Pirelli Announces Ducati Panigale Will Use Updated Diablo Supercorsa Tire

Pirelli recently unveiled the latest version of its Diablo Supercorsa tire. The high-performance tire is designed primarily for racing and performance-oriented street riding.

The newest member of the Diablo family was presented during EICMA 2011 at Pirelli’s flagship retail location, PZero Moda store, opened this past September on the famed Corso Venezia in Milan.

The Diablo Supercorsa is initially offered only in a single front and rear size: 120/70ZR17 front and 200/55ZR17 rear.

Competitors in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup will get first crack at the new Supercorsa SC (Special Compound) starting in 2012, with a broader range of racing sizes available later in the year to allow racers in the various national championships where Pirelli now competes to also use the updated Diablo Supercorsa. By early 2013 Pirelli plans to make these same sizes available in an SP (Sport Production) race replica version suitable for daily use on the road.

Pirelli says the SP version of the Supercorsa employs technology derived from the company’s experience as sole tire supplier to the World Superbike Championship – a position Pirelli has held since 2004 and will now continue into 2015. This technology, says Pirelli, makes the tire suitable for either high-performance street riding or for use on the track.

The new Diablo Supercorsa, compared to the previous version, has a rear profile calibrated with approximately 2 mm more side edge and 4 mm more diameter in the center for increased support under braking and to make riding more intuitive and precise in maintaining a line. The rear tire is completely revamped and improved upon in order to increase contact area, grip, turn-in speed and improve handling overall.

According to the Italian tire company, the 200/55ZR17 rear tire is built with a high modulus carcass and features a dual-compound tread using new polymers to offer quick warm-up and solid grip in all conditions. Pirelli says the result of this match between the two new profiles of the front and rear lends to the tire’s improved handling agility.

The new dual-compound tread pattern of the race replica version is characterized by long longitudinal grooves which begin at the central area of the profile and reach the tire shoulder to ensure even wear during more severe use. The shoulder of the tire remains “naked” to allow for as much grip as possible, especially for sporty street riding.

Ducati’s new 1199 Panigale is slated to wear the new Supercorsa SP in the 120/70 – 200/55 sizes noted above.

Finally, Europeans and Australians will get to take advantage of Pirelli’s tire customization program through its website. Riders can apply special labels to dedicated areas on the sidewalls of the front and rear tires. Anyone can freely create the labels on Pirelli’s website and have them shipped directly their home.

Pirelli hasn’t yet announced pricing for the new Diablo Supercorsa.

If you live in Europe or Australia you’ll have the opportunity to create custom labels via Pirelli’s website for your Diablo Supercorsa tires.

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Ducati 1199 Panigale Forum

By Pete Brissette