90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
74/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
89/100
16 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop RoadSmart III vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso — 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.
VS
59
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
59/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better wet, handling and dry. 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)
RoadSmart III leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 97 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 70 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 56
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 33 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 74 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 70 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
RoadSmart III leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | RoadSmart III | Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 58 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop RoadSmart III | Pirelli Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 59 |
| Dry | 95 | 70 |
| Wet | 89 | 33 |
| Comfort | 88 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 70 |
| Handling | 89 | 58 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
90
/ 100
Tire A
59
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop RoadSmart III is highly regarded as a durable, high-performance sport-touring tire that excels in longevity without sacrificing significant grip. Users consistently praise its stability and confidence-inspiring handling across a variety of motorcycles, particularly heavy touring bikes and sportbikes used for long-distance travel.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and mileage compared to dedicated sport tires.
- Sharp, responsive steering and handling characteristics.
- Consistent and reliable grip in both dry and wet road conditions.
- Stable performance under heavy loads, including luggage and pillion passengers.
Cons
- Occasional reports of rear-end slippage during aggressive cornering with power input.
- Front tire wear can be uneven or faster than expected depending on suspension setup.
- Some users noted a firm ride quality due to the stiff carcass construction.
Observations
- BMW K1600GTL owners report the tire is an excellent match for the bike's weight and touring demands.
- Sportbike riders (e.g., GSXR1000) appreciate the tire as a long-lasting alternative to pure sport rubber without losing agility.
- The stiff carcass design is noted to sharpen steering response, which is particularly beneficial for heavier touring motorcycles.
The Pirelli Diablo Rosso receives polarized feedback, with users praising its performance in warm, dry conditions while expressing significant concerns regarding its reliability in cold or wet weather. While some riders appreciate the tire's neutral handling and grip for spirited riding, others report sudden, unpredictable traction loss that compromises rider confidence.
Pros
- Excellent grip and handling in warm, dry conditions
- Predictable and neutral steering characteristics
- Strong performance on smaller displacement vehicles and scooters
- Good feedback for spirited street riding
Cons
- Sudden and unpredictable loss of traction in cold or wet conditions
- Poor performance and safety concerns during rain
- Inconsistent tread wear patterns
- Faster than expected wear rates for some users
Observations
- Users on smaller displacement scooters reported high satisfaction with grip and longevity.
- Riders on mid-sized naked bikes, such as the Ducati Monster, reported significant instability and safety issues in sub-optimal weather.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop RoadSmart III | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
90
/ 100
Dunlop
59
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Dunlop RoadSmart III — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 33 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 58 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 95 vs 70 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop RoadSmart III scores 89 vs 70 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop RoadSmart III
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop RoadSmart III also compared with
Pirelli Diablo Rosso 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.