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Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso II — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 90 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 73 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 86 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 75 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 014 | Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 | Pirelli Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 80 |
| Dry | 85 | 90 |
| Wet | 80 | 73 |
| Comfort | 70 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 53 | 75 |
| Handling | 73 | 84 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Battlax BT-014 receives a mixed reception, characterized by a divide between riders who appreciate its predictable handling and those critical of its longevity and performance limits. While some users find it a capable tire for daily commuting and spirited riding, others report significant concerns regarding rapid tread wear and a lack of confidence during aggressive or track-oriented use.
Pros
- Predictable and sure-footed handling characteristics
- Reliable dry grip for daily commuting
- Good performance value relative to older generation standards
Cons
- Alarmingly short tread life, particularly on high-torque motorcycles
- Vague front-end feedback
- Below-average wet weather performance
- Lack of confidence during track-day usage
Observations
- High-displacement, high-torque motorcycles like the ZZR 1400 experience extremely rapid rear tire depletion, with some users reporting as little as 1,500 to 1,600 miles.
- Riders on middleweight sportbikes, such as the Ninja 600, reported more favorable longevity, reaching up to 5,000 miles on a rear tire.
The Pirelli Diablo Rosso II is widely regarded as a high-performance sport tire that excels in dry-weather grip, rapid warm-up times, and rider feedback. While it earns praise for its confidence-inspiring handling on sport bikes, user experiences regarding tread longevity and wet-weather performance are polarized, often depending heavily on bike weight and riding style.
Pros
- Exceptional dry-weather grip and cornering stability
- Rapid warm-up time for immediate performance
- Predictable handling and high levels of rider feedback
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with reports of rapid center wear and cupping
- Polarized wet-weather performance ranging from 'glue-like' to 'dangerous'
- Tendency for the rear tire to square off over time
- Front tire profile can feel overly 'pointy' or aggressive for some riders
Observations
- Smaller displacement bikes (e.g., DRZ400SM, YZF-R25) report significantly higher mileage and longevity compared to high-horsepower sport bikes.
- High-horsepower motorcycles (e.g., ZX10R) experience rapid rear tire degradation, often requiring replacement in under 2,000 miles under spirited use.
- Some riders noted that the tire's profile on naked bikes can lead to overly quick turn-in characteristics.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso II — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Pick the Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 if wet matters most to you.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II scores 75 vs 53 on treadwear.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II scores 86 vs 70 on comfort.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II scores 84 vs 73 on handling.
Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 scores 80 vs 73 on wet.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.