Pirelli Diablo Rosso II Tires

[cuong-nutz]

The Sport Demon is a Bias Ply whereas the Diablo Rosso is a radial tire so handling is slightly different. Wider also means the tire profile is flatter so it takes more effort for it to "flick". Also messing with your tire pressure may help.

[Asspire]

just got mine today, can't wait to get them installed. gonna go play slap n tickle with it.

[dino74]

Originally Posted by NathanUc

The only major thing to note (and I think I mentioned this before) is that switching from 110/130 to 120/140 I notice it takes a lot more effort to flick the bike around.

I suspect the 120 is raising the front slightly higher which will add to stability at the cost of flick ability.

[etiainen]

Originally Posted by NathanUc

Here is my feedback/comparison between the Sport Demon and Rosso II.

In terms of braking/straight line, tires feel the exact same (even in the wet). In a lean, the Rosso II feel more 'planted' if that makes any sense. The Sport Demons sometimes felt a bit skiddish in full lean but as of now, I've not had an instance of that with my Rossos.

The only major thing to note (and I think I mentioned this before) is that switching from 110/130 to 120/140 I notice it takes a lot more effort to flick the bike around. When weaving to heat the tires up, it takes significantly more force on the bars to get it to flick. I don't feel I lost any likability as I can still do it without breaking traction, it's just not as effortless. I for one, kind of like this as it feels more like I'm working with the bike.

That being said, it could just be all in my head as I gave it a solid 150miles of easy riding for break in.

How come you put in 120s?

[NDspd]

I stayed with the 110's in the front....no real reason why

[kingkang204]

I got a pair for my birthday, and needless to say they are better than the IRCs' with 11k miles that I had before. Although I haven't really gotten a chance to really test them out, I plan to this weekend.

[NathanUc]

Originally Posted by etiainen

How come you put in 120s?

I was able to get the 120 MUCH cheaper than I could a 110 because I got it from a friend who wrecked before he could put it on his gsxr. Otherwise, I would have gotten a 110.

@Alex
Why wouldn't weaving heat the tires up? More friction = more heat and it also exposes more friction to more surface area of the tire. I might have to bust out the heat gun and give this a test!

[Alex]

Motorcycle magazines have tested it for years. With real racers on real tracks with real measurements. Weaving does nothing, as it isn't adding any significant friction. The way to pick out a squid on the street is to watch those who attempt to weave the bike before entering a twisty section.

What heats up tires a little bit quicker than otherwise is sharp acceleration and braking, flexing the carcass more than just rolling along. There are some good links that make all of this pretty clear:

at Sport Rider
at Road Racing World

[NathanUc]

Originally Posted by Alex

Motorcycle magazines have tested it for years. With real racers on real tracks with real measurements. Weaving does nothing, as it isn't adding any significant friction. The way to pick out a squid on the street is to watch those who attempt to weave the bike before entering a twisty section.

What heats up tires a little bit quicker than otherwise is sharp acceleration and braking, flexing the carcass more than just rolling along.

That's a good enough reason/explanation for me. Thanks for the tip. I don't really do it before turns, just on fresh tires because I thought it would heat up/scuff them up quicker that way. Sometimes I also do it when I'm bored lol

[Alex]

Now you get to chuckle at them as well.

[Peanut_EOD]

I usually heat mine up with tire warmers.

[NDspd]

I weave a little to shake off the gravel that has stuck to the edges of the tire. I only do this if the road is really nasty.

Hey guys New tire update:

I had to buy a new rear of the DRII's today. Got a freaking brad nail dead straight in to the left third of the tread. I put some green slime to hold the pressure, but I just don't trust it. Unfortunately my local dealer doesn't plug tires, so I had no real choice but to buy a new one. There was some life left in the tire at 6,000 miles, but like I've said before, these tires don't really like super long distance on straight highways.

What I think ate the tires more was the fact that, the highways here have tons of groves cut into them. I think they almost act like teeth, because once I get off the highway, they wear more evenly. It also doesn't help the roads here are super straight.

[Alex]

6K miles on a sticky tire is nothing to sneeze at, that sounds like great potential tire life to me.

[cuong-nutz]

Originally Posted by NDspd

I weave a little to shake off the gravel that has stuck to the edges of the tire. I only do this if the road is really nasty.

Hey guys New tire update:

I had to buy a new rear of the DRII's today. Got a freaking brad nail dead straight in to the left third of the tread. I put some green slime to hold the pressure, but I just don't trust it. Unfortunately my local dealer doesn't plug tires, so I had no real choice but to buy a new one. There was some life left in the tire at 6,000 miles, but like I've said before, these tires don't really like super long distance on straight highways.

