Rosso 3 Vs Ross 4

Its very unusual for a new version of a tyre to be worse than the one that it replaces…

 

Does anyone know if the Rosso 4 is available in Diavel sizes in the UK yet? The rear tyre size appears on Pirelli’s website, but I can’t find it for sale in the UK.

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb...roduct/diablo-rosso-iv/240_45r17?structure=ZR

 

My motorcycle originally came with Rosso 3 as stock, but to be honest, I felt that Rosso 2, which I had used on my previous bikes, performed better. I think Rosso 3 loses its compound properties a bit too quickly.

After that, I mostly used Rosso 4, and for me, the answer is definitely Rosso 4. You could also go for Corsa Rosso, but interestingly, it takes longer to heat up on asphalt (Street) compared to Rosso 4. However, once it reaches the right temperature, it becomes an absolute grip monster.

Aside from that, I’ve previously used Hypersport S20 and S22, both of which I found to be excellent. S22 has better wet performance than Rosso 4, while their overall lifespan and grip capabilities are pretty much the same. In fact, I’m currently running Hypersport S22 on my bike.

This year, I decided to try something different and got a set of Continental Sport Attack 4 on sale. I haven’t mounted them yet, but my first impression is that they feel softer compared to Rosso and Hypersport. Let’s see how they perform once I put them on.

 

Additionally, I'll try to write a comparison review after I’ve tested the Continental.

 

Hey everyone,
As promised, I’m here to share my experience with the Continental Sport Attack 4. But before getting into that, I want to briefly talk about the Bridgestone S22.

The S22s are truly great tires. I rode with them for around 12,000 km over 1.5 years, and they delivered a very solid performance throughout. However, after around 10,000 km, I noticed the center started getting a bit too slippery. When I went for my last tire change, I saw that the middle section looked almost burnt, even though it had just reached the wear indicator.

That said, when we talk about the S22’s grip before it reaches the end of its life, I can honestly say it never made me miss the Pirelli Rosso 4 in dry conditions — they’re pretty much on the same level. In wet conditions, I’d even say the S22 performs better than the Rosso 4. Warm-up times are about the same.

Would I choose the S22 again? Definitely. I was happy with them.
And I was also happy with the Rosso 4.
At this point, because of the economic situation in Turkey, my tire choice really depends on the price at the time. Whether it’s Rosso 4, Metzeler M9RR, S22, or the Continental Sport Attack 4, I just go for whichever one has the best deal. These tires are all in the same performance range, so even a $10 price difference can influence my decision.
Thanks to this variety, I can keep my budget in check without sacrificing performance.

Now, about the Continental Sport Attack 4:

I got mine on discount — around $110 cheaper than the Rosso 4 and the M9RR. "In Turkey, the Rosso 4, Bridgestone S22, Metzeler M9RR, and Continental Sport Attack 4 are all sold at an average price of $500–550, haha." It was my first time trying a Continental on a motorcycle, and honestly, I had some doubts. But reviews looked promising, and after riding around 600 km, I can say the reviews were right.

That initial protective layer on the tire? It disappears almost immediately, and you start feeling the Continental grip very quickly.
On the first day, I didn’t ride aggressively, but I did take some highway curves at 120-140km/h. What impressed me most was how well the tire held my chosen line — perfectly stable and locked in. That might be due to the tire being brand new, and I’ll revisit this topic after a few thousand kilometers.

Today, I went for a more aggressive ride.
On tighter and sharper corners, the tire gave me great confidence. Even when I pushed the rear close to its limit, not once did it feel unstable or give off that “hey, be careful now” feeling.
I love exiting corners with a bit of drift or a small wheelie when possible — but with these new tires, the rear didn’t slide much. Instead, it just lifted the front every time. Hehe.

As for warm-up times: today was around 19-20°C with very little wind — perfect weather for some spirited riding in a race suit.
When I stopped at the gas station early in the ride, I noticed the Continentals warmed up faster than the M9RR, Rosso 4, or S22.
After the ride, I checked them again, and they were noticeably warmer than the others — though it could also be “new tire excitement,” who knows

One thing I’m still figuring out: is this tire easy to lean over or a bit slow? I haven’t fully decided. But it definitely enters and exits corners beautifully.
Considering Turkey’s asphalt — which is decent but far from top quality — I’d say the safest tires here have been the Rosso 4, Metzeler M9RR, and S22. But now I can confidently add the Continental Sport Attack 4 to that list.
On the way back home, I chose a mountain road with faster sweepers. In one corner I entered at around 160-180 km/h, and again — solid lean angle, stable line, no issues.

I’m still getting to know this tire, but I’ll continue sharing updates as I gain more experience with it — especially when it comes to lifespan and consistency over time.
And once I’m fully comfortable with them… it’s knee-dragging time

 

If your tyres are noticeably hotter to the touch, you might need add a psi or two more pressure. Andy

 

Actually, I use all my tyres at the recommended 36-34 psi as stated in the manual, meaning I’m using them at the same psi. However, if there is a change based on the tyre, I can't say much about that. I usually stick to the default value in the motorcycle's user manual or service workshop manual.

 

Its funny you say that but a while ago i got a set of Michelin 2CT's for the hyper....best Michelin tyres ive used...and id say probably better than the power sports ive got on there at the moment...

 

The pressures in the owner's manual are for the OE fitment. Tyre construction between manufacturers is not necessarily uniform. Some carcasses are softer, some harder so the "recommended" pressures aren't necessarily correct. I'll have a look at what the temperature range should be. Andy

 

This. Use the tyre manufacturer’s recommended pressures which are not necessarily the same as that in the bikes’s handbook.

 

Cold tyre pressures recommended by Continental Sport Attack :
Front: 32 psi (2.2 bar)
Rear: 36 psi (2.5 bar)

Turns out, there’s not much of a difference from my own setup

I think, due to the tire’s construction, it heats up a bit faster compared to the Rosso 4 and S22. I consider this a good thing, especially when thinking about Turkey's visually beautiful but grip-weak asphalt.
Or maybe it just feels that way because it's new. I'll check the temperature difference between the front and rear during the next ride.

But the general recommendations can still vary. For example, considering the difference in tyre pressures for solo and two-up riding, Ducati generally recommends psi values between 39-41 for the rear when riding with a passenger. For someone weighing around 100-110 kg, even when riding solo, they might approach the recommended values for two-up riding. Or I think it should be like that, but I’m not sure about it. Technically, it might seem this way, but it might not be the case in practice

Note: I’m not 110 kg, I’m 75 kg, hehe