Sports tires in a comparison test

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Sports tires in a comparison test
fact / Joachim Schahl

Sports tires in a comparison test

Sports tires in a comparison test

Sports tires in a comparison test

Sports tires in a comparison test

17th pictures

Sports tires in a comparison test
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The different criteria of four different rubbers need to be neatly noted. Later confusion excluded.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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The tester in dialogue with Internet tire dealer Jens Thiel (right). “You always bring your tests very late”, complained the rubber dealer. “The season has already been over for the most part.” Volkmar Jacob: “You know, we have to wait until the tires are widely available.”

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Salvatore Pennisi (Pirelli / Metzeler): “With the Diablo Rosso III, we paid particular attention to a wide temperature window.”

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Malte Lauritz Bigge (Continental): “Conti weak when wet? Maybe that was once. The new Sport Attack 3 can also rain!”

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Tim Rothig (Bridgestone): “With the S21, we focused specifically on more sportiness compared to the predecessor S20 Evo.”

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Basically tough competitors, the representatives of the tire companies (Rothig, Bigge, Pennisi, from left to right) were in a good mood during the test. Logo, because all rubbers of this year are absolutely top material.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Tire profile of the Continental Sport Attack 3.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Tire profile of the Bridgestone Battlax S21.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Tire profile of the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Tire profile of the Metzeler M7 RR.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Continental Sport Attack 3.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Bridgestone Battlax S21.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Pirelli Diablo Rosso III.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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The test candidates: Metzeler M7 RR (reference tire).

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Three brand new sports tires compete against the Metzeler M7 RR in a comparison test.

Sports tires in a comparison test
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The test device: a BMW S 1000 R..

Sports tires in a comparison test
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Hard-working helpers made sure that the right skins were fitted at the right time with the perfect air pressure. Thank you guys!

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Sports tires in a comparison test

4 sports tires tested
Sports tires in a comparison test

Content of

The call came unexpectedly and invited to a special kind of event. For the first time, PS had the opportunity to compare the three brand new sports tires Bridgestone S21, Continental Sport Attack 3 and Pirelli Diablo III with the reference model Metzeler M7 RR very early in the season. Invitation accepted.

Volkmar Jacob

02/09/2016

We were quite astonished when the guy on the phone offered to take part in his self-organized tire test. The comparison should take place in southern Spain in mid-January and the three brand new sports tires Bridgestone Battlax S21, Continental Sport Attack 3 and Pirelli Include Diablo Rosso III. Metzelers Sportec M7 RR serve as the reference tire in this segment. In addition to astonishment, there was also a good deal of skepticism.

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How does the man get tires, some of which would not even be on the market at this point in time? And would such a comparison test even meet our high standards – keywords the greatest possible objectivity and independence? We got curious. In addition, we really wanted to know how the tires, some of which we have already driven individually, would fare in a direct comparison – so let’s go to Spain!

Sports tires in a comparison test

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How do the sports tires fare in direct comparison??

The caller was Jens Thiel, an internet tire dealer (www.mopedreifen.de). According to his own statements, he sells around eight percent of motorcycle tires in Germany – a considerable amount. That also explains why Thiel came to sports tires so early.

Apparently the tire industry wants to keep him as a good customer and supplied the Koblenz-based man with the black adhesive from series production as one of the first: Bridgestone the Battlax S21, Pirelli the Diablo Rosso III and Continental the Sport Attack 3.

Main business runs between March and May

But why does a dealer make such an effort? “Your comparison tests often appear a little late in the season,” explains Thiel. “We want to know what’s going on earlier and collect our own impressions. The main business runs between March and May. ”That calls for a brief explanation: As a magazine, we usually only test when all tire types are widely available. This is necessary because we trade the rubbers supplied by the industry in the trade. We are absolutely convinced that neither manufacturers nor other parties involved are cheating at this meeting.

Especially since all the important representatives of the industry are present and presumably keep an eye on each other. But in the end we can only guarantee this with our own tests. For this reason, too, this comparison serves only as an initial exchange of blows. A test in wet conditions is not planned for this because there is no suitable terrain. We will probably deliver the comprehensive comparison test including wet performance as well as the soles from Dunlop and Michelin in PS 7/2016.

Bridgestone Battlax S21


Sports tires in a comparison test


manufacturer

Bridgestone Battlax S21.

When we tried the Bridgestone Battlax S21 for the first time last fall, we were surprised by the excellent performance. For this segment, which was primarily designed for public roads, the sole provided incredible grip and first-class cornering stability. Properties that we had previously only expected to be found in hypersport tires, which are one category higher. On the company’s own test site in Nettuno near Rome, we also liked the nimble handling and the impressive accuracy. In these chapters, the Bridgestone continues to set the record today – also on the brakes. In addition, the skin already appealed to us back then with great feedback, a low pitching moment when anchoring in an inclined position and good-natured handling at the limit.