What I think ate the tires more was the fact that, the highways here have tons of groves cut into them. I think they almost act like teeth, because once I get off the highway, they wear more evenly. It also doesn't help the roads here are super straight.

Do you by chance have pictures of your tire wear before you replaced it?

Originally Posted by Alex

6K miles on a sticky tire is nothing to sneeze at, that sounds like great potential tire life to me.

Heck yeah! I'm trying squeeze in 7k miles on my BT-16 rear and I'm a ways past the wear bar.

[LoD575]

Originally Posted by Alex

6K miles on a sticky tire is nothing to sneeze at, that sounds like great potential tire life to me.

+1 Sounds good to me as well.

So far the tires have treated me well and providing superior feeling over the IRC's.

[saxnbass]

So I've had my Rosso IIs on my CBR for a little over a week now; I love them just as much on the CBR as I did on the Ninjette.

[akima]

@NDspd: nice to see that you were so happy with the DRII's that you've gone back to them a second time: that says something.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by cuong-nutz

Do you by chance have pictures of your tire wear before you replaced it?



Heck yeah! I'm trying squeeze in 7k miles on my BT-16 rear and I'm a ways past the wear bar.

I'm sorry man, I was in a rush to get things done today, I totally forgot.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by Alex

6K miles on a sticky tire is nothing to sneeze at, that sounds like great potential tire life to me.

Good point, it could have lasted longer, but yeah that's pretty good for a soft tire.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by akima

@NDspd: nice to see that you were so happy with the DRII's that you've gone back to them a second time: that says something.

Heck yeah man, these are worth their weight in gold. They stick well, and they inspire confidence, what more would you want? I'm so glad I went with a bike rather than a car, a single tire for my paren't corvette is $200. That's a set for me!!!

[Domagoj]

You all run the front at 28 psi? It feels a bit squishy to me, as if the tire buckles significantly at lean.
Has anyone else experience that?

[akima]

Originally Posted by Domagoj

You all run the front at 28 psi? It feels a bit squishy to me, as if the tire buckles significantly at lean.
Has anyone else experience that?

The stock front tyre recommends 28psi. That's what I use with it. I haven't noticed it being particularly squishy. I guess the weight of the rider effects tyre squishyness. If you're a big lad it might make it more squishy.

If you have a different brand of tyre on the front, then you should check the side wall of the tyre to see what its recommended pressure is: it could be different to the stock-tyre pressure.

[Domagoj]

Originally Posted by akima

The stock front tyre recommends 28psi. That's what I use with it. I haven't noticed it being particularly squishy. I guess the weight of the rider effects tyre squishyness. If you're a big lad it might make it more squishy.

If you have a different brand of tyre on the front, then you should check the side wall of the tyre to see what its recommended pressure is: it could be different to the stock-tyre pressure.

I am not that heavy, approx. 175lb.
Switched to Diablo rosso 2 few weeks ago, and at first I believed it's just me getting used to new tires. I have not yet discarded that option.

Overall I am very happy, bike feels more stable in corners, and handles bumps much better. Even lost the front end wobble with them.

Except for that strange feeling,... After a certain lean angle, the front "drops" a little and goes fine again after that. Maybe the new tire is more rounded and I just feel the change in diameter more. I will experiment a bit with pressures and see if it gets me anywhere.

edit: sidewall gives 290kPa @ max load of 212 kg. Which is way bigger (both in weight and pressure). Not much help.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Domagoj

I am not that heavy, approx. 175lb.
Switched to Diablo rosso 2 few weeks ago, and at first I believed it's just me getting used to new tires. I have not yet discarded that option.

Overall I am very happy, bike feels more stable in corners, and handles bumps much better. Even lost the front end wobble with them.

Except for that strange feeling,... After a certain lean angle, the front "drops" a little and goes fine again after that. Maybe the new tire is more rounded and I just feel the change in diameter more. I will experiment a bit with pressures and see if it gets me anywhere.

Ah, didn't realise you had the DR2s. What pressure does it say to use on the sidewall of the front DR2 tyre?

[NDspd]

28(front) 32 (rear) has worked perfect for me. If I carry a lot of weight I usually bump the rear to 34psi. I haven't noticed any feeling of squishyness when I'm in lean.

