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Focus on the new DIABLO™ Superbike SC3 compound
The new SC3 solution, available for the front and the rear is the longest lasting of those present in the Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike 2016 range. This solution was developed after years of experience acquired in the FIM Endurance World Championship and from the many victories in competitions such as Le Mans 24 Hours or the Bol d’Or. It is designed for endurance racing but also for track day riders, which a high level of wear resistance and long lasting performance is needed.
When compared to the SC2 rear, which is similar in characteristics, the SC3 offers greater durability and more constant performance in all ranges of use, at the cost of outright lap times. On the front, the SC3 is versatile and offers constant performance. Compared to an SC1 it offers longer mileage but at the cost of grip and lap times, while if compared to the SC2 it continues to offers better mileage. The new SC3 is an excellent solution for endurance competition and track day riders and for example, Northern Europe Championships, where these new tires are less likely to tear with the cold During the year it will also be appearing in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship but only as a front option: the circuits the World Championship are raced on, the length of the races and the temperatures normally encountered on these occasions do not in fact make it a valid solution for the rear where, in almost all cases, riders prefer the higher performance SC0.
DIABLO™ Superbike: the compounds and their use
There are five DIABLO™ Superbike rear compounds, including the solution used during the Superpole in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, which is not however available for sale on the market.
There are three, equally important basic criteria for choosing one compound as opposed to another:
1) The type of tarmac
2) The temperature of the asphalt
3) The duration of performance required
These are the rear solutions with corresponding features and range of use:
· SUPERPOLE – Super Soft: The DIABLO™ Superbike Superpole, unlike the other tires is not for sale on the market and is used only by the riders of the Superbike World Championship to get the best starting grid position during the second session of Superpole held on the Saturday. This solution has a very soft and therefore high-performance compound with good grip, able to guarantee a practically immediate warm-up and maximum performance permitting a full lap at maximum performance after the starting lap.
· SC0 – Soft: This solution has a soft compound, ideal for tackling smooth asphalt and high temperatures. It is by far the most widely used rear solution in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. It offers maximum tread contact on smooth asphalt and maximum traction development at high temperatures as well as higher resistance to thermal performance decay.
· SC1 – Medium: This option offers a medium-hardness compound, which places it halfway between the soft and the hard solutions. It is the most popular solution when, perhaps on account of it being too cold or the asphalt being particularly abrasive, the SC0 can't be used.
· SC2 – Hard: Until last year this was the hardest solution in the range. It's used mainly in national championships, where the asphalt is hard and/or abrasive or where external temperatures are low. Thanks to its characteristics the hard compound is capable of ensuring excellent resistance to cold tearing (i.e. tearing of the rubber of the tread strip) and to wear.
· SC3 – Super Hard: This is the new entry for 2016 and the out-and-out sturdiest solution of the range. Developed above all for endurance activities it can however be used in all national championships where a compound particularly resistant both to abrasive asphalt and/or to low temperatures is needed.
There are three front compounds of the DIABLO™ Superbike but the criteria for use are not the same as those used to choose the rear compounds. In this case as well as the temperature and hardness of the asphalt, it's important to bear in mind the layout of the track, and above all the rider's driving style. Generally speaking, however, when the temperature of the track increases the compound tends to become less compact and lose rigidity, sometimes causing problems of movement when leaning. In this case it's advisable to use a harder compound such as the SC2.
On the other hand, when the track is cold, the compound tends to become more rigid and this leads to less grip with possible under-steering and decreased stability while braking. In these conditions it is better to use a soft compound such as SC1.
These are the front solutions with corresponding features and range of use:
· SC1 – Soft: Is the softest front compound developed for low outdoor temperatures and medium-severe circuits: it maximizes tread contact and the “presence” of the front tire. This is the solution preferred by riders who want a predictable tire able to let them know directly when they are about to reach the grip limit. It is generally preferred to the SC2 on circuits with significant depressions since it ensures the absorption of shock and vibrations (chattering).
· SC2 – Medium: This is the medium hardness compound, the best for high temperatures since it guarantees solidity in the tread. This is the solution that more aggressive riders opt for, with a compact tread strip as well as greater solidity, stability and precision when driving and entering curves.
· SC3 – Hard: New for 2016. Compared to the two previous solutions it certainly offers a higher mileage while remaining versatile. This could prove the best solution for the front tire on particularly demanding circuits.
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