Continental Road Attack 3 GT vs Pirelli Angel GT II: In the high-stakes world of motorcycle touring, the battle between tire giants has reached a fever pitch with the Continental Road Attack 3 GT and the Pirelli Angel GT II vying for supremacy. Launched in 2017, the Continental Road Attack 3 GT stormed into the market with cutting-edge technology aimed at providing unmatched performance and durability for touring enthusiasts.
Not to be outdone, Pirelli introduced the Angel GT II in 2019, setting a new benchmark for long-distance riders seeking the perfect blend of safety and comfort. This head-to-head clash between these two titans promises an epic showdown, as they compete to dominate the hearts and wheels of motorcycle touring aficionados worldwide. Get ready for a thrilling ride as the Continental Road Attack 3 GT and the Pirelli Angel GT II go tire-to-tire in the ultimate battle for touring tire supremacy.
Table of Contents
Results: Continental Road Attack 3 GT vs Pirelli Angel GT II
The results featured here are from the 2022 Motorrad Touring Tire Test, with 6 different tires in the touring segment tested. The accompanying graph presents a side-by-side comparison of the Continental Road Attack 3 GT vs Pirelli Angel GT II across various performance categories, with the Continental Road Attack 3 GT serving as the benchmark at the 100% mark.
The tire size of interest is the 120/70 ZR17 (front) and 180/55 ZR17 (rear) tire size. The tests were conducted using a BMW R 1250 R as the test vehicle.
Objective Wet
In terms of wet performance, when braking from 100 km/h, the Continental Road Attack 3 GT and the Pirelli Angel GT II show closely matched capabilities, with the Pirelli tire stopping just 0.4 meters shorter than the Continental, at 45 meters compared to 45.4 meters. However, when it comes to speed and agility on wet tracks, the Pirelli Angel GT II takes the lead. It achieves a higher top speed of 70 km/h compared to the Continental’s 67.4 km/h during wet lap tests.
Moreover, the Pirelli Angel GT II completes a wet lap notably faster, clocking in at 75.9 seconds, which is 3.8 seconds quicker than the Continental Road Attack 3 GT’s time of 79.7 seconds. This comparison highlights the Pirelli Angel GT II’s slight edge in wet braking and its more significant advantage in speed and lap time performance under wet conditions.
Angel GT II :
- +1% in dry braking
- +4% in dry handling (top speed)
- +5% in dry handling (lap time)
Subjective Wet
In the subjective assessment of wet performance, the Pirelli Angel GT II generally outperforms the Continental Road Attack 3 GT across several categories.
In wet handling, the Pirelli scores a point higher than the Continental, indicating a smoother and more controlled ride at 9 compared to 8. When it comes to steering precision in wet conditions, the Pirelli Angel GT II again edges out the Continental by a single point, scoring 18 against 17, suggesting it offers slightly sharper and more responsive steering.
Wet Handling:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 8/10
- Angel GT II : 9/10
Wet Steering Percision:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 17/20
- Angel GT II : 18/20
The differences become more pronounced with wet grip in curves and under acceleration; the Pirelli Angel GT II leads by 2 points in both categories, scoring 19 against the Continental’s 17. This indicates that the Pirelli tire provides a firmer grip and more confidence when navigating curves and accelerating out of them in wet conditions.
Wet Grip in curves:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 17/10
- Angel GT II : 19/10
Wet Grip under acceleration:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 17/10
- Angel GT II : 19/10
Wet behavior at the limit, which assesses how the tires perform when pushed to their performance boundaries, sees the Pirelli Angel GT II scoring 18, just a point above the Continental’s 17, suggesting it maintains better composure under extreme conditions. However, both tires score equally in wet braking deceleration at 9, indicating that when it comes to reducing speed in wet conditions, they perform comparably.
Wet Behavior at the limit:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 17/10
- Angel GT II : 18/10
Wet Braking deceleration:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 9/10
- Angel GT II : 9/10
Overall, with a total score of 92 against 85, the Pirelli Angel GT II is perceived to offer superior wet performance, providing a more secure and responsive ride in adverse conditions compared to the Continental Road Attack 3 GT.
Total:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 85/100
- Angel GT II : 92/100
Subjective Dry
In terms of subjective dry performance, the Continental Road Attack 3 GT and the Pirelli Angel GT II are very closely matched, with only minor differences in certain areas.
The Pirelli Angel GT II scores slightly higher in dry handling and dry steering precision, both by a margin of one point, indicating it offers a marginally smoother handling experience and sharper steering response at 28 against 27 in both categories.
Dry Handling:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 27/10
- Angel GT II : 28/10
Dry Steering Percision:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 27/30
- Angel GT II : 28/30
When it comes to stability in curves, both in standard and sport conditions, as well as grip during lean, under acceleration, straight-line stability, behavior at the limit, and the uprighting moment during braking, the two tires perform identically, scoring 19 in curve stability (both standard and sport), 9 in grip during lean and under acceleration, 10 in straight-line stability, 9 in behavior at the limit, and 8 in uprighting moment during braking. This demonstrates that both tires provide a comparable level of confidence and performance in dry conditions, particularly in maintaining stability and grip.
Dry Stability in curves:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 19/20
- Angel GT II : 19/20
Dry Stability in Curves Sport:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 19/20
- Angel GT II : 19/20
Dry Grip during Lean
- Road Attack 3 GT : 9/10
- Angel GT II : 9/10
Dry Grip under acceleration:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 9/10
- Angel GT II : 9/10
Dry Straight-line Stability:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 10/10
- Angel GT II : 10/10
Dry Behavior at the limit:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 9/10
- Angel GT II : 9/10
Dry Uprighting Moment during Braking:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 8/10
- Angel GT II : 8/10
Overall, with a total score of 139 for the Pirelli Angel GT II compared to 137 for the Continental Road Attack 3 GT, the Pirelli edges out slightly ahead, suggesting it provides a subtly enhanced dry riding experience. However, the differences are minimal, indicating both tires offer high levels of performance and reliability in dry conditions.
Total:
- Road Attack 3 GT : 137/150
- Angel GT II : 139/150
Summary
As a tire expert, my analysis points to the Pirelli Angel GT II as the clear winner over the Continental Road Attack 3 GT. The Pirelli offers slight but decisive advantages in both wet and dry conditions. It outperforms the Continental with better wet braking distances, higher wet lap speeds, and quicker lap times, indicating superior wet grip and handling.
In dry conditions, the Pirelli edges out with slightly better handling and steering precision, despite both tires showing comparable performance in stability and grip. The consistency of the Pirelli Angel GT II in offering better handling, comfort, and safety across various riding conditions makes it the top choice for riders seeking premium performance.
Dr Edwin Pang