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Bridgestone S20 vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — Compared (September 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 | S20 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 93 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | S20 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 79 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | S20 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 86 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | S20 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 76 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | S20 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 91 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone S20 | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 81 |
| Dry | 82 | 89 |
| Wet | 72 | 72 |
| Comfort | 80 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 50 | 76 |
| Handling | 82 | 91 |
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 S20 is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that excels in grip and handling, offering riders exceptional confidence in both wet and dry conditions. However, this performance comes at the cost of rapid tread wear, with many users reporting significantly shorter lifespans compared to sport-touring alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional grip levels in both wet and dry conditions
- Progressive and predictable handling characteristics
- Strong performance during aggressive road riding and track use
- Quick turn-in and confidence-inspiring feedback
Cons
- Very short tread life, particularly on high-torque motorcycles
- Rapid degradation and squaring off of the rear tire
- Front tire can be slow to reach optimal operating temperature
- High frequency of replacement leading to increased long-term costs
Observations
- High-torque motorcycles like the ZZR1400 experience extremely rapid rear tire wear, often requiring replacement in under 2,000 miles.
- Riders of lighter, agile bikes like the SV650 report better satisfaction with the tire's profile and handling characteristics.
- Track-focused riders noted that while the tire performs well under heavy load, it can shred quickly during intensive track sessions.
The Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV is widely regarded as a top-tier hypersport tire that offers significant improvements in feedback, warm-up time, and lean-angle confidence over its predecessors. While users consistently praise its performance in both wet and dry conditions, the consensus notes that these gains come at a premium price point and with potential longevity trade-offs depending on riding style.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip with rapid warm-up times.
- High level of precision and confidence at deep lean angles.
- Improved feedback and stability compared to previous generations (DR2/DR3).
- Surprisingly good low-speed stability and handling characteristics.
Cons
- Higher price point compared to competitors and previous models.
- Performance consistency may degrade as the tire reaches the end of its service life.
- Potential for increased wear rates under aggressive riding conditions.
Observations
- Users reported significant improvements in resistance to cupping on smaller displacement bikes (e.g., PCX 125) compared to the Diablo Rosso II.
- Aggressive riders utilizing standard sportbike sizes (120/70 and 190/55) report that the tire maintains performance characteristics comparable to more track-focused compounds like the Rosso Corsa II.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone S20 | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Extreme Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Bridgestone
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better treadwear, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 76 vs 50 on treadwear.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 91 vs 82 on handling.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 89 vs 82 on dry.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 86 vs 80 on comfort.
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.