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Dunlop Sportmax D207e 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 | Sportmax D207e | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 93 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax D207e | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 57 | 79 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax D207e | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 57 | 86 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax D207e | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 43 | 76 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Sportmax D207e | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 91 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportmax D207e | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 54 | 81 |
| Dry | 68 | 89 |
| Wet | 57 | 72 |
| Comfort | 57 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 43 | 76 |
| Handling | 53 | 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 Dunlop Sportmax D207e receives a polarized reception, with users frequently citing significant concerns regarding longevity and wet-weather performance. While a minority of riders appreciate the tire's grip and feedback, the general consensus points toward a dated product that struggles with inconsistent warm-up times and rapid tread wear.
Pros
- Satisfactory dry-weather grip for some riding styles
- Predictable feedback reported by select users
- High durability in terms of tread depth for specific, less aggressive riders
Cons
- Extremely poor tread life and premature squaring off
- Unreliable performance in wet conditions
- Slow warm-up times and lack of temperature retention
- Lack of confidence-inspiring feedback for spirited riding
Observations
- Users on smaller displacement bikes reported surprising loss of traction, suggesting the tire may not be suited for lighter chassis dynamics.
- High-performance sportbike owners noted that the tire's performance characteristics are significantly outclassed by modern dual-compound alternatives.
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 · Dunlop Sportmax D207e | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
Dunlop
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better handling, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 91 vs 53 on handling.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 76 vs 43 on treadwear.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 86 vs 57 on comfort.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 89 vs 68 on dry.
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.