92
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
93/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin City Grip 2 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
81
/ 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: Michelin City Grip 2 — better wet, treadwear 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)
City Grip 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | City Grip 2 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 96 | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | City Grip 2 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 79 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | City Grip 2 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | City Grip 2 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 76 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
City Grip 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | City Grip 2 | Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 91 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 92 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin City Grip 2 | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 92 | 81 |
| Dry | 96 | 89 |
| Wet | 94 | 72 |
| Comfort | 86 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 76 |
| Handling | 93 | 91 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
92
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin City Grip 2 is widely regarded as a superior upgrade over OEM scooter tires, offering significant improvements in cornering confidence and wet-weather performance. Users consistently praise its predictable handling and enhanced grip, though experiences regarding ride comfort and road feedback remain somewhat polarized.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability during cornering
- Strong performance in wet weather conditions
- Predictable handling and improved road feedback
- Noticeable performance upgrade over stock scooter tires
Cons
- Requires a short warm-up period to reach optimal stickiness
- Can feel stiff or transmit excessive road imperfections
- Front tire wear can be accelerated on heavier scooter models
Observations
- Users on Vespa models report high satisfaction with cornering confidence and reduced bumpiness on rough roads.
- Owners of heavier scooters, such as the Yamaha Tricity, note that front tire wear is more pronounced due to suspension weight distribution.
- Performance on small-diameter wheels (12-inch) is noted as highly effective, providing braking power that exceeds the limits of standard scooter suspension components.
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 · Michelin City Grip 2 | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
92
/ 100
Michelin
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Michelin City Grip 2 — better wet, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 94 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 90 vs 76 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin City Grip 2 scores 96 vs 89 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin City Grip 2
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin City Grip 2 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.