80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max 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.
VS
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
87/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better handling and dry. Pick the Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max if wet matters most to you.
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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 IV leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart 2 Max | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
SportSmart 2 Max leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart 2 Max | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 79 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart 2 Max | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart 2 Max | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 76 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart 2 Max | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 91 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 83 |
| Dry | 80 | 89 |
| Wet | 80 | 72 |
| Comfort | 85 | 86 |
| Treadwear | – | 76 |
| Handling | 75 | 91 |
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
80
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max is widely regarded as a highly capable street-focused tire that excels in wet conditions and offers superior stability compared to its competitors. Users appreciate its predictable handling and confidence-inspiring front-end feel, making it a strong choice for daily riders who prioritize safety and versatility over pure track-day performance.
Pros
- Rapid warm-up time on public roads
- Excellent wet weather grip and predictability
- High levels of front-end confidence and stability
- Improved carcass rigidity compared to entry-level sport tires
Cons
- Less aggressive dry-weather cornering performance than dedicated supersport tires
- Not optimized for high-intensity track use
- Potential for a firmer ride due to the stiff carcass construction
Observations
- Recommended primarily for daily riders and lighter motorcycles rather than dedicated track machines.
- Users transitioning from entry-level sport tires report a significant improvement in stability and feedback.
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.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Dunlop
83
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better handling and dry. Pick the Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 91 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max scores 80 vs 72 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SportSmart 2 Max also compared with
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV 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.