So I’ve been getting this question nonstop lately – Diablo Rosso 3 or the new Rosso 4? Which tire deserves a spot on your bike? Honestly, I scratched my head too when the Rosso 4 hit the shelves. Felt like just yesterday the Rosso 3 was the hot new thing. Marketing screams “new is better,” but I don’t trust ads. I trust asphalt. So, I slapped both on my ride and put ’em through hell. Here’s how it went down.
Why I Even Bothered Testing
Been running Rosso 3s for ages. Solid tire. Handled my weekend canyon carving and the occasional stupid detour onto a gravel path. No complaints. Then suddenly, everywhere I look: Rosso 4! More grip! More mileage! Better wet performance! Sounds great. But I’ve been fooled before. Hype ain’t traction. I needed to feel the difference under my own wheels.
Grabbing the Tires
First step: actually getting them. Popped by my local shop. Rosso 3? Plenty of stock, solid prices. Rosso 4? Fresh off the boat, bit more pricey, sizes weren’t all in yet. Had to wait a week for the matching rear. Annoying, but whatever. Mounted them myself – same pressures, same rims, same bike. Gotta level the playing field.
First Feel: The Warm-Up Lap
Started easy. Cool morning, dry pavement. Rosso 3 first, like meeting an old friend. Felt solid, predictable, warmed up quick. Leaned the bike over – no drama, just stuck. Good stuff. Switched to the Rosso 4. First impression? Weird. Took longer to feel warm. The side profile felt… different. Like trying new boots – stiff at first. Needed a few miles to loosen up properly.
Pushing Corners & The Squirm Factor
Time to get serious. Found some gnarly twisties I know well. Rosso 3: Flung it into the first bend. Instant feedback. Knees down? No sweat. Felt the tire biting into the tarmac, whispering exactly where the limit was. Rosso 4: Harder. First hard lean, I got this tiny little squirm. Nothing scary, just a brief moment where it felt like the tire said, “Hang on a sec, mate.” Not confidence-inspiring at first bite. Took several more hot laps before the Rosso 4 felt truly planted. The compound feels harder off the centre. Took heat.
Rain? Oh God, the Wet Test
Got caught in a drizzle. Perfect. Hit a damp, dirty roundabout.
- Rosso 3: Slowed way down. Felt slightly vague, especially over painted lines or manhole covers. Not terrifying, but you definitely knew it wasn’t dry.
- Rosso 4: Game changer. Night and day. That siping everyone talks about? Yeah, it works. Bike felt planted. Accelerating hard over wet patches didn’t trigger any panic moves. Pirelli wasn’t joking about wet grip. Clear winner here.
The Long Haul & Tread Life
This ain’t a track review. I commute! Did about 500 miles on each set. Checked wear every weekend with my trusty caliper. Rosso 3 showed signs of squaring off in the middle. Pretty standard. The Rosso 4? Centre tread looks way tougher. Still nicely rounded. Looks like it’ll easily outlast the Rosso 3, especially if you ride a lot of straight roads. That harder centre compound pays off miles later.
So, Which One? The Big Choice
Look, it ain’t about “best,” it’s about “right for you.” Here’s the brutal breakdown:
- Want that immediate warm grip for pure weekend twisties? Prefer familiar feel? Stick with Rosso 3. It’s cheaper now too.
- Do you commute in all weather? Need serious wet confidence? Plan on racking up thousands of miles? Don’t mind spending a bit more? Rosso 4 is worth it. Live with the initial stiffness.
I’m keeping the Rosso 4s on my daily rider. The wet grip and mileage are too good to ignore now that I’ve lived it. But if my canyon weapon needed new shoes tomorrow? Might just grab a set of trusty Rosso 3s to save some cash and get that instant feel. Both are damn good tires. Just figure out which flavour of sticky you actually need. Go ride ’em.