Diablo Rosso™ Corsa II, Pirelli’s Multi-Compound Technology to Follow the Sporty Leanings of Motorcyclists also on the Road

The Italian Brand Capitalizes on the Experience in the FIM World Superbike Championship to Create a Tire with Multiple Compounds, Three on the Rear and Two on the Front, Offering Stability and Mileage, Grip in Both Dry and Wet, and Sporty Performance Derived from Racing

ROME, Ga. – Using its 15 years as Official Tire Supplier to all the classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship, Pirelli has exploited the best technologies and patents developed to date to design DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, an innovative new tire derived from racing, and designed for use on road and track.

Since the launch of the original DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA in 2010, motorcycles and the needs of motorcyclists have evolved, they now look for sporty performance combined with versatility not

only on track, but also on the road. Motorcycle torque and horsepower outputs have increased significantly and the introduction of sophisticated traction control systems and cornering ABS have enabled these performance gains to be applied by more riders able to reach greater lean angles. Consequently the claim chosen by Pirelli to accompany the new product is “Follow your leanings”. In fact, to meet these requirements, Pirelli engineers had to develop a new technological solution for DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, using different compounds, precisely positioned along the tire profile. In this way they managed to increase front grip during turn-in and braking whilst leaning and rear grip at full lean angles from mid-corner to exit. The result is a tire that provides confident “feel” and safety on the road in all conditions, with outstanding performance and increased mileage and an excellent product for track day sessions.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is the Pirelli interpretation of the multi-compound technology applied to a motorcycle tire derived from racing for use both on track and on road. DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is the first ever Pirelli motorcycle multi-compound tire that uses two compounds applied in three zones on the front tire and three compounds applied at five zones on the rear, to create the ideal combination for modern motorcycles.

Innovative profiles, a new structure derived from racing and a new tread design make this tire the best balance for riders wanting an excellent street tire that is also effective for the racetrack.

As exclusive FIM Superbike World Championship supplier since 2004, one of Pirelli’s most important strategies in the series has been to develop winning tire technologies that work for all manufacturers’ motorcycles. Using these technologies for road solutions created Pirelli’s claim: “We sell what we race and we race what we sell”. The new DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II underlines the truth behind this mantra.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is intended for riders of mid-high performance motorcycles who enjoy a sports riding style on the street and not just on the racetrack. They desire a tire with fast warm-up, sports agility, excellent grip and consistent performance ready to compete against the challenges of everyday use. Pirelli have now transformed racetrack performance into street versatility to guarantee top performance also on road.

Below is a table that summarizes the main characteristics of the DIABLO ROSSO ™ CORSA II and the benefits derived for the motorcyclist.

THE NEW TIRE IN DETAIL

Pirelli’s Multi-Compound Technology

The Racing Street tire sector has been in constant evolution, adapting to the ever-changing demands of the latest power outputs, riding modes and traction control systems. The demands of riders are also evolving, now wanting sports-grade performance and versatility, whether riding on winding roads or the racetrack.

To meet these requirements, Pirelli engineers have developed a new solution for DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, using different compounds, specifically positioned across the tire profile.
For the first time, Pirelli has designed a bi-compound solution for the front tire — applying the two compounds in three different zones and a triple compound on the rear distributed in five zones.

With this unique design, the Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II has succeeded in perfectly blending two and three compounds (with high concentration or 100% Silica in the center and 100% Carbon Black at the shoulders), thus maximizing grip at all lean angles and in all weather conditions.

For the rear tire, a new combination of compounds has been developed for road and racetrack use. The rear tire is divided into five zones with three different compounds used to provide the best performance in all environments.

• The central compound has a high silica content, which ensures excellent stability at high speeds, uniform wear and good mileage.

• The intermediate compound that covers the intermediate lean angles has a formulation of 100% Silica to provide an excellent chemical grip on dry and wet surfaces, supported by a harder compound in the substrate to guarantee stability and precision when cornering.

• The compound on the shoulders is a 100% Carbon Black compound with high degree of hysteresis that transforms blend compression into heat, thus providing a fast warm-up. It also has a broad working temperature range, which guarantees grip and stable performance regardless of the load. This compound employs the same racing resins used in the DIABLO™ Supercorsa designed for use in high temperature and high stress situations typical of racetrack riding.

The front tire was designed to work in harmony with the compound of the rear tire and is divided into five zones with three different compounds.

• The central compound uses 100% Silica in the center of the tread, achieving “chemical grip” on both dry and wet surfaces, as well as stability under all applications, performance typically required in street and high speed applications. Wet riding is one of the most crucial functions for a front tire and so, unlike the rear tire, the 100% silica compound is used on the center.

