February 15, 2008 - Jon Pearson

Pirelli launches its latest Diablo sport road tyre. Dubbed the 'Rosso' it's got a bare shoulder you know ... Scroll down for the full story

The 'new and improved' Pirelli Diablo, tagged the Rosso, has been officially launched to the press. JP has been at a chilly Catalunya getting to grips with it.

The look of the new Diablo Rosso is different with a new tread pattern and a “naked shoulder” to give you better performance at full lean. But those markings are only skin deep, the real improvements are harder to decipher but certainly there I think.

A morning on the roads and an afternoon at Catalunya's famous GP circuit was enough to spot the slim differences between new and old Diablo sporty road rubber. Initially they feel harder, on the circuit and road, harder than you might expect a Pirelli to, with the carcass doing a healthy job of keeping its shape even under hard braking. But there's a very real feeling the silica bit, the compound, is holding the asphalt with a warm soft hand.

Five years in development has led to Enhanced Patch Technology (EPT) which is a larger contact patch which naturally gives you better confidence. Overall I wouldn't say I felt anymore confident other than at high speeds on the road and also at full lean in corners on the track. Both being places where stability and confidence in the grip and feel makes sharper assaults on your senses.

The only minor glitch I found was a slight vagueness as you tip into corners on the road. It was something I couldn't really put my finger on precisely, and it wasn't there on the track. But just after you begin to lean the confidence you have holds its breath for a few moments before coming back again. Very cold, randomly wet, dirty Spanish mountain roads were a tough test but that feeling was noticable on different model bikes.

The Diablo Rosso performs better overall than its predecessor and certainly better than a road tyre should at the track. Usually you reach the limit four or so laps in and from there have to live with slides or adjust you lines to ride around where the grip has gone. The Rosso is no different in that respect but it does go a bit further than I expected giving more grip and feel.

They're good. They're out in the shops soon for a UK price of around £200.

www.pirelli.co.uk