76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT 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 handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 | Pilot Power 2CT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 90 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Power 2CT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 77 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Power 2CT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 88 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Power 2CT leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Power 2CT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso III leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Power 2CT | Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 66 | 90 |
| DriverReviews owners | 90 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Power 2CT | Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 82 |
| Dry | 89 | 90 |
| Wet | 69 | 77 |
| Comfort | 85 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 77 | 75 |
| Handling | 66 | 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 Michelin Pilot Power 2CT is widely regarded as a high-value, versatile sport tire that excels in dry conditions and offers impressive front-end feedback. While it remains a popular choice for street riders and occasional track users due to its quick warm-up and confidence-inspiring handling, some riders note a lack of progressiveness at the limit and inconsistent performance in heavy rain.
Pros
- Excellent dry grip and lean angle capability
- Rapid warm-up time
- Superior front-end feedback and handling precision
- High value-for-money proposition
Cons
- Inconsistent wet weather performance and communication
- Lack of progressiveness when reaching the limit of grip
- Potential for 'on/off' grip characteristics rather than a linear transition
Observations
- Users on middleweight sportbikes like the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki SV650 report high satisfaction with handling, though some note rear-end instability under hard acceleration.
- Riders of naked bikes like the Honda Hornet and Bandit GSF650 praise the tire's ability to transform bike handling compared to OEM alternatives.
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.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
The Michelin Pilot Power 2CT is a long-standing, budget-friendly sport tire that generates mixed community opinions. While many riders appreciate their affordability, decent wet grip, and historical popularity, others note they are an older design compared to modern alternatives like the Road 5 or Q3, with some users reporting sliding or feeling they are too aggressive for standard street use.
r/motorcycles
·15 upvotes ·2012-04-07
“Less than 200 miles on this brand new pilot power 2ct, and I got a flat. A goddamn staple thing. What do?”
r/MT09
·2 upvotes ·2025-11-01
“Mix setup — Road 6 front / Power 2CT rear on MT-09 SP. What do you guys think? Hey guys, I’d like to hear your opinion. I’ve got an MT-09 SP, bought it in May 2025, and I’ve already worn out the stock Bridgestone S23 tires over the season. Now I’ve got a mix setup — Michelin Road 6 on the front and Michelin Pilot Power 2CT on the rear (got them as a gift). What do you think — is that a decent combo? Any pros/cons I should know about? The weather’s still nice here, so I’m planning to keep riding until the roads get too wet with autumn rain. 🌧️🏍️”
r/xsr900
·1 upvote ·2025-02-16
“I have Pilot Power 2CT. Honestly, wish I had gotten the Road 5’s (at the time). My tires are stickier than I personally need. Unless you’re going full lean angle on the street, I think they’re a bit aggressive IMO.”
r/xsr900
·1 upvote ·2025-02-16
“I've had 2 sets of Pilot Power 2CT. Got about 10k miles off the front (pushing it) and about 5-6k miles off each rear. You might be able to extend that if you have more twisty roads available. I have to slog through miles of straights to get anywhere twisty like that. My experience with them in the damp and cold has been very good though, but if that doesn't apply to you it's not much of a pro. Personally? I'm getting Road 5s/Road 6s for public roads, and another set of tires (Rosso IIIs) specifically for track and summer use. The Roads will last you even longer and handle themselves in a corner very well. I'm expecting the roads to last me 7-8k miles before I have to swap out the rear”
Top themes
#Longevity and Mileage#Price and Affordability#Track Day Performance#Wet and Cold Grip#Alternative Comparisons#Aging Tire Technology
Based on 15 community posts
Tire B
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Michelin
82
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — better handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 90 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 77 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 88 vs 85 on comfort.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT 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.