Cycle News Staff | February 16, 2022
Pirelli has released a limited-edition Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tire to commemorate its 150th anniversary.
Pirelli’s fourth-generation Diablo Rosso race tire has improved mileage and wet handling compared to previous iterations. The WSBK-derived tires differ in structure and compounds according to their size to better suit the weight, displacement and power output of the bikes they fit. The limited-edition Diablo Rosso IV Corsa includes 150th anniversary logos on the tire’s sidewall.
Here is more from Pirelli’s press release:
Rome, GA (February 10, 2021) – Pirelli presents the new Diablo Rosso IV Corsa, the high-performance hypersport tire 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 tire, created to satisfy the most demanding motorcyclists seeking a tire capable of high performance, to fully utilize the potential of their bikes.
Diablo Rosso IV Corsa was born in the year in which Pirelli celebrates its 150th anniversary and becomes an integral part of the celebrations. During 2022 a limited edition Diablo Rosso IV Corsa pays homage to this milestone and features the Pirelli’s 150th anniversary logo on its sidewall.
Formed in Milan on January 28, 1872, the company began its business with diversified rubber products, making the first tire for bicycles in 1890. Always passionate about competition, Pirelli participated in the first motorcycle races in 1897 and today continues with the role of sole supplier to the Superbike World Championship, a collaboration that started in 2004, as well as being the most successful brand in MXGP. Today Pirelli is the only tire company focused exclusively on the consumer world, with products and services for cars, motorcycles and bicycles.
Diablo Rosso IV Corsa is the ideal choice for motorcyclists who love a dynamic riding style on winding roads and mountain passes, who want a tire to match the sporty performance of their motorcycle. Diablo Rosso IV Corsa is also the ideal choice for motorcyclists who are passionate about tuning, who look for performance upgrades and take care of the bike setup and aesthetics. These riders seek the optimal set-up of their motorcycle according to the type of use, also through the upgrade to high-performance equipment. They also recognize the lightning-shaped tread design, here interrupted, as the iconic symbol representing Diablo Rosso sporty performance.
Diablo Rosso IV Corsa Features:
Higher grip in dry conditions thanks to a slicker tread design that guarantees a larger footprint area alongside the use of innovative compounds that increase mechanical grip levels.
Enhanced high-performance handling and precise feedback. The innovative technologies applied to the carcass make Diablo Rosso IV Corsa able to adhere to the micro-roughness of the asphalt, ensuring precise feedback and a feeling of control.
Performance consistency over multiple riding sessions, made possible by the characteristics of the tread pattern, where the intended repetition of the grooves offers high resistance to stress, and, by the new arrangement of the compounds, ensures optimal thermal balance.
Diablo Rosso IV Corsa Details:
Tread Pattern
The tread design of Diablo Rosso IV Corsa features a calculated repetition of the central grooves and a slicker shoulder area, for a void/fill ratio 25%[1] lower than Diablo Rosso IV.
In the central area, the group of longitudinal grooves assures directional stability and water evacuation. Their orientation follows the wear waves and enables an even wear, while their position increase the structural stability of the tire to give performance consistency over multiple riding sessions.
In the intermediate area, linear grooves of different lengths are positioned using a scheme that balances compound flexibility and water evacuation. Diablo Rosso IV Corsa features a large slick area on the shoulders, able to offer high levels of grip, precision and stability at maximum lean angles.
Compounds
The front tire is divided into three areas using two different compounds:
The central band has a Full Silica compound that occupies around 45% of the section width and is present in the contact area used up to 25 degrees of lean angle.
The side areas have a softer compound, also Full Silica, thanks to the use of innovative resins that offer excellent grip and improve the front tire feedback.
The rear tire also has a bi-compound scheme for excellent road performance and works in harmony with the front.
The central Full Silica compound allows for a quick warm-up and excellent chemical grip on different surface conditions.
The shoulder compound is 100% Carbon Black and derives directly from the compounds of Diablo Supercorsa SC used in racing competitions. This compound is able to offer support at full lean and traction during acceleration managing the torque generated by the latest generation superbikes.
Profiles
Pirelli exploits all the know-how acquired in the fastest production-derived motorcycle championship. The profiles of Diablo Rosso IV Corsa are therefore race-derived and are characterized by a multi radius design that improves the tire’s handling.
The central area has a sharper profile to facilitate immediate lean and rapid change of direction. In the lateral areas, on the other hand, the profile curvature is less accentuated in order to increase the contact area and ensure maximum traction when cornering. Front and rear tires follow a similar profile design, thus ensuring a perfectly balanced and neutral behavior of the set.
Structure
With Diablo Rosso IV Corsa Pirelli uses a racing-derived structure with zero-degree steel belt, which manages to adapt perfectly to different levels of stress without compromising comfort and work optimally with the most advanced electronic control systems.
The stiff cord technology features structural cords that are more rigid and at the same time distributed with less density (-20%) compared to a standard sport tire[2]. This scheme leaves more room for the rubber compound, which improves riding feeling and precision thanks to its damping properties, thus transmitting to the rider, a safety feeling and control of the motorcycle.
The Range
The Diablo Rosso IV Corsa range includes the following sizes.
Front
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- 110/70 ZR 17 M/C 54W TL (expected in 7/2022)
- 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL (expected in 1/2022)
Rear
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- 150/60 ZR 17 M/C 66W TL (expected in 7/2022)
- 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL (expected in 1/2022)
- 180/60 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL (expected in 3/2022)
- 190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL (expected in 6/2022)
- 190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL (expected in 1/2022)
- 200/55 ZR 17 M/C (78W) TL (expected in 4/2022)
- 200/60 ZR 17 M/C (80W) TL (expected in 4/2022)
[1] Rear size 190/55 ZR 17 of Diablo Rosso IV Corsa and Diablo Rosso IV compared
[2] Cords distributed with 20% less density compared to Diablo Rosso III tire
For more information, visit www.pirelli.com
