Burning Rubber: Best Sportbike Tires

Street rubber that can handle a trackday or two

This one is for the little guys: The Continental ContiAttack SM 2 is a rare offering aimed specifically at supermoto and lightweight sportbike classes, which aren’t often served in the sport tire realm. Updated in 2024, the ContiAttack SM 2 builds on its predecessors by offering high grip levels, enhancing handling capabilities, and improving mileage — that’s a big one for riders on a budget. Designed with supermoto machines like the KTM 690 SMC R, Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, and GasGas SM 700 in mind, it also suits smaller sportbikes such as the Aprilia RS 457, Kawasaki Ninja 500 / Z500, Yamaha YZF-R3 / MT-03, etc. Updates from the previous generation include refined rubber compounds for better wet and dry performance, increased tread depth for extended mileage, and the addition of Continental’s GripLimitFeedback technology, which enhances rider feedback at extreme lean angles. The tire’s carcass has also been revised to improve flexibility, leading to a more controlled and comfortable ride.

On the road and track, the ContiAttack SM 2 delivers strong initial turn-in and maintains excellent stability through corners. Thanks to Continental’s BlackChili compound, the tire warms up quickly, offering immediate grip that exceeds its predecessor by a notable level. In wet conditions, the updated tread pattern enhances water dispersion, keeping the ride stable even on damp asphalt. Whether carving through tight city streets or pushing limits on a kart track, the ContiAttack SM 2 strikes a compelling balance between razor-sharp agility and real-world usability. It’s a solid choice for supermoto and lightweight sportbike riders who demand both performance and durability.

The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 introduces several design enhancements over its predecessor, the Sportmax Q4, aimed at elevating track performance. To be blunt, the Q4 didn’t impress us all that much, but the Q5 does. Notably, the Q5 features a revised profile with a 2mm increase in both height and width for the front tire, enhancing turn-in response and overall handling. The rear tire has also undergone significant development, incorporating a redesigned carcass that improves stability under hard acceleration and better distributes contact pressure for more even wear. Both tires use an updated compound formulation that increases mechanical grip and heat tolerance, ensuring consistent performance throughout a session. These refinements collectively contribute to a more responsive and confidence-inspiring ride.

In our testing, the Q5 impressed with its rapid warm-up times, delivering consistent grip from the outset without the need for tire warmers. In fact, Troy Siahaan used them in a race setting and he did it without tire warmers! The front’s grip stands out, providing exceptional stability and precise feedback during aggressive cornering. The rear tire, with its revised construction, felt more planted mid-corner than its predecessor and allowed for predictable slide control when pushed to the limit, while still delivering racetrack-ready grip levels. We’ve observed that the rear tire exhibited quicker wear rates under intense use, particularly on liter-class motorcycles — it’s visually alarming, but the tire is working. Mr. Siahaan took them down to the chords just to prove that point!

The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 offers a compelling blend of performance and convenience, making it an attractive option for track or high-performance street riders, that want high levels of grip without much hassle. Our recommendation: Buy the stickier Q5 front, while opting for a slightly stiffer Q5S rear, which utilizes a different carcass construction than the Q5 that helps alleviate some of that accelerated wear we mentioned.

The Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 is the latest iteration of Pirelli’s popular street-legal, yet incredibly track capable tire. This SP V4 version introduces several key updates, particularly in tire construction and compound formulation. The V4 features a new “slick” center area with a compound inspired by Pirelli’s experience in World Superbike, enhancing grip in dry conditions while maintaining durability. The tire’s carcass construction has been fine-tuned for improved handling, providing better feedback during aggressive riding and resulting in a larger contact patch at lean.

On the road and track, the Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 performs exceptionally well, with impressive feedback during high-speed cornering and hard braking. During testing, quick warm up times are something we’ve enjoyed with past Supercorsa SP models and that’s no different here. The reworked tread pattern and compound contribute to consistent traction in both wet and dry conditions, while the optimized carcass ensures stability under hard braking. Whether carving corners on the street or pushing limits on the track, the Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 provides unparalleled performance for riders looking for a versatile, high-performance tire.

We’ll be the first to admit that Continental uses some funny names to describe its sport compound, but its “black chili” sport compound for the new ContiSport Attack 4 tire is no joke. The profile and construction of the Attack 4 provides a larger footprint at extreme lean angles compared to the Attack 3. Tire warmers aren’t needed with these tires since they come up to temperature quickly. For wet weather conditions, Continental’s RainGrip technology optimizes traction for excellent handling in the wet.

The Michelin Power 6 is designed to deliver exceptional grip and handling for sportbike enthusiasts, both on the street and track. Using the longstanding Power 5 as a stepping stone, the Power 6 introduces a few nifty updates that the brand says enhance cornering ability, as well as durability.

One of the most notable improvements is the incorporation of Michelin's 2CT+ technology. This dual-compound construction features a harder, mileage-focused compound that spans the entire profile of the tire, providing increased durability and stability during braking. In contrast, a softer, performance-oriented compound is applied to the shoulders, enhancing grip during cornering. It’s a design often seen in the sportbike tire realm, that encourages a balance between longevity and cornering grip.

On the street, the tire offered a comfortable and stable ride, with responsive handling that inspired confidence in both wet and dry conditions. Silica-rich compounds not only improve warm-up times, but also allow for good grip in wet conditions. Those that do use the Power 6 on the racetrack can expect a sporting level of grip while cornering or in hard braking zones. We'd classify this tire are being slightly more street focused option, though still more than capable in a racetrack setting. If you’d like a more track-focused option from Michelin, reach for the Power GP2, but the Power 6 will net superior mileage.

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