Table of contents

• MOTORRAD tire test 2013 6 sports tires of size 120/70 ZR 17, 190/55 ZR 17 in the test
• No rule of thumb for building the ideal sports tire
• With the S 20 Bridgestone is taking a completely different approach
• Power 3 is based on the old Pilot Power philosophy
• On the racetrack
• If wet
• On the country road and motorway
• This is how MOTORRAD tests
• Bridgestone S 20
• Continental Sport Attack 2
• Dunlop Sportsmart
• Metzeler Sportec M 5 Interact
• Michelin Pilot Power 3
• Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2
• Wear and tear 2012
• The final score

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23 pictures

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1/23
The 2013 MOTORRAD sports tire test.

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2/23
The sports tires on the country road and motorway.

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3/23
Where did the seconds go? Which of the tester knows is probably clear.

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4/23
Pit stop strategy? Write and screw. The timing in the tire test is right.

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5/23
Tester Schwers after a little slide with the BMW HP4.

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6/23
Soft boiled: typical wear pattern after a few turns on the circuit.

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Conclusion: How many racing genes must there be in a sports tire suitable for everyday use? A trade-off that every manufacturer has to make himself. Basically, the test field is close together. The main differences only appear after several sharp laps, when the load is too great for some tires and the cornering stability decreases due to noticeable flexing movements on the rear wheel (Bridgestone, Michelin). This is not the case with the two best in this chapter (Pirelli, Dunlop).

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The sports tires on the racetrack.

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One of the decisive corners in the test: the fast uphill bend from Mireval.

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Dunlop Sportsmart.

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Metzeler Sportec M 5 Interact.

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12/23
Michelin Pilot Power 3.

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13/23
Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2.

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14/23
Tire wear 2012.

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15/23
Continental Sport Attack 2.

mps photo studio

16/23
Bridgestone S 20.

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17/23
A “safe” stoppie in the rain: the picture not only shows the efficiency of modern assistance systems in sports motorcycles in a particularly impressive way, but would also be inconceivable without a tire specially designed for wet roads.

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The sports tires in the wet.

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Conclusion: Michelin is back! After the Power Pure was designed a bit too pointed when wet, its successor, the Power 3, scores with significantly more balance and extremely high adhesive reserves. Together with the Bridgestone, it can clearly set itself apart.

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The sports tires in the wet.

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The sports tires in the wet.

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Conclusion: In principle, the ranking of the race track rating is reversed in this test chapter. Overall, Pirelli and Dunlop respond very hesitantly and cannot bring out any real advantages with their hard basic structure. The much smoother tires from Bridgestone and Michelin do this much better. A real high-flyer in this discipline is the extremely handy Conti Sport Attack 2.

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23/23
Good news for all fans of the old Michelin Pilot Power series: It’s back – and better than ever with the Power 3! The successor to the hapless Power Pure made it to the podium straight away and tied for first place alongside last year’s winner Bridgestone S 20. Both thanks to their outstanding properties in the wet with a comfortable advantage. Third place is shared by two recommendations: the Conti for country road hunters, the Pirelli for the racing faction.

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Sports tires in the 2013 tire test

MOTORRAD tire test 2013
6 sports tires of size 120/70 ZR 17, 190/55 ZR 17 in the test

Good in everyday life, safe in the wet, stable on the racetrack: modern sports tires have to perform a clean balancing act. Will that always work out? Six models in the test.

Jorg Lohse, Karsten Schwers

06/06/2013

Who needs a real sports tire these days? If it is up to the motorcycle manufacturers, actually none anymore – you might think if you look at the initial tires for various types of motorcycle. The current supersport generation of the 200 hp league of course rolls on semi-professional racing tires – street legal, of course – from the factory halls in Germany, Italy or Japan. This trend can also be observed in the smaller 600s. And not just there. Those of the motorcycle manufacturers who are self-respecting even push their large-capacity naked bike with the thoroughbred racing skins into the sales room.

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6 pairs of touring tires in the test

Touring tires on Suzuki GSX-S 750

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No rule of thumb for building the ideal sports tire

Opposed to this is the tire class for touring athletes and touring machines, which we tested in the last issue (MOTORRAD 12/2013). The main finding from this test: With the touring tires, you can turn around the corner in a sporty way if you wish. Some manufacturers such as Bridgestone use their findings from the MotoGP racing series to develop the T 30 touring tire, for which they exclusively supply Rossi with the tires & Co. deliver. And of course most touring tires also have the required approval for soling the 600 or 1000 supersport class. Seen in this way, the air for classic sports tires is getting thinner and thinner: For racing training (and actually only there), street-legal racing tires make the most sense. Anyone who uses their sport bike predominantly in everyday life, so that they undertake long-distance trips and rely on optimal grip conditions even in cold weather, is well served with a touring tire. The gap that needs to be closed by sports tires sounds pretty narrow even in theory.

Especially since there is no general rule of thumb in the tire industry for building an ideal sports tire. But each has its own philosophies of how it should look. Traditionally, Pirelli and Dunlop their sports tires with plenty of racing genes. Advantage: If you want to accelerate your race training, you will be spoiled with consistently high stability even after a number of laps. The sacrifice of the pawn that the two manufacturers have to make is only an average performance in everyday life: on the country road it takes a long time before the driving pleasure is similar to that on the racetrack.

With the S 20 Bridgestone is taking a completely different approach

And both of them lack the feel-good factor on wet roads. The philosophy of Bridgestone and Michelin is different. For a long time, the principle of “maximum stability” had prevailed among the Japanese. With the still young S 20, Bridgestone is now taking a completely different approach and baking a wonderfully smooth tire for all days, including driving in the rain.

Power 3 is based on the old Pilot Power philosophy

With the brand new Power 3, Michelin is building on the old Pilot Power philosophy and is convincing in this test at the HP4 with a great tire that pampers you with safe qualities even on cold (or even wet) spring and autumn days. The other side of the coin: an only -like racetrack performance. For them, so the argument of both brands, there are after all racing tires. So it remains exciting to see in which direction the next new releases are coordinated.

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Enduro tires in the 2013 tire test

Six pairs of enduro tires of size 110/80 R19, 150/70 R17

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Tire test 2013: 6 touring tires 120/70 ZR 17, 180/55 ZR 17

Touring tire test 2013

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On the racetrack

They are called BMW S 1000 RR or HP4, Ducati Panigale or Kawasaki ZX-10R, are usually driven on public roads with a license plate, but could already keep up with national racing series with their series performance, on-board control electronics and chassis – provided a committed driver . The question remains, of course, which tires should be fitted.

Jahn

The sports tires on the racetrack.

The direction is clearly specified at the factory. The first tires on these super sporty bikes are usually street-legal racing tires. In other words, a category that is slightly above the performance of the sports tires from our test and is largely designed for use on the racetrack. Does it therefore make sense to also burden the sports tires with this endurance test if they are more likely to be used in everyday life? The main factor here is the type of rider and how they use their motorcycle. If you want to move intensively on the circuit during real racing training and also work on your personal best time, you should put on a set of racing tires precisely for this purpose.

Drivers who, on the other hand, are only occasionally on the racetrack (for example, have booked the legendary Nordschleife training with the MOTORRAD action team) can usually get by with the sports tires tested here without any problems. It is now crucial how things are going with personal needs. Occasional riders will certainly be able to handle all of the tires from this test on the racetrack. This shows a look at the lap times as well as the data recording of the fastest and slowest tire on the track. However, if you want to deal more seriously with the subject of the racetrack on your motorcycle, you should consider the noticeably more stable profiles from this test (Pirelli, Dunlop).

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Final ranking: Driving behavior on the racetrack when new.

Conclusion:

How many racing genes must there be in a sports tire suitable for everyday use? A trade-off that every manufacturer has to make himself. Basically, the test field is close together. The main differences only appear after several sharp laps, when the load is too great for some tires and the cornering stability decreases due to noticeable flexing movements on the rear wheel (Bridgestone, Michelin). This is not the case with the two best in this chapter (Pirelli, Dunlop).

If wet

A “safe” stoppie in the rain: the picture not only shows the efficiency of modern assistance systems in sports motorcycles in a particularly impressive way, but would also be inconceivable without a tire specially designed for wet roads.

Jahn

A “safe” stoppie in the rain.

In adverse weather, one thing is particularly important: Can the tire develop enough grip when it is cold? A look at the temperatures during the test. On the racetrack, with an asphalt temperature of 30 degrees on average, the tires quickly heat up to an ideal 40 to 50 degrees.

Cold water constantly flows over the wet test track at the Goodyear-Dunlop test site, and the surface does not get more than 14 degrees. The tires only stay lukewarm during the test drives with an average of 22 to 24 degrees. Above all, through the addition of silica, a silicic acid compound, the rubber should remain pliable even in the low temperature window and interlock securely with the asphalt substrate.

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Final ranking: driving behavior in wet conditions.

Conclusion:

Michelin is back! After the Power Pure was designed a bit too pointed when wet, its successor, the Power 3, scores with significantly more balance and extremely high adhesive reserves. Together with the Bridgestone, it can clearly set itself apart.

On the country road and motorway

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The sports tires on the country road and motorway.

A tire that can withstand the pressure on the racetrack should work even more on the country road … Sounds plausible, but it is a false assumption. Because on the country road, the tire has to face completely different conditions than on the racetrack. Above all, it should respond cleanly even at lower (tire) temperatures and convey a good feeling for the adhesive reserves. This is a problem, especially for the harder-tuned sports tires, which should not buckle, especially when subjected to forced loads on the racetrack. The rubber of the Dunlop Sportsmart has to be kneaded really soft until it shows an acceptable response on the country road and the sluggish turning behavior improves. Not a particularly easy undertaking with a 200 hp motorcycle! Also the Pirelli wants to be brought to a certain basic temperature before it shows properties with which it convinces on the circuit. But even then there is still a lack of steering precision or maneuverability that really inspire on the racetrack. The tires, which after a few racing laps “on the last groove” due to flexing movements and loss of stability in an inclined position, again have no such problems on the country road. Even when the pace is accelerated, Bridgestone and remain Michelin well controllable.

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Final evaluation: Country road and motorway in new condition.

Conclusion:
In principle, the ranking of the racetrack rating is reversed in this test chapter. Overall, Pirelli and Dunlop respond very hesitantly and cannot bring out any real advantages with their hard basic structure. The much smoother tires from Bridgestone and Michelin do this much better. A real high-flyer in this discipline is the extremely handy Conti Sport Attack 2.

This is how MOTORRAD tests

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Tester Schwers after a little slide with the BMW HP4.

The base vehicle for testing this type of tire in the 120/70 and 190/55 ZR 17 format is the BMW HP4. All driving conditions were assessed on the Goodyear-Dunlop test site in Mireval near Montpellier / France.

Handiness
Steering effort required to tilt the machine or to keep it in line in slow / fast alternating curves.

Steering precision *
Test in passages of different speeds with complicated curve radii. Provides information about whether the motorcycle is following the desired course, which is specified by the steering forces, or whether clear line corrections are required.

Cornering stability / pillion
Stability in (changing) curves and on bumps. Is tested in different modes (solo / with pillion rider) in a great incline when accelerating, in which tires can really rock up.

Liability in an inclined position *
Side guidance in maximum inclination on wet and dry asphalt. A tightrope walk that is only possible on a closed route.

Adhesion when accelerating *
Lateral guidance and power transmission in corners at different speeds. Is also tested in wet and dry conditions.

Straight-line stability
High speed on the highway. Does the motorcycle remain stable on course or does the commuting disrupt the journey??

Borderline behavior *
Controllability of the tire at the limit of grip. The test is carried out on both wet and dry tracks.

Erection moment
When braking in an inclined position, the motorcycle straightens up differently depending on the deceleration and tire contour. This reaction must be compensated by the driver with a counterforce (pressure) on the inside of the handlebar end. Filling pressure in the test 2.5 bar at the front, 2.9 bar at the rear.

* The chapters marked with an asterisk can be transferred to motorcycles with a geometry similar to that of the BMW HP4.

Bridgestone S 20

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Bridgestone S 20.

Weight: front 4.1 kg, rear 6.9 kg, country of manufacture: Japan, information / approvals: Bridgestone Germany, Tel. 0 6172/40801, www.bridgestone-mc.de

valuation

Race track: (85 points, 4th place)
The crystal-clear feedback from the first few meters is outstanding, and trust is quickly there for the reserves. The S 20 can be turned in easily and precisely and only stands up minimally when braking in an inclined position. Only on the last groove do ambitious pilots notice flexing movements on the rear wheel and a slight instability when accelerating out of curves.

Country road / Autobahn: (92 points, 2nd place)
Even in cool temperatures, the good-natured S 20 shines with very good cold-running properties. Thanks to great feedback, nimble handiness and high steering precision, it is really fun on the country road. The low righting moment ensures good aiming accuracy even when braking in an inclined position.

Wet test: (94 points, 1st place)
The then new S 20 already shone with the best rain performance in last year’s test in 180 format. The 190 also delivers good grip this year and cuts a fine figure even when braking hard on a wet track. The very broad border area will be announced in good time. Together with the Michelin Power 3, a great tire in the rain!

Conclusion
The S 20 shines on powerful super sports bikes with very good, really sporty all-round properties. Only at a brisk pace on the racetrack does he run out of breath.

MOTORRAD verdict: 1st place – 271 points

Continental Sport Attack 2

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Continental Sport Attack 2.

Weight: front 4.1 kg, rear 6.6 kg, country of manufacture: Germany, information / approvals: Continental Reifen, Tel. 0511/93801, www.conti-online.com

valuation

Race track: (88 points, 3rd place)
The Sport Attack 2 can turn more easily than the S 20 and Power 3 and therefore drives a bit more precisely. In doing so, he gives good feedback on the stick limit in an inclined position very early on. With razor-sharp steering precision, it stays exactly on the desired line. However, after a few laps on the powerful BMW, he has to struggle with slight flexing movements on the rear wheel, which are stronger on the S 20 or Power 3.

Country road / Autobahn: (94 points, 1st place)
No tire is more fun on the country road than the Conti. Razor-sharp steering precision, playful handiness, high cornering stability and low set-up torque bring victory in this chapter. In addition, it fits from the first few meters with the pleasant feedback.

Wet test: (78 points, 6th place)
A narrow and premature border area make driving on the wet test track a real egg dance. When tilted, the Conti slips very abruptly over the rear wheel, which is why it only achieves the lowest cornering speed in the reference curve. There is also some restlessness when braking.

Conclusion
The Sport Attack 2 convinces with the best handiness and very high steering precision, which makes it perfect for sporty driving on dry country roads. He just doesn’t like wetness.

MOTORRAD verdict: 3rd place – 260 points

Dunlop Sportsmart

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Dunlop Sportsmart.

Weight: front 4.7 kg, rear 7.1 kg, country of manufacture: France, information / approvals: Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany, Tel. 06181/6801, www.dunlop.de

valuation

Race track: (91 points, 2nd place)
The Sportsmart needs significantly more emphasis than the competition in order to be brought up to temperature. He turns cold only reluctantly. But if the operating temperature is right, it encourages you to drive quickly on the racetrack with good handiness and pleasant feedback. A particular plus point of the very sporty designed Dunlop is the high cornering stability, which does not decrease even after several laps. With a top lap time, he finished second in this test chapter.

Country road / Autobahn: (84 points, 5th place)
The stiff carcass simply needs temperature! If it is too low, the low feedback and sluggish turning behavior are particularly annoying. The righting moment when braking is also clearly noticeable. On the country road, the (racing) sporty design tends to be fatal for the sports smart.

Wet test: (83 points, 3rd place)
The Sportsmart also wants to be driven vigorously in wet conditions, as its only average handiness makes wide arcs necessary in curves. The broad border area helps to control slides in good time.

Conclusion
The very sporty tire can show its advantages on the racetrack, but there is no feedback on the country road. There are more recommended tires for everyday use.

MOTORRAD verdict: 5th place – 258 points

Metzeler Sportec M 5 Interact

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Metzeler Sportec M 5 Interact.

Weight: front 4.3 kg, rear 6.3 kg, country of manufacture: Germany, information / approvals: Pirelli Germany, Tel. 089/14908302, www.metzeler.com

valuation

Racetrack: (84 points, 6th place)
While one type of tire responds spontaneously and turns easily around the corner or the other impresses with high cornering stability even after several laps, the M 5 cannot do particularly well in any discipline. Initially, it provides a somewhat restrained response and only average handiness. If the operating temperature is finally right, it can convince with good grip and decent cornering stability, but does not want to keep up with the Dunlop or Pirelli on the last groove.

Country road / Autobahn: (83 points, 6th place)
This is also missing on the country road Metzeler especially feedback. The M 5 cannot offer the desired cold adhesion, as provided by Bridgestone, Conti or Michelin in the test. Compared to the competition, its sluggish turning behavior and the noticeable righting moment are also annoying.

Wet test: (83 points, 3rd place)
The adhesion to the shoulders can be determined crystal clear from the speed in the reference curve. Sliders on the rear tire announce the limit of the tire at the Metzeler very early, which is why no best values ​​can be derived from the average speed.

Conclusion
The competition is strong, but the M 5 doesn’t really want to shine in any individual discipline, whether on the country road, during race training or in the rain. We are waiting for the successor.

MOTORRAD verdict: 6th place – 250 points

Michelin Pilot Power 3

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Michelin Pilot Power 3.

Weight: front 4.3 kg, rear 6.7 kg, country of manufacture: Spain, information / approvals: Michelin Reifenwerke, Tel. 0721/5300, www.michelin.de

valuation

Race track: (85 points, 4th place)
The main difference between the new Pilot Power 3 and its predecessor, Power Pure, is its significantly more balanced steering precision. While the Pure still ensured wobbly handling at high lean angles, the Power 3, on the other hand, is very handy and neutral over the entire lean angle range. The good feedback ensures a lot of trust. After a few brisk laps, flexing movements like the Bridgestone get in the way, and there is a lack of stability when accelerating out of corners.

Country road / Autobahn: (92 points, 2nd place)
The Power 3 ties in with the well-known Power 2CT. Its area of ​​application is clearly characterized by great handiness and maximum feedback under everyday conditions. The cornering grip and stability are very good even in cool temperatures and are maintained even at brisk country road speeds.

Wet test: (94 points, 1st place)
The brilliant grip with a wider limit area provides the highest cornering speed in the test. The Power 3 is also convincing on the brakes, handiness and high steering precision guarantee top times in the rain.

Conclusion
A great sports tire for every day with good handiness and steering precision in all weather conditions. The application area of ​​the new Power 3 only ends with extremely sporty use.

MOTORRAD verdict: 1st place – 271 points

Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2

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Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2.

Weight: front 4.4 kg, rear 6.6 kg, country of manufacture: Germany, information / approvals: Pirelli Germany, Tel. 06163/710, www.pirelli.com

valuation

Racetrack: (93 points, 1st place)
Compared to the Dunlop, which is also very sporty, the Pirelli is quicker to warm up and provides good feedback. The cornering stability is great and remains at a very high level even after several laps under load. The grip reserves are particularly plentiful when accelerating out of corners. It is also top in terms of steering precision and handiness. The fastest lap time next to the Dunlop Sportsmart confirms the racetrack performance.

Country road / Autobahn: (88 points, 4th place)
Sporty drivers will appreciate the high cornering stability and steering precision when driving briskly in the upper speed range, but during normal use, especially in cooler temperatures, there is a lack of feedback, such as Bridgestone, Conti or Michelin.

Wet test: (79 points, 5th place)
Grip in the rain? A foreign word for fair weather tires. When accelerating, the Pirelli turns the rear wheel early, while in corners the grip is far removed from that of the S 20 and Power 3. With good deceleration he can make up some time on the brakes.

Conclusion
Sporty drivers and highly motivated hobby racers will get their money’s worth with the Pirelli. There are better alternatives for everyday drivers who are also out and about in the rain.

MOTORRAD verdict: 3rd place – 260 points

Wear and tear 2012

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Tire wear 2012.

With only one new release, little has changed in sports tires compared to the previous year. Buyers can therefore take a look at the wear values ​​of the 2012 tire test for orientation, which were determined in the smaller 120/180 format on six Triumph Street Triples with different tires on a 4000 kilometer test lap. The Bridgestone S 20 lost a lot of profile in the process, which was still enough to win the test in the overall standings. Whether the new Power 3 can place itself in the midfield like its predecessor remains to be seen in the next test. With treads of different hardness in the rubber compound (“2CT”), according to the manufacturer, it should in any case achieve a high mileage.

The final score

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The final score.

Good news for all fans of the old Michelin Pilot Power series: It’s back – and better than ever with the Power 3! The successor to the hapless Power Pure made it to the podium straight away and tied for first place alongside last year’s winner Bridgestone S 20. Both thanks to their outstanding properties in the wet with a comfortable advantage. Third place is shared by two recommendations: the Conti for country road hunters, the Pirelli for the racing faction.

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