Michelin Pilot Power Series - Anyone Else Hate Them??

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Bigevildoer

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Purchased a set of Pilot Power 2CTs last year after hearing lots of positive reviews...
Put them on, gave them an honest shake, and absolutely couldn't wait for them to wear out so I could put something else on.
Bike is a Buell 1125r, so it's a big twin with gobs of torque.

Found them to be really squirmy on the edges (tried many different PSI ranging from 30-38 rear, 30-34 front and combinations thereof).
Whenever gravel was encountered, even very small pieces, the tires seemed to become extremely unsettled, even at low speeds.
Never felt really planted at all, unless going in a straight line or moderate turns at posted (or just above) speeds.

Once the front was 2mm above the wear bars the rubber seemed to wear exceptionally quickly - about 1500 km (around the Dragon and surrounding area) and it was almost to the bottom of the wear bars in a few places (tire did not wear evenly at all).

Put on Pirelli Diablo Rosso II's, and and MUCH happier with them. No edge squirm, goes over gravel without losing it's "planted" feeling at all.

Anyone else think the Pilot Powers are P.O.S.?
Heard the Pures are much better, but for now I'm staying away from Michelin and sticking with Pirelli and Metzelers....
 
I am not terribly fond of the Pilot Powers. But I don't think I push my tires as much as you seem to so I'm not sure my experience is very helpful to you. I didn't like the feel of them at transition, i.e. leaned over not too hard and coming on the gas. They just didn't inspire confidence.

I've had better feel from Dunlop Q2's. Best for me are the Metzeler K3's my bike came with but they are very pricey and wear out quickly.
 
I have the rosso 2's on now and prefer the pilot powers. They are a lot less money grip well in the wet and dry. They also wear very well.
 
I've had my rear slide out twice in less than one month those 2CT's. First time left turn, 3000rpm going around 40kmph, gentle acceleration and I feel my rear slipping more and more. Second time, right turn 3000rpm first gear, gentle acceleration and I slide again.
Never had problems with hard acceleration before these tires.
 
Bigevildoer said:
Heard the Pures are much better, but for now I'm staying away from Michelin and sticking with Pirelli and Metzelers....
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I heard lots of positives on the Pures, so I put a set on a week before the trip, with NO regrets at all.
I had more confidence in them than any other tire I've used.
You saw what they could handle (my rear tire has 2 plugs in it) - what did you think about their handling?
Jin's bike had a set of Pures on too, and when I rode that, it was planted for 100% of that road (foothills prky).
I think it's a "to each their own" thing Tim, because I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for all the Metzlers in the world - bad experiences with a set a few yrs back.
 
I really don't like the Pilots at all - and I especially don't like the Pures. I *want* to like them, but they made my bikes darty and squirmed under acceleration... lost all their grip when they got 2/3 worn. Bleah. No.
 
I have put approx 1500km so far on my new 2CT's. I switched from the Dunlop Q2's. I can say I prefer the 2CT's feeling upon turn in but so far that has been the only thing I like about them. The 2CT's are slow to warm up, are no where close to as grippy as the Q2's, track more in the rubber snakes and are unsettling in anything possibly loose. After I burn through these 2CT's I will definitely return to the Q2's or try something different again.
 
I've done MANY miles (60,000k) and laps (7 track days) on the 2CT's on modern SS bikes of 600, 750, and 1000cc's. I really never felt confident on the 2CT's. I found them quick to warm up but they squirm far too much for my taste both on the street or track. Lost the front at Mosport last year and I blame the tire. Switched to Q2's this year and have had them on two 1000's so far and am finding them instantly better. I find the turn in predictable and they're sticky right away. I honestly feel I could toss the bike over on the edge even when they're cold. I'll never get another set or Pilots.
 
The pilot power 2ct is old technology it's mostly a street tire. (does fine on the track too.). Vs the diablo Rossi are a very very sticky tire oriented towards a track rider.

A 2ct is not even in the same category as a diablo or q2. This was a sticky tire for 2005+ standards.
 
frekeyguy said:
A 2ct is not even in the same category as a diablo or q2. This was a sticky tire for 2005+ standards.
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I did mention it's the Rosso 2 I compared it to, not the Rosso Corsa. That would definitely not be a fair comparison.

Gary - I knew you had the Pures on your 'busa. You left me in the dust for miles and miles. Never knew it had 2 patches in them though! You're one of the people who I know who have praised them the Pures. Jin loves them on his 1098 as well (think he just ordered another set today actually).
 
twostroke said:
I have the rosso 2's on now and prefer the pilot powers. They are a lot less money grip well in the wet and dry. They also wear very well.
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Pete's pricing:
Pilot Power 2ct - $261.90 + HST and $15 shipping.
Rosso II - $233.90 + HST and $15 shipping.

PP2ct $30 more after HST.
 
Meh.. I guess I'll chime in here now too...

I had Pirelli Diablos on my R6 and they lasted something like 16,000 km (deep grooves) good grip.... wore the pitchforks out on both edges of rear.. typical pirelli profile (round but not peaky or flat). Switched to Michelins PP 2 CT and loved them. Very fast turn in, great wear (something like 15k km).

