Tests 77 · 1 test Owners 77 · 139 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 12 in 2025 Sport and Hypersport Motorcycle Tyre Test (wet handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Metzeler Sportec M9 RR 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 1 + 1 road tests and 139 + 184 owner reviews. How we score
Diablo Rosso IV leads, 80–77 Narrow edge
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Tests 75 · 1 test Owners 85 · 184 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.
-
74
Dry
Diablo Rosso IV +377Why this score
Source Sportec M9 RR Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 71 68 Reviews found online 78 92 Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Sportec M9 RR: 60% × 71.2 + 40% × 77.8 = 74
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 67.7 + 40% × 91.5 = 77
-
82
Wet
Diablo Rosso IV +284Why this score
Source Sportec M9 RR Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 84 81 Reviews found online 79 87 Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Sportec M9 RR: 60% × 83.7 + 40% × 78.5 = 82
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 81.4 + 40% × 87 = 84
-
72
Comfort
Diablo Rosso IV +880Why this score
Source Sportec M9 RR Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 74 85 Sportec M9 RR: 40% × 69.7 (est.) + 60% × 73.5 = 72
Diablo Rosso IV: 40% × 72 (est.) + 60% × 84.7 = 80
No road tests of comfort for Sportec M9 RR. 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).
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72
Treadwear
Sportec M9 RR +171Why this score
Source Sportec M9 RR Diablo Rosso IV Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 75 75 Sportec M9 RR: 60% × 69.7 (est.) + 40% × 75.3 = 72
Diablo Rosso IV: 60% × 69.4 (est.) + 40% × 74.6 = 71
No road tests of treadwear for Sportec M9 RR. 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).
-
81
Handling (owners)
Diablo Rosso IV +1091Why this score
Source Sportec M9 RR Diablo Rosso IV Reviews found online 81 91
Scores at a glance
| Category | Metzeler Sportec M9 RR | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 80 |
| Dry | 74 | 77 |
| Wet | 82 | 84 |
| Comfort | 72 | 80 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 71 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 91 |
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
77
/ 100
Sportec M9 RR
80
/ 100
Diablo Rosso IV
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Metzeler Sportec M9 RR finished ahead 1 times and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Sportec M9 RR | Diablo Rosso IV | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 97% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Sport and Hypersport Motorcycle Tyre Test · 190/55 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% | 97% | +0.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Sport and Hypersport Motorcycle Tyre Test · 190/55 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/12 | #5/12 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Sport and Hypersport Motorcycle Tyre Test · 190/55 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Sportec M9 RR
Pros
- Exceptional grip in both dry and wet weather conditions
- Fast warm-up time and high confidence from the start
- Outstanding turn-in, handling, and corner feedback
Cons
- Noticeable change in handling characteristics during the final stages of tire life
- Soft flanks can struggle under high torque, leading to rapid center wear
- Requires more warm-up time in cold winter mornings compared to some competitors
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 · Metzeler Sportec M9 RR | B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Metzeler Sportec M9 RR
80
/ 100
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
Narrow edge: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV — better handling, comfort and dry. Where the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 91 vs 81 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 80 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV scores 77 vs 74 on dry.
Tire A · Metzeler Sportec M9 RR
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV
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Sportec M9 RR or Diablo Rosso IV?
Which is better in the wet, Sportec M9 RR or Diablo Rosso IV?
Neither, by our numbers: 82 vs 84 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Sportec M9 RR or Diablo Rosso IV?
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV, 77 vs 74 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Sportec M9 RR or Diablo Rosso IV?
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV, 80 vs 72 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Sportec M9 RR or Diablo Rosso IV?
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 71 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