Pirelli describe their latest Diablo Supercorsa SP as “the ultimate expression of Pirelli technology, its racing soul approved for road use” and they remain a popular choice for fast road and occasional track day use.
The tyre profile and structure are closely related to that of the slick race tyres supplied by the Italian tyre maker to race series including the FIM World Superbike Championship.
Right now, journalists from across the globe are getting the chance to test that race-track DNA at the launch of Ducati’s new Panigale V4 at the Bahrain International Circuit, a bike to which the Pirelli is fitted as original equipment.
Diablo Supercorsa SP V3
While it may look identical to it's V2 predecessor, the latest iteration of Pirelli's has some subtle differences which you're more likely to spot if you stand them side by side.
The key difference in the tread groove angle, which has been tweaked to improve wear uniformity, plus grip, feedback and stability at full lean.
Ducati and Pirelli have worked together closely for many years, and the tyre maker was intimately involved in the development of Ducati’s latest superbike which has used the Supercorsa V3 since 2018 – a year before they became available as an aftermarket tyre.
Pirelli revised the profile of the V3 to optimise the contact patch at full lean, while also adopting their SC2 slick race compound on the edge of the tyre for maximum grip in the corners.
Their engineers also worked hard to improve the feedback and handling offered by the front tyre, stiffening up the construction and altering the profile so it works in greater harmony with the new rear.
A benchmark product in the Racing Street market, it is also an original equipment tyre of choice for several other leading motorcycle manufacturers.
If you want to know how they perform on track, keep an eye out for reports from the Ducati launch in the coming weeks!