[Robinhood]

I finally got my Rosso II's installed, and they feel WAY different from the stock dunlops. 110 front and 140 rear. I don't want to say they feel less stable, but it feels a lot easier to change directions with them. Yet, at the same time, they feel more planted. With the Dunlops, sometimes when I didn't downshift quite right, they'd slip a little on me. Not the case with the Pirellis! I'll be hitting the canyons pretty soon.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

I finally got my Rosso II's installed, and they feel WAY different from the stock dunlops. 110 front and 140 rear. I don't want to say they feel less stable, but it feels a lot easier to change directions with them. Yet, at the same time, they feel more planted. With the Dunlops, sometimes when I didn't downshift quite right, they'd slip a little on me. Not the case with the Pirellis! I'll be hitting the canyons pretty soon.

Sounds pretty similar to my experience. You'll love them once you get on the twisties, they warm up very quick too!!

[menikmati]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

I finally got my Rosso II's installed, and they feel WAY different from the stock dunlops. 110 front and 140 rear. I don't want to say they feel less stable, but it feels a lot easier to change directions with them. Yet, at the same time, they feel more planted. With the Dunlops, sometimes when I didn't downshift quite right, they'd slip a little on me. Not the case with the Pirellis! I'll be hitting the canyons pretty soon.

Sounds like nothing but good news from Pirelli, let me know if you want to run some canyons together.

[Robinhood]

Originally Posted by NDspd

Sounds pretty similar to my experience. You'll love them once you get on the twisties, they warm up very quick too!!

Can't wait!

Originally Posted by menikmati

Sounds like nothing but good news from Pirelli, let me know if you want to run some canyons together.

For sure. I haven't been much lately, but in March and April, I tried going every weekend. I don't think I'm ready for Palomar yet, though. We need to get some San Diego group rides going.

[oreX]

What PSI are we supposed to be running these things at? Also, does anyone know the temperature the tire would be considered warm and/or too hot?

[devinjc]

Oh man. After futzing around for 6 weeks I finally got these installed. I've zero experience with tires other than the 7950 miles of stock dunlops and now 50 miles of DRIIs.

1) 8k on stock was moronic. The front was gone gone. I'd been riding on slicks for 500 miles... or more. The rear broke loose on just about every downshift, something I'd actually grown kind of fond of. I think there's a motard in my future.

2) These Rosso's in comparison are nothing short of miraculous. I think turn and the bike is over on a rail. They just stick and stay. I coasted down from 80mph to 30 on a flat stretch with my hands just off the grips, no wobble, no shake, no nothing. Just amazing. It's a completely new bike.

So thanks for the heads up that is this thread.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by oreX

What PSI are we supposed to be running these things at? Also, does anyone know the temperature the tire would be considered warm and/or too hot?

Depends what you are doing. Regular street riding should be 28 front, 32 rear.

As for temps, you shouldn't have to worry about these getting too hot unless you are taking these to a trackday. Mine get pretty warm to the touch after a good ride through the country. But after a hard 5 laps you can't put your whole hand on them for a sec or two. Corsa slicks on racing bikes get tremendously hot, enough to melt rubber.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by devinjc

...nothing short of miraculous...

Glad you are having a good time with the new tires. If and when I get another bike, I'll still stay with DRII's.

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by NDspd

When I get another bike, I'll still stay with DRII's.

I did, and I'm happy with my decision.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

i did, and i'm happy with my decision.

awesome!

[Robinhood]

Finally hit the canyons with them this past weekend...they were great. Scraped my peg feelers for the first time. For anyone interested, here's how close I got to the edge before scraping:



I'll be hitting the track for the first time at the end of this month...I'll probably update afterwards.

[PsHYk]

might come up on some of these...what do you guys think are the best sizes for front and back?

[dino74]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

I'll be hitting the track for the first time at the end of this month...I'll probably update afterwards.

Where you going? Chuckwalla? Streets?

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by Robinhood

Finally hit the canyons with them this past weekend...they were great. Scraped my peg feelers for the first time. For anyone interested, here's how close I got to the edge before scraping:

I'll be hitting the track for the first time at the end of this month...I'll probably update afterwards.

Very nice man, I've gotten over that far a few times, but scraping a peg always makes me a little jumpy.

Originally Posted by PsHYk

might come up on some of these...what do you guys think are the best sizes for front and back?

110 70 17 on the front, 140 70 17 on rear

[Robinhood]

Originally Posted by dino74

Where you going? Chuckwalla? Streets?

June 30 @ Street of Willow Springs, via "Take it 2 the Track."

Originally Posted by NDspd

Very nice man, I've gotten over that far a few times, but scraping a peg always makes me a little jumpy.

I think my 130 stock tires were closer to the edge, but never scraped...good to know there's extra rubber room on these 140s. Yeah, was caught off guard and spooked when I first heard the "SCCCRRRRRR"!