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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV vs Pirelli Dragon Sport — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
75/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Dragon Sport 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 | Diablo Rosso IV | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Dragon Sport leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Diablo Rosso IV | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 67 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 78 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Diablo Rosso IV | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 69 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Diablo Rosso IV | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Diablo Rosso IV leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Diablo Rosso IV | Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 76 |
| DriverReviews owners | 92 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV | Pirelli Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 75 |
| Dry | 89 | 80 |
| Wet | 72 | 78 |
| Comfort | 86 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 71 |
| Handling | 91 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Pirelli Dragon Sport is generally perceived as a capable, budget-friendly entry-level performance tire that excels in longevity and daily comfort rather than track-focused handling. While many users praise its value and durability, there is a clear divide in opinion regarding its 'sport' classification, with some enthusiasts finding the sidewalls too soft and the grip limits lower than premium performance alternatives.
Pros
- Excellent tread life and durability for the price point
- High value-for-money compared to premium performance tires
- Strong dry grip and reliable wet weather performance for daily driving
- Comfortable ride quality with relatively low road noise
Cons
- Soft sidewalls leading to vague steering feedback and understeer
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and punctures from road hazards
- Performance limits fall short of true enthusiast-grade tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport series
- Inconsistent noise levels depending on road surface quality
Observations
- Users with high-torque or performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Mazda 3 MPS, Corolla Altis) report impressive mileage, often exceeding 50,000 km.
- Drivers on coarse-chip road surfaces report higher-than-average cabin noise, suggesting the tire is better suited for smoother urban environments.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance characteristics are more aligned with a premium touring tire (like the Cinturato P1) than a dedicated sports tire.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV | B · Pirelli Dragon Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Max Performance tires | Summer Extreme Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Pirelli
75
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better comfort, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Dragon Sport if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 86 vs 69 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 91 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Dragon Sport scores 78 vs 72 on wet.
Tire A · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
Tire B · Pirelli Dragon Sport
More comparisons
Also compared with
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV also compared with
Pirelli Dragon Sport 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.