DIABLO POWERCRUISER is Pirelli's sporty interpretation of the Custom-Touring dedicated to sport Cruisers and Baggers.
Pirelli DIABLO POWERCRUISER represents the completely new Custom-Touring line of Pirelli high-performance tyres designed specifically for selected models of sport Cruiser and Bagger machines. With DIABLO POWERCRUISER, Pirelli is aimed both at owners of the new Cruiser and Bagger V-Twin, bikes characterised by searing acceleration and fun to ride, which have become more high-performing over time in terms of torque output and handling. These machines are aimed at customizers who combine aesthetic research with performance tuning and who are therefore looking for a tyre capable of adding high performance and sportiness to their creations.
Continental, a leading tire manufacturer, has just expanded its popular Continental ContiScoot line, offering more options for scooter riders seeking a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable ride.
Key Features and Benefits
Why Choose ContiScoot?
Mitas announces two new sizes in its SPORT FORCE+ RS tire range, made to bring extra power to track day riders. The new rear tires in 180/60ZR17 and 200/55ZR17 are specifically designed for more powerful motorcycles bringing the SPORT FORCE+ RS range up to eight sizes available for every kind of bike.
The 2024 season once again presents a challenge for motorcyclists: choosing the right sport motorcycle tire. The good news: A bad purchase is almost impossible, as the differences between the test candidates are minimal.
The Test Motorcycle: BMW S 1000 R
The BMW S 1000 R serves as a representative model for an extremely powerful motorcycle category, whose performance (except for top speed) almost rivals that of a Superbike. With cutting-edge electronic assistance systems and a comfortable riding position, it offers optimal conditions for the test riders.
Test Candidates
Results at a Glance:
METZELER M9 RR : Very Good - Conclusion: Very good compromise between sportiness and everyday use. Whether in the wet, at sporty speeds on the country road or on a time trial: the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR copes very well with all conditions.
MICHELIN POWER 6 : Very Good - Conclusion: "Cool or wet conditions don't affect the Power 6 with its good handling. It has gained in sporting potential compared to the Power 5. A real recommendation for sporty everyday riders."
PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO IV CORSA : Very Good - Conclusion: "Very sporty tire that focuses on dryness in the Corsa version. The sportier it is driven, the better it functions. The wet performance is uncritical and can convince sporty fair-weather riders."
BRIDGESTONE S22 : Good - Conclusion: "Very sporty tire with good feedback. The good feeling for the front tire in particular speaks for the S22. Another plus of the Japanese tire is its overall performance, which is still harmonious."
Since there wasn't enough time for the big comparison test, we subjected the new Bridgestone S 23 to a follow-up test against its established predecessor and a hot skin.
BRIDGESTONE S23 : The Bridgestone S23 surpasses the S22 in terms of turn-in behavior, stability and lateral grip in the dry. Sporty country road riders will love it for that. In the wet, the S23 really comes into its own, especially when leaning. Here it clearly outperforms the S22, which is clearly demonstrated by the 3.7 seconds faster lap time. In terms of braking distance and acceleration in the wet, the S23 remains at the high level of the S22.
DUNLOP SPORTSMART MK3 : Good - Conclusion: "The Dunlop Sportsmart MK 3 is a very agile and sporty tire. However, the stiff construction reduces feedback in cooler conditions, which costs points especially in the wet."
Dunlop is also launching the Dunlop SportSmart MK4 as its successor this year. Probably available from November 2024.
Additional Information:
The PIRELLI SCORPION Trail III is the new enduro street tyre from Pirelli developed for maxi enduros that combine excellent performance on asphalt and in light off-road usage. The tyre is completing its final and rigorous outdoor tests and will be on sale to the public starting from January 2024.
In recent years the enduro street segment has become one of the most important on the market and Pirelli has chosen to develop tyres with increasingly sporty road performance but with an off-road look, with particular attention to ease of use in different road conditions.
Pirelli SCORPION Trail III in fact presents an aggressive tread look behind which lies strong technological innovation. It takes advantage of the most recent technologies, materials, and processes, as well as the knowledge acquired by Pirelli in the ‘big enduro’ segment, to respond to the most demanding market expectations by offering first-rate road qualities. Compared to its predecessor SCORPION Trail II, the new tyre guarantees significantly improved road handling and sportier behaviour thanks to excellent grip, as well as better performance in the wet. Furthermore, SCORPION Trail III ensures stability even with full load and can best interact with the machine's electronic systems. Finally, as regards to off-road riding, abrasion resistance has been significantly improved, which is an important parameter for those who love venturing on dirt roads.
The latest videogame dedicated to the FIM Superbike World Championship and developed by Milestone allows players to choose the tyres to be fitted, modifying the behaviour of the motorbike based on the compound used.
Pirelli has collaborated with Milan-based software house Milestone for SBK™22, the new videogame dedicated to the FIM Superbike World Championship.
Thanks to a high-level graphic rendering and a very realistic gameplay experience obtained with the advice of professional riders and experts, Milestone has managed to recreate the real world of the Championship with great fidelity. The extreme level of simulation is not only limited to the behaviour of motorbikes and riders but also the details. The Pirelli brand, for example, is present in the videogame on the trackside banners, on the fairings of the motorcycles, on the suits of the riders, as well as on the tyres that are used.
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’.
Pirelli announces the arrival of the new DIABLO ROSSO IV CORSA, the high-performance hypersport tyre that raises the bar of sport riding even higher within the DIABLO ROSSO family. The new DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa represents a fiercer version of the DIABLO ROSSO IV supersport tyre, and was created to satisfy the most demanding motorcyclists seeking a tyre capable of a sporty performance, in order to best express the potential of their supersport, naked or hypernaked bikes.
DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa is the ideal choice for:
The multi-year partnership between Pirelli and Dorna WSBK Organization is strengthened and extended for a further three years, confirming itself as the longest-running single-tyre formula in motorsport history.
Pirelli will continue in the role of Official Tyre Supplier for all classes of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, when the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the single-tire formula will take place. The Milan-based tyre company, in agreement with Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), promoter and organiser of the Superbike World Championship, and with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), had already announced the extension of the supply agreement last year, expiring at the end of 2020, for a further three seasons.
The Italian tyre manufacturer, already supplier of all classes of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, is the technical sponsor of this new category, confirming its strong commitment to the development of young talent
Pirelli has been confirmed as the Official Sole Tyre Supplier for the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup 2021. This championship is the result of the collaboration between Yamaha Motor Europe, FIM Europe and Dorna WSBK Organization and constitutes the first step of a project created to give young riders aged twelve to twenty the opportunity to compete in a professional arena with a race-ready package.
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).
Pirelli engineers developed a special and customized version of the DIABLOTM SUPERCORSA SP to achieve the challenging performance target required by the most powerful and technologically advanced production Ducati ever. This tire is able to manage the extraordinary performance of the Superleggera V4 and make the most of the significant aerodynamic load generated by the biplane wings, which highly characterize the aggressive design of the motorcycle.
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.