• The compound on the shoulder is 100% Carbon Black, enabling lean angles typical of a racing product, ensuring lateral grip and strength in turns. Moreover it also provides precise feedback on corner exit, valuable features when approaching the limit both on racetrack and the road.

Racing profiles

The profiles of DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II derive directly from those used in racing.

The profile of the front tire features a racing-derived, multi-radius design that enhances handling, inviting the rider to lean in earlier and facilitating quick changes in direction.
Compared to its predecessor, the DIABLO ROSSO ™ CORSA, the profile of the new tire is broader and wider, providing a larger, more stable contact area for the leaning motorcycle.

The rear tire follows the same pattern and similar geometry ensuring a harmonious feeling from the pair of tires.

The tread design: the evolution of the flash

One of the strengths of the DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is the tread pattern — an evolution of the DIABLO ROSSO™ III — optimized to provide performance similar to that of slick racetrack tires and ensure superb control in street riding. The uninterrupted “flash” design is an effective solution in terms of tread compactness, full/void ratio, groove orientation and water drainage.

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II offers a wide slick zone on the shoulders and thus guarantees superb grip as well as precision and stability at high lean angles.

Wide, interrupted grooves prevent tread deformation, enhancing overall compactness and, consequently, ensuring better, more uniform wear under both road and track conditions. The result is a highly stable tire.

The full/void ratios applied on front and rear tires of the previous model have been modified and the result is greater surface in contact with the asphalt at various lean angles and thus better overall grip under all conditions.

The central portion of the “flash” also increases the number of grooves on that portion of the profile used when leaning on a wet surface — in conventional road use this angle generally ranges from 10° to 30°. The shape of the grooves has been specially designed to achieve rapid warm-up and excellent drainage of water under wet conditions. The surface between 30° and the shoulder is the area affected when leaning; here, on the DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, the tread grooves have been progressively reduced until the area is completely slick. No grooves means no deformation and thus utmost stability.

With the higher level of grip, corner exit under acceleration, the lateral forces generate high degrees of stress on the shoulder of the rear tire. To support these stresses, the traction resistance of the shoulder structure has been increased.

To help riders who also ride on the racetrack determine product wear, Pirelli has inserted a Racing Wear Indicator (RWI) on the slick shoulder, the same indicator the company uses on its racing products.

The product name and “flash” symbol are presented on the tread shoulder, reaffirming its DIABLO ROSSO™ DNA, including the 0.3 mm “D” (for DIABLO™) impressed on the rear tire central tread band, a feature which disappears after about 300 kilometers of use.

The structure derived from racing

The solutions adopted for the compound, tread and new profile, significantly improve grip and traction, making significantly higher speeds possible in lean. However, this means that the tires are required to absorb greater dynamic forces and hence greater stresses. To address this, Pirelli employed a new structure – derived from racing – but with slightly higher structural rigidity in comparison to its predecessor so as to adapt perfectly to the stresses without forfeiting comfort.

To achieve the full potential of DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II, a high-modulus Lyocell fiber casing was adopted for the rear tire, a casing with a significantly lower deformation ratio than that of the fibers normally used in street tires. The high-modulus Lyocell fiber casing is an exclusive, patented Pirelli technology developed through the company’s participation in the FIM Superbike World Championship.

The result is a carcass that can better withstand the stresses generated when aggressively entering a corner or when accelerating sharply while the motorcycle is still leaning. The new casing also responds perfectly to roughness in the asphalt, ensuring a good degree of comfort and helps latest generation motorcycles achieve better performance when the rider shifts their weight between front and rear, a characteristic more evident at greater lean angles.

The radial casing offers a good degree of stiffness also for the front tire, supporting the profile and enabling the blend to achieve superb grip on the asphalt. It is made of high performance Rayon, which maintains shape even under the stresses generated by acceleration forces and full loads.

The combination of front and rear structures works optimally with the latest electronic control systems, ensuring the best performance and delivering higher level of confidence and control to the rider.

The positioning in Pirelli’s supersport range

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II is part of Pirelli’s supersport range as a Racing Street product, perfectly positioned between DIABLO™ Supercorsa SP and DIABLO ROSSO™ III.
Compared to the DIABLO™ Supercorsa SP, which has been designed to be used mainly on track and therefore does not have wet grip and road mileage among its target performance, DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II has been designed in terms of profile, carcass and tread design to play the typical role of a road tire with particular attention to mileage and wet behavior, while being able to guarantee good performance even on track.

Compared to the DIABLO ROSSO™ III, which plays the role of a supersport tire with a balanced behavior between road performance combined with high mileage and excellent wet behavior, DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II offers a better performance on track and in dry conditions at the expense of a slightly lower mileage.

Sizes

DIABLO ROSSO™ CORSA II will come in seven sizes, one for the front tire and six for the rear