76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
79/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop SportSmart TT vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — 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
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, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop SportSmart TT if handling 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 III leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart TT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 90 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart TT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 96 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 23 | 77 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart TT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 88 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart TT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SportSmart TT leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | SportSmart TT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 98 | 90 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SportSmart TT | Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 82 |
| Dry | 89 | 90 |
| Wet | 67 | 77 |
| Comfort | 78 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 75 |
| Handling | 98 | 90 |
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
76
/ 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 Dunlop SportSmart TT is widely regarded as a high-performance, track-focused tire that excels in dry conditions, offering exceptional feedback and confidence at high lean angles. While users praise its rapid warm-up time and track-day capabilities, it is consistently criticized for its poor performance in wet weather and relatively short tread life.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and cornering feedback
- Rapid warm-up time without the need for tire warmers
- High stability and confidence during aggressive lean angles
- Strong dual-purpose performance for both spirited road riding and track days
Cons
- Poor performance and lack of confidence in wet conditions
- Rapid tread wear, particularly when used for high-mileage road riding
- Reduced grip levels once the tire reaches the end of its service life
Observations
- Users report the tire is well-suited for high-performance sportbikes, such as the Yamaha R1, where it enhances handling characteristics.
- The tire is noted to be unsuitable for long-distance motorway commuting due to accelerated wear rates.
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 · Dunlop SportSmart TT | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Dunlop
82
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — better wet, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop SportSmart TT if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 77 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 88 vs 78 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 75 vs 65 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SportSmart TT scores 98 vs 90 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop SportSmart TT
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SportSmart TT 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.