The road enduro sector is currently undergoing a period of intense development, offering an exceptionally wide and varied range of models. The selection spans from mid-range capacities, around 600-700 cc, up to powerful maxi-bikes reaching a substantial 1,300 cc. These models can broadly be divided into two main categories: adventure bikes, which have a strong capability for off-road riding, and road bikes, or Crossovers, which are predominantly designed for tarmac.
Today, riders can truly select the model that best suits their needs. To achieve peak performance, it is crucial to fit the bike with the right tyres. Tyres are generally segmented into three categories: road tyres, designed for high-performance riding, including sports use on asphalt; semi-knobbed tyres, suitable for both road and off-road use; and knobbed tyres, specifically engineered for dedicated off-road terrain.
The Pirelli SCORPION™ range offers three products tailored to meet these three specific requirements. Let's explore how to choose them by considering their effectiveness and limitations.
The high-performance tyre for road riding
The SCORPION™ TRAIL III is dedicated to road use, and given the performance capabilities of current Adventure and Crossover bikes (some of which share engines and platforms with sports bikes), these tyres are engineered to ensure maximum performance and safety on the tarmac. Consequently, the tread pattern resembles a road tyre: it lacks large knobs, and the grooves are designed to offer a wide contact patch. While they were born for crossovers, typically featuring a 17” front wheel, they are also an excellent choice for adventure bikes with 19” or 21” front wheels if the rider favours a spirited performance on asphalt.
The compounds ensure outstanding grip in both dry and wet conditions. Specifically: the front tyre uses a full silica compound, made with the maximum possible amount of silica (close to 100%); the rear is a high silica compound, with a high percentage of silica, though not as high as the front. This composition guarantees excellent mileage, further supported by the dual-compound construction, which features softer lateral sections and a more wear-resistant central strip.
These tyres are the ideal choice for those who love sporty riding on twisty roads and long-distance touring on asphalt. They are capable of handling light gravel tracks but are not intended for extreme off-roading. Their intended use is: 90% road and 10% off-road.
The all-rounder: suitable for tarmac and gravel
The SCORPION™ RALLY STR is the most versatile tyre in the range. This tyre features a distinctly knobbed tread pattern to ensure excellent support when riding off-road, yet it manages this without limiting performance on the road. Its application is perfectly geared towards the most common usage profile: 70% road and 30% off-road. Pirelli guarantees this performance by applying high-performance road tyre technology to the structure, tread profiles, and compounds. This ensures wet grip, stability at high speeds, handling, and reliable grip in all riding conditions, as well as high mileage.
These tyres are suitable for equipping both adventure and crossover bikes, with front wheels ranging from 21” to 17” and are highly recommended for adventure touring where routes navigate all types of surfaces, including tarmac and moderate-difficulty gravel tracks, thanks to the depth of the grooves and the spacing between the knobs. Finally, the aesthetics are spot-on: the off-road style tread pattern perfectly embodies the spirit of adventure and complements the bike's rugged look.
While excellent on the road, the SCORPION™ RALLY STR is less dedicated to sporty asphalt riding than the SCORPION™ TRAIL III.
The uncompromising spirit of adventure
The SCORPION™ RALLY represents the next step towards more demanding off-road riding, with a usage distribution of 50% road and 50% off-road. The appearance of the tread is similar to the STR version, but the structure, the spacing between the knobs, and the compounds are all different. The pronounced off-road capability is guaranteed by properties of strength and resistance, both against punctures and the wear of the knobs when gripping rocky surfaces. Furthermore, the grooves are designed to ensure self-cleaning capability, allowing the tyre to tackle the most difficult, even muddy, terrains with maximum traction.
This version is specifically intended only for adventure bikes, with 21” or 19” front wheels. This is because the strong off-road focus compromises the high-speed asphalt performance, which is the key strength of Crossover models.
The RALLY tyres still allow adventure bikes to be ridden safely on the road. However, being deeply knobbed tyres, they offer lower mileage compared to the other two models and may be noisier on the tarmac - a non-issue for off-road enthusiasts, but rather a mark of distinction.
