STAFF TYRE TEST ... An update on my Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 tyres MULTI TERRAIN TEST!

Since I had these tyres fitted, the weather has not been kind so I've not done huge miles on the bike. But I have been analyzing the tyres and am happy to pass on most of my thoughts, but there is one huge area where these tyres just do not perform. Read on, oh yes, read on...

As usual I will be open and honest and say.... these tyres were given to me by Pirelli to test... but I will be very honest about them! I'm that kinda guy.

I had the choice of several tyres to test..

Metzeler Roadtec 02 .... the premium sports touring and first true hyper sports touring tyre ... but Mick the boss was testing those on his brutal 1290cc KTM Super Duke ....

Metzeler Racetec M9RR ...which are excellent tyres which I have previously tested around South Wales with the BMW Off Road Skills School .. and there is no denying how excellent they are but they have a less aggressive profile than their counterpart Pirellis and I wanted to try the faster steering tyre.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 ... is what I chose, partially because my bike has Pirelli stickers on it but also because... they are the tyre I need. A sports tyre.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 Corsa ... are the fast road / track tyre sitting between the Rosso 4 and the Pirelli Supercorsa V4 SP and by all accounts they are tremendous, and I'd love to think I'd get the benefit of them but in reality, I won't .. I just need a good sports tyre.

And so the testing bit! How are they doing?

The first part of any ride is the warm up... it's vital to let the tyres get some temperature in them before you let the thorough testing begin. Some maths, data tables and men in white lab coats holding clip boards and stop watches would be useful here, but that's not in the budget! So all I can really say is... they warm up nicely. I live in a town so to get to any open road I have to travel a mile, and when I hit that road I've had no issues, no the tyres wont be fully up to heat of course not, but they're ready to go legally fast without concern.

Cold weather....... I've had no concerns there, no scary moments even with sporty riding in temperatures above freezing. Below freezing, sod that I'm too old now!

Wet weather ... Despite efforts to never ride in the rain, it's happened and that's good for testing. And once again, predicatably I can say.... the tyres performed more than well enough. No slidy moments on scary looking wet roads, no slides no slips, all good!

Hot weather ... I've not seen any of that, I'm so looking forward to that!

So really, all good so far... but I am sad to say there is an area where the Rosso 4 tyres just do not work well.

Mud.

I took a little shortcut, it was only 10 inches of mud to cross over.

Nope, didn't make it.

Front slid out, bike went over. I went over.

Embarassing, yes.

Painful, yes.

Can I reeeeally blame the tyre? No.
Will I test Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR next time? Also no. I'll just avoid that muddy bit.

The bike is OK, a few small scuffs but no real damage.

The thing I do to keep you all informed.
Do you see Mick or Matt dropping their bikes in the name of testing?

February 26, 2025 | View: 5 | Tags: <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/kawasaki.html">Kawasaki</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/zx10r.html">ZX10R</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/team-green.html">Team Green</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/best-bike-at-sticky-stuff.html">Best bike at Sticky Stuff</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/sticky-stuff-tyre-testing.html">Sticky Stuff Tyre Testing</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/wet-weather-tyres.html">Wet weather tyres</a>, <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/tag/diablo-rosso-4.html">Diablo Rosso 4</a> | By: <a class="mp-info" href="https://www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/blog/author/ian-team-green.html">Ian Team Green</a>