Michelin Pilot Sporty Review

[Racey Rider]

With my Dunlop TT900 rear tyre on the KR150 starting to show the cords after last race day, and the shipment of Heidenau tyres not yet arrived at my supplier, the choice to try the Michelin Pilot Sporty for racing was thrust upon me. I had read one review online that suggested this might be ok, but after doing a couple of races on it, I have to say I’m not that thrilled with it.

Firstly I, - the motorbike shop, - and the Firestone tyre dealer had major trouble getting the tyre to bead up on the rim. 100/90/18 on a 1.85 rim. It just would not seal and pressure up. A couple of hours with it sitting in the sun helped in the end, but it shouldn’t have been that hard!

Then there is the steep tread profile. I used to get right to the edge of a 100/90 TT900. But there is no way I will get close to the edge of this ‘Sporty’, such is the angle of the profile. (Edit: I think Michelin tyre sizing is wrong. This tyre acts more like a 3.50 than the 3.25 a 100/90 should convert to.)

The tyre Does heat up well though it seems. Even on a scrub-in ride to work along country roads, it raised it’s temp/pressure by 4psi from a 26psi cold setting. But on the track this did not equate to good grip, as even when pushed in the dry it did not ‘ball up’ and give traction, giving me a couple of moments where I passed the limits of it’s adhesion, (sliding round hairpins on your expansion chamber while waiting for the tyre to grip again is not fun).
At $109 the Michelin Pilot Sporty is half the price of what a proper race tyre will cost for these little bikes, and maybe a good buy for road use (4.5mm tread depth).
But for the track, I would suggest paying the extra money for something designed for racing.
Next month I should be testing a race compound tyre from Germany - the Heidenau K65.

[RDjase]

I use Pirelli Sport demons on my post classic bike, 18 by 1.85 rims front and rear, 100/90/ front (suposed to be a 90 but cant get in demons, 100 works well) and 110/80 rear, Seems to have good grip and gets and works great in the rain, was about $300 a pair fitted and balanced from memory, i got pads and fork seals at the same so i will find the invoice and see how much it was just for the tyres

[StoneY]

I have Pilots on my GsxR 1100
Chews out fast at back - but trying the mew Pilot road 2 which has the harder compound in the middle-

However i find them the best tire I have ever crossed Mt wanui on
Pirrelli diablos on the Ducati- the gixxer sticks way better than those do on its Pilots - pity they wear so fast tho (pilots that is)

[Geemsee]

Can't stand Michelins they just don't work in the cold, you may as well have wooden tyres. I've got some Metzeler Sportec M1's at the moment which are pretty good bascially the same as Pirellis although I think i'll be going for the later when it comes time to change!!