Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Pilot Power 2CT vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — 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 + 0 road tests and 453 + 9 owner reviews. How we score

Diablo Rosso III is ahead, 73–68

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Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
Tire AMichelin

Pilot Power 2CT

Summer

± 8

Tests – · none yet Owners 68 · 453 reviews

“Less than 200 miles on this brand new pilot power 2ct, and I got a flat. A goddamn staple thing. What do?”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 71

    Dry

    Diablo Rosso III +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Power 2CTDiablo Rosso III
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online7278

    Pilot Power 2CT: 60% × 69.8 (est.) + 40% × 72.1 = 71

    Diablo Rosso III: 60% × 72.1 (est.) + 40% × 77.6 = 74

    No road tests of dry for Pilot Power 2CT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for Diablo Rosso III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 67

    Wet

    Diablo Rosso III +7
    74
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Power 2CTDiablo Rosso III
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online6675

    Pilot Power 2CT: 60% × 68 (est.) + 40% × 65.8 = 67

    Diablo Rosso III: 60% × 73.2 (est.) + 40% × 75.1 = 74

    No road tests of wet for Pilot Power 2CT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Diablo Rosso III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 70

    Comfort

    Diablo Rosso III +3
    73
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Power 2CTDiablo Rosso III
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online7076

    Pilot Power 2CT: 40% × 69.3 (est.) + 60% × 70 = 70

    Diablo Rosso III: 40% × 70.3 (est.) + 60% × 75.5 = 73

    No road tests of comfort for Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 66

    Treadwear

    Diablo Rosso III +1
    67
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Power 2CTDiablo Rosso III
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online6667

    Pilot Power 2CT: 60% × 65.9 (est.) + 40% × 65.5 = 66

    Diablo Rosso III: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 66.8 = 67

    No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Power 2CT. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Diablo Rosso III. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  5. 63

    Handling (owners)

    Diablo Rosso III +16
    79
    Why this score
    SourcePilot Power 2CTDiablo Rosso III
    Reviews found online6379
Scores at a glance
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT vs Pirelli Diablo Rosso III: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Pilot Power 2CTPirelli Diablo Rosso III
Relative Score 68 73
Dry 71 74
Wet 67 74
Comfort 70 73
Treadwear 66 67
Handling (owners) 63 79

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Pilot Power 2CT

± 8

Diablo Rosso III

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Pilot Power 2CT

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and high-angle cornering capability
  • Fast warm-up time from cold conditions
  • Excellent front-end feedback and planted feel

Cons

  • Abrupt or non-progressive transition point when reaching the limit of grip
  • Rear tire can kick out or lose communication under heavy acceleration
  • Some riders experience reduced confidence or slickness in wet conditions
All owner themes in the Pilot Power 2CT review

Tire B Diablo Rosso III

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and predictable handling at various lean angles
  • Improved wet-weather performance compared to more aggressive track-oriented tires
  • Fast warm-up times providing immediate confidence

Cons

  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature rear tire wear
  • Potential for rapid degradation under aggressive riding styles
  • Isolated reports of structural issues such as delamination
All owner themes in the Diablo Rosso III review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Pilot Power 2CT

Positive

Riders generally view the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT as a proven, sticky sport tire offering dependable cornering grip and solid wet-weather performance at an attractive price point. While praised for street confidence and light track use, many note that modern sport-touring tires offer better tread life for heavy commuting or straight-line highway riding.

fjrforum.com ·2006-10-29

“I'm on my third set of Pilot Powers on my FZ1. The first two sets were slightly rough on the sides as they wore down. This third set grips just as well in the twisties but is 'pilling' much more heavily, on the sides of the tires. Since my riding style has not changed, the side compound has to be softer for this to happen. The center of the tire is still wearing smooth. B)”

r/xsr900 ·1 upvote ·2025-02-16

“I have Pilot Power 2CT. Honestly, wish I had gotten the Road 5’s (at the time). My tires are stickier than I personally need. Unless you’re going full lean angle on the street, I think they’re a bit aggressive IMO.”

cbrforum.com

“Quote: Originally Posted by boredandstroked Its fine. I've ridden pilot sport/pilot power, power/2ct and 2ct/pure combos in the past. I also ride aggressively with canyon runs and freeway exchanges you can put your knee down on. The profile is the least of your worries as it changes as the tire wears out anyways. Tires are expensive as it is. When I bought my bike about 6 months ago, the rear tire was bald from the center - I figure due to "burn-outs". Front was good. There were Dunlops. So I changed the rear tire to Michelin 2CT and left the front as it was in good (about 80% new) condition. I ride hills, freeways, etc. I have not felt anything different. I'm still a noob, so may not be as aggressive as some of you guys, but I do tend to ride a little on aggressive side. Just my 2 cents. I'll probably get the front in another 3-5months, and go with the Michelins (2CT if available), otherwise...who knows...”

Top themes
#cornering grip#tire longevity#track day usage#dual-compound design#price and value#wet and cold performance#tire mixing setups

Based on 51 community posts

Tire B

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typeMotorcycleMotorcycle

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Pilot Power 2CT

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III

Winner: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score. Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 9 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 79 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 74 vs 67 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 74 vs 71 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III scores 73 vs 70 on comfort.

Tire A · Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
Tire B · Pirelli Diablo Rosso III

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Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III?

Which is better in the wet, Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III?

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III, 74 vs 67 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III?

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III, 74 vs 71 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III?

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III, 73 vs 70 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Pilot Power 2CT or Diablo Rosso III?

Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 67 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