I buy new bike, 1000RR, has Dunlop Qualifiers with a 50 series rear .. ok tire, nothing special, bad (flat) profile on both front and rear tire. This means slow turn in, bad wear (9.6k km) flatspot ... Then i switch to a 55 series Pilot Power (not a 2 ct, but the older regular 1 ct lol) .... great front grip, great rear grip.. turns in quick again.. bike feels like a 600.... 14k km+ each on two sets.... Yes I loved them enough to buy them again, even though there were lota newer tires out there. My only complaint about them is that they get a bit squirrely towards the edge of the tire when they are REALLY hot. I'm talking when the air is 40 with humidity and you go ramping when the pavement is prolly 50+ degrees. At street paces in anything around the 15-25 C range they are exceptional gripping tires, making them a fantastic year-round tire. They suited my riding style on the street with a late turn-in approach on the literbike. They couldnt be beaten for the price, however they got more and more expensive for such an old tire. $230 a set became $260 a set became $300 a set.... etc. The newer pures dont seem to tip in as fast, and some people didnt rate them very highly. THe pures are also very expensive.

At around 38k on my 1000rr, I put some Bridgestone Battleax R10 DOT scrubs on that had a few track days... and what a difference. They didnt last too long, but were amazing. Grip, grip, grip..... fast turn in.. Only problem is, towards the end, the rear would start to "turn into" a street tire, meaning the rubber would get slowly harder and harder feeling more like a hypersport tire rather than the super soft bubblegum feeling of the DOT... that and they were turning into a slick very quickly. I put these on because I was waiting for my set of S20s to come in from the states from a 45% off sale.

So far, the S20 is a good tire. It has a V shaped rear (similar to the Pilot Power) but the front is a broad, flat profile. I notice right away without any geometry changes the bike steers A LOT slower, but isn't as nervous on tar snakes. The rear end comes out a bit more, but then again you cannot compare a DOT tire to a hypersport street tire.

where the michelin didn't scrub/grain like the R10.... the S20 is inbetween.. here's a pic of the left rear after about 1000 km on them.
217861_10100392481431587_757034767_n.jpg
 
I'm actually pretty impressed with Michelin....good experience with the "pilot powers" and now testing a set of "road 2's" as I'm looking for better mileage.
 
I have nearly 9-10K on my pilot pure's, run diff. psi when I tour / do twisties/deals gap etc. And its now very close to the wear bars. Mind you i've been very easy on these tires when I tour.

On my Road 2's, i have nearly 16-17k, they'r getting pretty square now.....extremely hard on these tires with very aggressive acceleration.

On a set of Pilot Power's I got almost 10K-11K before hitting the cords, but that tire had been to the drag strip a few times as well as a LOT of poor wheelie attempts.
 
Bigevildoer said:
Gary - I knew you had the Pures on your 'busa. You left me in the dust for miles and miles. Never knew it had 2 patches in them though!
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Yup - 2 in the rear. That's why I was taking it easy Tim ;-)

Andreas said:
So far, the S20 is a good tire. It has a V shaped rear (similar to the Pilot Power) but the front is a broad, flat profile.
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Hooligan!!!
Did they finally give you guys the boot from the old 'hang out' near Hess?
I was by a couple times. Not 1 bike in the lot.
 
Has anyone tried out the PR3's? My B016's are squared off because I commute the R6 a lot and I'm looking for something that will stand up to the slab but will also fair well in the twisties on the weekend. Michelin has pretty much gone on record as saying that the PR3 shouldn't be used on a SS but if that's the case, shouldn't the PR2 also carry the same warning? Or is the PR3 more 'tour-y' than the PR2?
 
I got them to look like this on my 250, so I'm not complaining...just wish I had a wider rims so they're not as pinched

P1030220.jpg


P1030218.jpg
 
I have the 2ct's on my zx10 and don't like them at all. I rarely push the bike but even when I want to up the pace slightly the front does not inspire confidence. The rear is pretty easy to spin but that's not really a concern for me. I had Pirelli corsa III's on it previously and they were great.
 
Let's not put all the emphasis on a tire, especially when most everyone here is apparently pushing the limits with stock suspension. A tire can only compensate for so much.

In any case, I've used Michelin for a very long time and recently tried the Pirelli Diablo Rosso and immediately hated it. Same bike, different tires and all it did was spin. It always feels like I'm riding around on a cold tire. I'll wear these out and probably go back to the Pilot Pure or maybe try the new S20 from Bridgestone. No more Pirelli.
 
MrBruce said:
Let's not put all the emphasis on a tire, especially when most everyone here is apparently pushing the limits with stock suspension. A tire can only compensate for so much.

In any case, I've used Michelin for a very long time and recently tried the Pirelli Diablo Rosso and immediately hated it. Same bike, different tires and all it did was spin. It always feels like I'm riding around on a cold tire. I'll wear these out and probably go back to the Pilot Pure or maybe try the new S20 from Bridgestone. No more Pirelli.
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Why compare a Rosso to a Pure and S20? Not in the same price/performance league. The Rosso is a comparable tire to the Power 2CT. Put the Pure/S20 against the Supercorsa (awesome tire)
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