ew from Pirelli this year are the Diablo Strada EMS and the MT32F MX/Enduro. A sport-touring tire that lasts and an MX/Enduro tire to complete a winner’s package—Pirelli’s definitely got it going for this new season right from the start. If you have the chance stop by the Pirelli booth at Indy (Booth #1713) and have a look at these new Pirellis yourself. If you can’t do that check with your Parts Unlimited rep right now. These are some tires your customers—sport-tourers and MX/Enduro guys alike—will want to know about.

ake a look at the Diablo Strada EMS. Those last three letters say it all here. On this newest Pirelli those letters stand for Extended Mileage Sport, but an extra-long tread life isn’t all that’s going on. With these sport-touring tires Pirelli built in race-like handling with a quick warm up, excellent grip in both wet- and dry conditions and as if all that’s not enough there’s a smooth and comfortable ride, too. The Diablo Strada is a long lasting sport-touring tire with genuine sport-tire aspirations. Here’s what Blake Conner from “Cycle News” had to say when he got a chance to try out the new Diablo Strada EMS:

     “So, how do you test a sport-touring tire? First, you need to find the tire’s limitations, and to be honest on my first of two days around [Italy’s] Targa Florio [racetrack] I never found it. The pace was fast for sport-touring type riding, but the tire never did anything wrong. It never slid, it felt stable at all lean angles, it wasn’t prone to standing up under braking, and it was very predictable.”
     
      That report goes on to say:

     “The Diablo Strada EMS impressed, to say the least. Not only was grip excellent . . . the tire showed very little in the way of wear, looking brand new after two full days of abuse. The Strada EMS isn’t just for sport-touring bikes; it would be a great choice for sportbike owners who want more mileage from their tires, or for owners of standards and naked bikes. This tire can definitely play more than one role.”

     Quite a combination here, a sport-touring mileage tire that rides, grips and handles more like a pure sport tire. Pirelli accomplished all this with a clever blend of an overall profile that’s more like a race tire than a standard touring tire and a brand-new HGHM High Grip compound to deliver confidence-inspiring traction in all conditions, plus the durability and even-wear characteristics that a long-distance rider demands. Pirelli’s touting all this as “Excitement for the long road ahead,” and that sounds about right. The Diablo Strada EMS just might be the ideal tire for the rider who loves to travel but isn’t willing to compromise any of his sport-riding handling and performance along the way.
     While these new Pirellis will have plenty of applications, they’ll be especially appreciated by guys on Suzuki GSX 750Fs, Honda VFR 800s, Ducati ST3/ST4s, the Triumph Sprint RS, Kawasaki ZRX, BMW K1200 GT and Yamaha FJR 1300, and that’s by no means a definitive list. The new Diablo Stradas are available in 110/80ZR18, 120/70ZR17 and 120/60ZR17 front sizes and there are 150/70ZR17, 160/60ZR17, 170/60ZR17 and 180/55ZR17 rears to give you an idea as to the possible applications. These tires can find a home on a lot of bikes.
     With the Diablo Strada EMS now in the lineup a sport-touring tire no longer has to strike a compromise between acceptable mileage and a good grip. The Diablo Strada delivers it all, and then some. By its very design, and its Pirelli Diablo heritage, the Strada’s just pushed sport-touring tires to a whole new level. All-round performance coupled with long-life durability is something you can sell.

nd that’s not all that’s new from Pirelli. The MT32F MX/Enduro front tire is just out, and it’s the perfect match to the already available MT32 rear. This soft / intermediate terrain setup is already a proven winner, too. The new MT32F comes to the North American market with the established pedigree of “World Champion.” Stefan Everts and Mickael Pichon finished one-two in the premier MX1 championship on these Pirellis, and now this MT32F / MT32 combination is available to everyone from top racers like Ryan Hughes, Darcy Lange, Jeff Northrop, and Evan Laughridge to every racer and weekend-warrior in the country. The MT32F is offered in two sizes, a 90/100 x 20 and an 80/100 x 21.
     The MT32F was specifically developed to work with the existing MT32 rear. Both tires have the same performance characteristics, and they’re predictable. Racing on these Pirellis a bike works and feels better and a rider feels better about it, more comfortable and more in control. The MT32F compounding and carcass construction, along with its knob shape and placement, delivers a big grip, point-and-shoot steering precision, durability and great rider feedback. On soft to intermediate terrain this is a tire package that just might be unbeatable. It’s already proven that in Europe, and now it’s here.
     Check out these two new Pirellis. The Diablo Strada EMS is set to re-define what a sport-touring tire can do and be, and the MT32F is here to complete the winner’s package for MX and Enduro racers in the US. Parts Unlimited carries them both, and they’re in stock now.