Superstock debut for Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC
The newest member of Pirelli’s Diablo motorcycle tyre range – the Supercorsa SC – has hit the track, the Italian tyre maker reports. It says the new tyre took centre stage at the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy during the first Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race held on 1 April as part of the World Superbike championship. As of this year, all riders in this race category will use the SC2 compound version of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC in sizes 120/70 ZR17 for the front and 200/55 ZR17 for the rear.
Pirelli plans to introduce the new tyre gradually into top level racing, with the SC2 compound initially only available in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and only in the sizes specified above. At the start of 2013 the tyre maker will also release the SC with SC0 and SC1 compounds and introduce 150/60, 160/60, 180/55, 180/60, 190/55 sizes for the rear and 110/70 for the front in order to extend the new tyre’s use to national championships.
Designed exclusively for competitive use, the new Diablo Supercorsa SC is described by Pirelli as being the evolution of its “most victorious” racing supersport product: since its debut in 2007 the Diablo Supercorsa has won 65 victories in 18 countries and raced in more than 60 national and international open tyre championships in nine countries. This latest addition, which is designed to hold precise racing lines on straight stretches as well as curves, is said to be the highest performance street legal racing tyre Pirelli has ever made. According to the manufacturer, it features a profile that favours handling, less wear during track use, unparalleled grip and unprecedented racing performance.
“Simply excellent tyres,” was the comment from Superbike champion Troy Bayliss, who had the opportunity to test them on the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi in early March. “These tyres in the SC2 compound brought me back to an absolute total racing feel. I know Pirelli quality well, but this time they’ve managed to astonish me. Good job, Pirelli.” A feature particularly appreciated by the Australian rider was the tyre’s capacity to attack curves in braking with extreme neutrality until reaching the apex, guaranteeing grip and an absolute level of stability in the subsequent acceleration phases.
Pirelli says the Diablo Supercorsa SC has an exclusive and aggressive single element tread design, which is repeated six times on the tyre surface. The result is that the “naked” area of the slick shoulders is 24 per cent wider compared to the previous Diablo Supercorsa, increasing contact area and grip. The long longitudinal grooves that reach the tyre’s shoulder from the central area of the profile are said to ensure even wear even in the most severe use.
The 200/55 ZR17 rear tyre has been completely redesigned and, compared to its predecessor from last year, has a profile that is 3mm wider in order to increase the contact area, grip and rapid descent to a leaning position. However, this change necessitated the use of a new structure, which is able to provide greater resistance to deformation. This is why the rear tyre now has a casing made from a Pirelli-patented high module fibre the tyre maker developed through its WSBK experience; this fibre is said to have a considerably lower deformation index than the fibre normally used in street tyres. The result, states Pirelli, is a new carcass that is more rigid in both the centre and shoulder area. This provides greater resistance to stresses created by aggressive cornering or when accelerating early out of turns with the bike still in a leaning position. A reported benefit of the new casing is that it helps the bike achieve better performance each time the weight shifts from the front to the rear and vice versa, a characteristic that becomes ever more evident as the lean angle increases.
The Diablo Supercorsa SC 120/70 ZR17 front tyre, on the other hand, has a profile 4mm wider than last year’s tyre, a quality that favours greater control and support in high speed curves and better support during braking, as well as making the ride more intuitive and line holding more precise.
A race replica SP (Sport Production) version of the new tyre has been available since January in the sizes used by the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup riders. As of early next year this SP range will be expanded along with the SC version, with 180/55, 190/50 and 190/55 rear tyre fitments added to this road legal range. Compared to the SP, the Diablo Supercorsa SP offers a dual blend rear tyre in order to better adapt to street use and give it greater mileage.
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