Rome, (Georgia), October 18, 2011 – Beginning in the 2013 racing season, Pirelli will supply the World Superbike Championship series with 17” Diablo Superbike tires to replace the current 16.5” fitments. This radical option will allow Pirelli to remain even closer to its philosophy of “Race=Road”. This unique approach brings product developed by competition and its continuous transferring of solutions from the racing environment into the hands of road-going products for motorcyclists. Pirelli develops its reference product through technologies and advances learned from its highest-level production series: the World Superbike Championship – for which Pirelli is the sole supplier.
Pirelli’s 16.5″ Diablo Superbike tires are currently utilized in the Superbike World Championship, World Endurance, BSB and CIV which have been the reference series to date. Until 2004 in fact, the unique supplier agreement did not exist in the Superbike World Championship so Pirelli adapted itself to the sizes offered by other suppliers.
Pirelli’s choice to move to 17″ tires in WSBK in 2013 has already seen success in other local Superbike championships such as those in New Zealand, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Canada, Malaysia and others.
Pirelli’s new 17” slick tire is the optimal solution for riders seeking top performance without having to modify the chassis or wheels of their motorcycles.
Over the past three years, Pirelli has greatly accelerated its tire development to meet end users’ needs and the power delivered by new bikes: in 2009, Pirelli introduced the new 190/60R17 size; in 2010 it introduced a new high modulus carcass (Pirelli Patent); the Italian tire company works to continuously improve compounds and in 2011 it unveiled the new 200/60R17 size.
Compared to the 16.5” slick, the 17″ tire offers a thicker tread for better handling and consistency. Its footprint in mid to full lean is approximately 10% wider thanks to a higher profile and a carcass able to endure more side force. These features will be beneficial to motorcyclists seeking the ultimate in motorcycle performance.
The Superbike World Championship, which Pirelli is sole supplier, remains the heart of development for the new Diablo SBK 17″ slick, a size that is now more and more demanded by the market, thus remaining faithful to its motto “We sell what we race”.
Pirelli continues to offer riders in America and around the world the highest quality products developed with the help of the great Superbike champions at the world’s best tracks – such as Miller Motorsports Park, home of the World Superbike Championship USA. WSBK action returns to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, in 2012.
