Tests – · none yet Owners 78 · 11 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Sportsmart vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 1 road tests and 11 + 182 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Sportsmart 76, Diablo Rosso IV 77.
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 75 · 1 test Owners 81 · 182 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 12 in 2025 Sport and Hypersport Motorcycle Tyre Test (wet handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
78
Dry
Sportsmart +375Why this score
Source Sportsmart Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 75 (est.) 68 Reviews found online 84 86 Sportsmart: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 84.1 = 78
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 67.8 + 40% × 86.3 = 75
No road tests of dry for Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
-
76
Wet
Diablo Rosso IV +682Why this score
Source Sportsmart Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 75 (est.) 81 Reviews found online 78 83 Sportsmart: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 77.8 = 76
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 81.4 + 40% × 82.5 = 82
No road tests of wet for Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
75
Comfort
Diablo Rosso IV +176Why this score
Source Sportsmart Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 77 80 Sportsmart: 40% × 70.4 (est.) + 60% × 77.3 = 75
Diablo Rosso IV: 40% × 70.9 (est.) + 60% × 80.1 = 76
No road tests of comfort for Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Diablo Rosso IV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
-
69
Treadwear
Diablo Rosso IV +170Why this score
Source Sportsmart Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 71 71 Sportsmart: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.8 = 69
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 68.3 (est.) + 40% × 71.4 = 70
No road tests of treadwear for Sportsmart. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Diablo Rosso IV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
84
Handling (owners)
Diablo Rosso IV +286Why this score
Source Sportsmart Diablo Rosso IV Reviews found online 84 86
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Sportsmart | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 77 |
| Dry | 78 | 75 |
| Wet | 76 | 82 |
| Comfort | 75 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 70 |
| Handling (owners) | 84 | 86 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Sportsmart
77
/ 100
Diablo Rosso IV
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Sportsmart
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip that inspires rider confidence
- Predictable feedback and handling, especially when approaching the limit
- Fast warm-up times suitable for both road and occasional track use
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 miles depending on usage
- Stiff N-TEC construction can feel harsh over road imperfections
- Occasional reports of air pressure retention issues on specific rear units
Tire B Diablo Rosso IV
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip with a high level of rider confidence
- Fast warm-up time and predictable handling at deep lean angles
- Improved steering precision and turn-in compared to previous generations like the Diablo Rosso III
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some competitors and previous models
- Noticeable reduction in grip and increased rear wheel spin as the tires wear down
- Requires full operating temperature for optimal performance late in its life cycle
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Sportsmart | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Dunlop Sportsmart
77
/ 100
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
Too close to call: Dunlop Sportsmart and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Sportsmart is stronger on dry. Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV is stronger on wet. Dunlop Sportsmart rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 11 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 82 vs 76 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Sportsmart scores 78 vs 75 on dry.
Tire A · Dunlop Sportsmart
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Sportsmart or Diablo Rosso IV?
Which is better in the wet, Sportsmart or Diablo Rosso IV?
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV, 82 vs 76 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Sportsmart or Diablo Rosso IV?
Dunlop Sportsmart, 78 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Sportsmart or Diablo Rosso IV?
Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 76 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Sportsmart or Diablo Rosso IV?
Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 70 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology