Pirelli has announced the immediate availability of its new race-replica slick, the Diablo Superbike PRO.

This new slick tyre has been manufactured especially for club racers and track-day riders looking for long-lasting track day performance.

The Superbike PRO represents a natural link for everyday riders to the professional racing world, extending experience and know-how from years of WSBK activity to riders in club racing, competition training and track day riding. All this in a rewarding tyre package focused on easy set up, long-lasting performance over multiple track days and improved consistency throughout track sessions.

Compared to Pirelli’s Diablo Superbike SC tyres, the PRO has a more flexible carcass, better wearing compounds and a new structure derived from the hypersport range. Available in standard 17” sizes with similar profiles to the road bike range, the Diablo Superbike PRO is designed to work perfectly with stock chassis and suspension settings.

Riders won’t need to adjust their bike’s suspension which is a necessity when using fully-fledged racing slicks.

With its development firmly rooted in the Superbike World Championship, the Diablo Superbike PRO uses technology garnered from six years of experience as sole Official Tyre Supplier for the seven manufacturers and nearly 40 professional riders of the World Superbike Championships. This has led to multiple track records over many race meetings around the world.

Today’s demand for more economical solutions from riders passionate about on-track riding has altered the slick tyre scene, with this semi-professional slick riding experience now sought out by club racers as well as enthusiasts just for pure track day fun.

The Diablo Superbike Pro concept is centred on high levels of grip and feel lasting a lot longer than professional race slicks, meaning multiple track sessions throughout a track day, over multiple track day weekends is now a reality. Pirelli has widened its racing tyre range to fulfil the needs of these riders in addition to meeting the traditional requirements of extreme performance for race riders.

Compound with Extraordinary Grip that Lasts
The Diablo Superbike PRO provides more grip at lower operating temperatures than other professional slick tyres, a benefit all riders can appreciate when they reach the tyres’ performance peak without having to worry about tyre warmers and feel their super-sticky grip just after a few laps. This advantage comes from a compound derived by an innovative production process and the use of the latest generation polymers, a formula specifically dedicated to long lasting track day riding. Specific chemicals and reinforcing elements contribute to attaining ideal material stiffness, an important feature that aids in the resistance of heat cycles; its chemical composition remains unchanged throughout multiple track sessions.

The PRO compound’s lower operating temperature, benefits riders with quicker tyre warm-up and improved compound flexibility, reducing the tendency of slick tyres to cold-tear. Its immediate grip response avoids unnecessary wheel spin and therefore gives better wear. At high tyre temperatures the PRO compound is characterized by a lower thermo-plasticity; a compound stiffness offering reduced abrasion and therefore improved wear, along with an increased capability to bear mechanical and thermal stresses, so that tyre behaviour is predictable both in normal and extreme sport riding.

Structurally Sound
The Diablo Superbike PRO is characterized by an extremely versatile structure that adapts easily to ‘stock’ motorcycle setups, and combined with its higher duration compound guarantees maximum performance through more sessions at the track. Inside the carcass is Pirelli’s patented 0° steel belt, the backbone of Pirelli’s entire Diablo range of racing and Hypersport street products. The profile of the tyre is awesome in the corners, with massive grip at super high lean angles without the need to compensate for geometry change or fit aftermarket products to properly fit the tyre in the swing-arm. The carcass’s enhanced flexibility ensures higher damping properties to better match the long lasting compound.

As a result, the tyre is very stable and handles in a uniform manner; it’s very balanced in corners and extremely stable under braking. The PRO structure has been developed to control the overall tyre temperature with the result of a reduced wear throughout the tyre meaning not only longer life but more consistency of performance. The profile of the new Diablo Superbike PRO is a duplicate of the SC version which evenly distributes all stresses on the contact patch area, creating a larger footprint area to fully transmit the bike’s horsepower to the ground. The slick tread design avoids all potential wear triggers, specifically in colder conditions, and improves the tyre’s feel compared to standard racing DOT tyres. As a result the Diablo Superbike PRO is the perfect combination of a racing profile, hyper-sport structure and a new generation of long lasting compound to deliver great braking stability and precise cornering, confidence at maximum lean angles and the optimal line for the highest corner exit speeds.

High Performance at a Lower Cost
The 100 percent performance of true professional slick tyres can only be exploited with a professional bike set up which includes many special modifications (including professional suspension components). These components demand a high level of technical knowledge and can very often be extremely costly, which isn’t convenient for a typical club racer or track day rider. Diablo Superbike PRO has been designed to reach the maximum performance level of a stock bike with lasting performance and increased levels of grip compared to racing DOT tyres of the same size.

Diablo Superbike PRO is the ideal tyre for club racers preparing for competition and “racing for fun” users looking for long lasting track day enjoyment. It is easily recognized by a red stripe which is printed on the tyre and also its red “PRO” marking on the sidewall. Diablo Superbike PRO is not homologated for street use (NHS – not for highway service) and is available in original equipment homologated 17” sizes 120/70R17,180/55R17 and 190/55R17, so there is no need to adjust geometry, swing-arm length or gearing to be able to use them, just fit them and go!

Recommended Retail Pricing of the Diablo Superbike PRO is $245 for a 120/70R-17 front, $285.00 for a 180/55R-17 rear and $295.00 for a 190/55R-17 rear.

The Diablo Superbike Pro is available from authorised Pirelli Motorcycle Race Tyre Centres and Pirelli stockists Australia wide.

For details of your nearest Race Centre visit www.linkint.com.au.