Properties that are also confirmed here and today. The Bridgestone Battlax S21 only looks a bit bulky when it is cold. That makes the competition better. But after just a few turns, the rubber builds up enough temperature and thus grip for homogeneous curve surfing. However, due to a solid substructure, it rolls quite hard, which somewhat restricts driving comfort. Short excursion to wet grip: When we first met last year, the Japanese could not completely convince on the irrigated route in a direct comparison with its predecessor S20 Evo. The new one delivered noticeably less grip both when leaning and when accelerating straight ahead. But what the competitors can do in this criterion remains to be seen.

Continental Sport Attack 3


Sports tires in a comparison test


manufacturer

Continental Sport Attack 3.

Conti is taking the opposite path from Bridgestone. In terms of wet grip, the Korbach group has so far lagged behind the competition. With the completely redesigned Continental Sport Attack 3 is set to change that. During our first test ride last summer in Austria, we were able to convince ourselves of the increased wet grip (PS 09/2015). Even on dry roads and even with a few brisk turns on the slopes, we liked the skin extremely well. And in the dry test today? Everything tip top! Take cold running, for example: the tire works extremely well from the first meter, even at low double-digit temperatures. The grip when the rubber is warmed up leaves nothing to be desired. Even with a very sporty driving style, the pilot is far from exhausting the Sport Attack 3’s grip, at least on country roads. It is always amazing what has happened in this regard in recent years.

The Conti sets a further highlight in terms of the righting moment when braking – the test BMW S 1000 R erects itself at most marginally during this exercise. The Continental Sport Attack 3 also delivers a very convincing performance. Only from a medium lean angle does the driver need a touch more force than at the entrance to a curve, so that the BMW descends even deeper. The stability in a lean position and when braking is again completely okay. In this point, the Sport Attack 3 is roughly on par with the (high) level of the competition. With its unearthly stability, only the next protagonist stands out a little from our test field.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III


Sports tires in a comparison test


manufacturer

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III.

At the latest when braking hard for the first time or when exerting heavy power out of the corners, the pilot blindly recognizes which sole he is on. This absolute stability, this feeling of invincibility is unique and typical of the Italian brand. The predecessor Rosso II and the even sportier Diablo Rosso Corsa already have this impressive feature, which inspires a lot of trust. However, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III is slightly more unwieldy than the competition. That is also typical for the Italian. “We primarily worked on the mixture,” explains Salvatore Pennisi, Eminence Gray and head of the test department, the similarity in driving behavior. “This enabled us to expand the temperature window, which is of particular benefit to the cold grip.”

In fact, the skin now builds up significantly more grip when cold than its predecessor. A clear improvement, with which the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III is close to the Conti and also excellent in this respect Metzeler M7 RR is approaching. The good news: The hot grip has not suffered. As before, the tire delivers incredible reserves, especially at the rear, and is at least on a par with the competition overall. In terms of feedback and righting moment when braking in an inclined position, it offers a good average.

Metzeler M7 RR


Sports tires in a comparison test


manufacturer

Metzeler M7 RR.

Now it’s getting exciting. What can the all-rounder Metzeler M7 RR, which has been on the market since 2014, oppose this powerful trio? A whole lot! It delivers the best grip, cold as well as hot, shoots precisely into the corners and angles wonderfully light-footed.

Even in the chapters of stability, borderline behavior, righting moment when braking and feedback, the sole shows no weakness. Nothing that the butcher can’t do. Without a doubt, the manufacturer had a really big hit with the Metzeler M7 RR in 2014, and the tire is still one of the top favorites for the big comparison test in spring.

Conclusion


Sports tires in a comparison test


fact

The different criteria of four different rubbers need to be neatly noted. Later confusion excluded.

Now let’s clarify the question of which sports tires we would recommend to good buddies. The Metzeler M7 RR is our first choice since it is a country road pelvis. As mentioned above, a real all-rounder that has no weaknesses. Closely followed by the Continental Sport Attack 3, which behaves very similarly. Should it go to the race, we prefer the Bridgestone Battlax S21. The great handling, the razor-sharp precision and the bending on the brakes are simply great fun.

And the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III? The Italian is also an absolute bomb. Outstanding stability and the finest grip contrast with the minimally sluggish handling in a direct comparison. Ultimately, however, all four sports tires can be accessed blindly and without hesitation. And that’s the best news ever.

So was tested


Sports tires in a comparison test


fact

The test device: a BMW S 1000 R..

Our host picked three of the four tire pairs from his inventory at random. Only Continental brought the test pair to Spain itself. According to Thiel, the date of manufacture (DOT) of the test copy corresponds to that of series production. The test was carried out in southern Spain over two days. The first time at about 10 to 12 degrees outside temperature on a pass-like country road, where we got our first impressions. On day two we went to the Cartagena race track at maximum temperatures of 18 degrees (air). 

At the end we checked the first test pairing of the day again. Instead of bolting at full speed, we only spun at around 80 percent of the limit. In our experience, an excellent method to simulate sporty country road driving. We only checked the hot grip in extreme situations on two or three fast laps. The (cold) air pressure recommended by the manufacturers was used as the air pressure both on country roads and on the race track: front 2.5 bar, rear 2.9 bar. Our test bike was the BMW S 1000 R..

Sports tires in a comparison test

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