Michelin Pilot Road V Bridgestone BT020 [Archive]

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Biff

3rd January 2006, 12:21

My rear tyre is just beginnning to show signs of to squaring off slightly (too much motorway communting to work), having nearly done 7K. I'm a huge fan of the Battleaxe range of tyres (014 & 020 in particular) but I've never tried a Pilot Road.

Anybody here have any experience of both tyres?

I'm particularly interested in wear rate, grip in dry wet. Any other feedback would be appreciated.

Ta

Mental Trousers

3rd January 2006, 13:09

I've always found that Bridgestones seem to give better feedback to the rider than Michelins no matter which tyre it is, although that may be just me. The Power Pilots seem to give a tiny bit more grip than the Battlax (I don't know whether it's because of the lack of feedback fooling me or what). But it's been a long time since I did any k's on Battlax's. They definitely feel different.

No idea about wear as I haven't done many k's on the Michelins.

Hitcher

3rd January 2006, 13:28

There are a number of sports touring tyres that will do the job better for you than a Battlax 020. Try any of them. The new Conti Road Attack is worth a look, as well as the list of "usual suspects".

ducatilover

3rd January 2006, 13:42

i've heard heaps of good shit about both.:drinknsin from what i've been told the michellins are awesome:sherlock:

but what would i know?:done: :mellow:

Zapf

3rd January 2006, 13:47

trumpy

3rd January 2006, 13:50

There are a number of sports touring tyres that will do the job better for you than a Battlax 020. Try any of them. The new Conti Road Attack is worth a look, as well as the list of "usual suspects".

Bought my bike four months ago at 4,600ks with the original 010's on (about half worn at that stage). Got talked into trying a set of Conti Road Attacks and after 250ks was ready to give them back. Kerry at Motohaus suggested I perservere to 500k and if not satisfied then he would swap them for something else. I did perservere and am happy I did, they just got better and better. I have now done 3000ks on them, they show minimal wear and have given me no frights either in the dry or wet although I do ride like a nana (compared to some on this site)...I still have 10mm chicken strips. As a "returnee" I have not been back road riding long enough to give comparative info though...just know they work for me and look as though they should give decent mileage.
Hope this helps.

ducatilover

3rd January 2006, 13:51

nadroj

3rd January 2006, 13:53

guys... we are talking about Pilot ROAD.... not Pilot sports... or Pilot power...

anyway.... from what I have heard... is that Pilot Roads are good in the wet.. but not as grippy as a sports tire in the dry... mainly due to rubber compound. Its one of tire life vs tire grippyness...

I LOVE RUBBER!
Tisn't the season to be buying tyres for the wet especially on a Blackbird. Pilot road isn't sticky enough for a BBird in the dry - either Sports or Power are suitable. Powers will get you 6-9K on a rear.

Jantar

3rd January 2006, 14:10

whats better for grip and feed back out of

bridgestone battlax bt104

or

pirrelli mtr23/mtr24 dragon gts

or

michelin macadam 100x?
cos the pilots arent made in 160/60 18 for my arse end aparently:scratch:
I ran the Pirrelli combination for two sets of tyres (13,000 kMs) and was very happy. But then Pirrelli stopped making them so I switched to Michelin. Road Pilot rear and sport pilot front. After close to 7000 kms, mainly two up riding, the Road Pilot (rear) is starting to square off, but still has plenty of tread left.

I figure about another 1500 km will see it out.

I have no recent experience with Bridgestones, but from using them many, many years ago, I swore off them for anything but gravel riding. :(

Lou Girardin

3rd January 2006, 15:02

Try Metz Z6's or Pirelli Stradas whichever you can get cheapest. They're the best sports/touring tyres out there.

beyond

3rd January 2006, 15:12

Ok, I have a 2002 GSX1400. It's a real tyre eater. Standard they came out with Bridgestones and on the forum in the UK I was advised to try Pilot Roads.

I chewed a rear Pirelli and two Dunlops out with an average of 3500kms. :(

I now have a set of Michelin Pilot Roads and I can tell you the are the dogs bolloks. No difference to the other two brands in the dry and better in the wet. They are dual compound so harder in the middle for straighline riding and softer to the edges for cornering.

I regularly have my bike on the pegs and have bugger all of a chicken strip on 190 wide tyres.

Currently they are at 6500kms and I reckon I'll get another 1500-200kms out of the rear. Now that is awesome k's for this bike.

No regrets. They are my tyre from now on.

Biff

3rd January 2006, 21:50

Some great advice chaps. Thanks.

Silage

4th January 2006, 09:00

My rear tyre is just beginnning to show signs of to squaring off slightly (too much motorway communting to work), having nearly done 7K. I'm a huge fan of the Battleaxe range of tyres (014 & 020 in particular) but I've never tried a Pilot Road.

Where in Chch do you buy your tyres Biff?

My rear is way past square and if anyone is back at work this week would like to replace it before the Glenorchy rally. The GS comes with Dunlop 207s and I have been reasonably happy with them but nothing to compare with. Have done just over 10k on these.

Biff

4th January 2006, 17:46

Where in Chch do you buy your tyres Biff?

Cycletreads Jim. See Don.

Groins_NZ

4th January 2006, 18:07

Try Metz Z6's or Pirelli Stradas whichever you can get cheapest. They're the best sports/touring tyres out there.

AMEN... Still got my Pirelli Stradas on after approx 12,000Kms.

For a review --->
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=15401
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pritch

4th January 2006, 18:20

AMEN... Still got my Pirelli Stradas on after approx 12,000Kms.|

I'm about to replace BT020s also after 12,000K + with Pirelli, basically to build the knowledge base.

Some of the comments in this thread have been bagging Bridgestone a bit unfairly I think. There is a lot of potent machinery comes with BT014s or BT020s standard. I read one Brit comparison test of the sports 600s and the fact that the Honda and Suzuki had superior handling and steering to the Yamaha and Kawasaki was attributed in large part to the OE Bridgestone rubber on those two former bikes.

The only slight reservation I have about the Bridgestones relates to wet weather performance and I won't be able to answer that until I've done a number of wet trips on Pirellis. But I'm in no great rush thanks. :-)