58
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
59/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Battlax BT 016 vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — 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.
VS
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — better wet, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 016 | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 90 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 29
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 016 | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | 77 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 016 | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 88 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 016 | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 52 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | Battlax BT 016 | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 90 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Battlax BT 016 | Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 58 | 82 |
| Dry | 72 | 90 |
| Wet | 48 | 77 |
| Comfort | 65 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 52 | 75 |
| Handling | 65 | 90 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
58
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 is widely regarded as a capable, high-performance tire in warm, dry conditions, often praised for its stability and grip during spirited riding or track use. However, user consensus is polarized due to its poor performance in wet or cold weather, with many riders reporting a significant lack of confidence and traction in adverse conditions.
Pros
- Excellent dry grip and high-speed stability when tires are at operating temperature
- Predictable handling and feedback during aggressive cornering in warm weather
- Strong performance for track-day enthusiasts
- Good value for riders prioritizing dry-weather performance
Cons
- Dangerous or unpredictable traction in wet, damp, or cold conditions
- Short tread life, with many users reporting significant wear between 2,500 and 4,000 miles
- Slow warm-up time, requiring caution during the initial miles of a ride
- Inconsistent wear patterns, often resulting in the front tire wearing out faster than the rear
Observations
- Users on high-torque supersport bikes (e.g., GSXR750, R1) frequently report rear-wheel slippage and rapid tread depletion.
- Riders with older 16-inch front wheel configurations noted the tire provides good feedback and turn-in agility despite limited modern tire options.
The Pirelli Diablo Rosso III is widely regarded as a high-performance sport tire that excels in providing predictable grip, excellent feedback, and confidence-inspiring wet-weather handling. While users consistently praise its agility and performance on twisty roads, there is a notable divide regarding tread longevity, with some riders experiencing rapid wear compared to more specialized track-focused or touring alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and predictable handling at various lean angles
- Improved wet-weather performance compared to more aggressive track-oriented tires
- Fast warm-up times providing immediate confidence
- High level of rider feedback and stability under heavy braking
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature rear tire wear
- Potential for rapid degradation under aggressive riding styles
- Isolated reports of structural issues such as delamination
Observations
- Sportbike riders (Ducati 959 Panigale, Yamaha R1) report high satisfaction with the tire's ability to handle aggressive cornering and track-day usage.
- Users transitioning from touring-oriented tires (e.g., Scorpion Trail) to the Rosso III note a significant increase in agility and cornering capability, though at the expense of touring longevity.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 016 | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
58
/ 100
Bridgestone
82
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — better wet, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 77 vs 48 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 90 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 88 vs 65 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 75 vs 52 on treadwear.
Tire A · Bridgestone Battlax BT 016
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Battlax BT 016 also compared with
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III also compared with
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.