Yay, you think

[Sniper]

Until you realise its another tyre thread.

Im interested to know others experiences with Michelin Pilot Power tyres. I have them on my bike and can't say I like them too much. They take ages to warm up and the other day I damn near bettered the guy in inlinefour's signature when coming around a corner whilst cranked right over. They just don't seem to offer enough grip when Im going through the hills.

I know my pressures are right, my rear suspension needs a tiny bit of tweaking but surely thats not a contributer esp when my front started to slide the other day :spudwow: (Fuck that gave me a fright) but are there any others who have this problem with Pilot Powers?

Should I just soften up and stop trying to prove somthing to myself or should I splurge and go and get a set of GPR70's?

[texmo]

get some GPR100's

[onearmedbandit]

Got Pilot Powers on the thou and not had any moments yet, and have heard good stories from others regarding them. Fuck you must be riding hard sniper, front end slides, steeping the back out under power. You need to get out to the track bro.

[Sniper]

The front end slide was when I was going after you on the ride OAB. The back end was maybe hitting something slippery as Im damn sure my bike isn't that great to make the rear step out, but I was riding damn hard. You know the ride that you have after a particularly nasty day at work/home and you just need to get out and vent your frustration, thats when I ended up doing another (not so bad) front slide and making the read step out quite badly
Maybe I just need to step back and re-asses my riding style/abilities and get a new bike to suit? Or could someone with a few years experiance follow behind (on a bigger cc bike of course) to tell me what Im doing wrong.

Never heard of the GPR100's Texmo. You got anymore info on them?

[Toast]

Strange that you say they take ages to warm up Sniper...quick warm up is almost universally said to be one of the strong qualities of the Pilot Powers, as apparently they're part synthetic compound or something...whatever the tech shit, I've always found them to warm up excellently, even at 37/42psi.

I loved them to bits, can't think of a better road tyre. They are a bit more 'slidey' than your average tyre I reckon...but they are extremely predictable when doing so.

Sorry to hear that you haven't agreed with the Powers like almost everyone I've spoken to (have heard the odd discenting voice). Maybe they don't suit small bikes (??), not sure...maybe all your negative chi is fucking with the grip levels, again, dunno...but give something else a go. Ya gotta have faith in your tyres else your riding will degrade.

I guess it's kinda like how I hate Pirelli Sport Demons with a passion...but most love 'em...we're all different...

[ZeroIndex]

SPEND SPEND SPEND... lol, ok, nevermind me. But I would hate the front to slide out. That would just be...... crap!

Anyway, good luck with sorting out new tyres or different riding :)

[cowpoos]

your the first person I've heard complain about PP's

its probally just your riding....can't be the tyres :msn-wink:

[Sniper]

Lol, thanks Cowpoo's, maybe its just me. I really don't mind the read sliding a bit, but its the front that has started to make me rethink my tyres.

[loosebruce]

your the first person I've heard complain about PP's



Same here! I run them without second thinking any other tyre, okay on the track they still cook emselves but on the road nothing i've used comes close, Avon Vipers maybe but the wet preformance of the power's is the best i've ever come across.

[Sniper]

Could it be suspension then causing the slides?

[onearmedbandit]

Combined with the goat track surface on those roads yeah I reckon it'll be tied up in there somewhere. Also you might not be getting enough heat into them.

[loosebruce]

Also you might not be getting enough heat into them.

Coz you're riding too slowly :Pokey:

[Zapf]

u getting any wear marks or skuff / slide marks on the tires?

could be tire is made for big bike in mind and the stress on them from a 250 is not enought to heat them up enough.

Same thing as cage tires... e.g you don't put BF Goodrich on small japp cars... or Yoko on big pickups...

[Sniper]

Coz you're riding too slowly :Pokey:

:bleh: Smartarse

I can only go as fast as the 250 will let me :rofl:


u getting any wear marks or skuff / slide marks on the tires?
I am getting a couple scuff marks, but they seem to scrub out ok.

[quickbuck]

May be a few factors your self and others have alluded to going on here.

I was thinking your 250 it too light for the tyres, but that is BS as many big bikes are near that weight. It maybe that the 250 doesn't "work" the tyres the same as the big bikes they were really designed for.
It could be a suspension issue, ie compression and rebound rates are all over the place. I don't know the condition of your forks and oil, but could be worth a look.
Do you hang off in the corners? Not being a smart ass here, it is something Aaron Slight mentioned to us earlier in the week.

"When you come up to a corner, you want all the weight possable on the front tyre. This squashes it from a vee shape to a big fat oval shape (if you don't the front will wash). This is assisted by hanging off the bike, and slightly foward. By gently pushing on the inside bar you make the bike lean over (by way of countersteering). As you apex the corner, gently roll on the throttle and stand the bike up again on the exit (by pulling gently on the inside bar). As you do this you can climb back onto the seat. This is all done very gently, and without sudden movements" (abridged)

From my experience, set your self up for a corner before hitting the picks! Unless you ARE Mr Universe! I couldn't move off the seat after braking from 200k (Yes, I was on the track).

Then again, the tyres might not suit you. Don't believe all the hype people give them. You could try something else. I used to run Metzler Me22 rear, and Me33 front on my CBR400. They were the biz IMHO.

[Pixie]

Well, you put super sport tyres on a middle weight bike and ride medium hard and wonder why they don't maintain temperature.
Use the right compound.I'd bet most riders would be better off with sport touring tyres.They'd run at the right temp and offer more grip and life.

[kiwifruit]

if you are sliding the front on the road you are going to fast IMO
take it to the track

[Devil]

I didnt think they made powers in a size that'd fit a 250???
The site doesn't list anything smaller than 150 rear...

[DMNTD]

Could it be suspension then causing the slides?

I too have just changed over to PP's and have had the same problem with the front pushing/sliding out. Have had more than a few pucker moments!! :shutup: The thing is I had changed the suspension settings the night prior to fitting them and no doubt they have had an effect on the front.
I find that they do heat up very well and they love to leave large black lines out the back... Have just changed from a 190 rear to a 180 so the bike rides different for a few reasons. A change in my riding style had to happen and has.
Riden on wet roads with excellent results no doubt something to do with the heat in 'em.
I recommend them but aren't an expert :hitcher:

[imdying]

Post a picture of one side of your front tread Sniper, maybe something worth seeing there.

[Sniper]

I didnt think they made powers in a size that'd fit a 250???
The site doesn't list anything smaller than 150 rear...

My tyres are larger than standard for my bike. I'll grab the exact sizes for you when Im at home Devil


Post a picture of one side of your front tread Sniper, maybe something worth seeing there.
I can't do at the moment. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge than myself can pop around and check it out.

[Devil]

My tyres are larger than standard for my bike. I'll grab the exact sizes for you when Im at home Devil.
Okeedokee.
Are they on CBR250 rims? If they are, then you may have less rubber on the road than you would have if they were the standard size tyres...

[Sniper]

They are stock rims with larger tyres on them. I had to actually take the front gaurd off the bike cause the tyre were picking up stones that were chipping the gaurd.

[idb]

I can't fault them.
I only use the front brake so the front tyre gets a real work-out and I've never had a moment.

[Devil]

Ahh, ok, are you running 120 front and 150/160 rear?

[nadroj]

Putting larger tyres on a rim smaller than they are designed for changes the shape & 'road patch'. This can dramatically effect the stickability and is in no way the fault of the tyres. Likewise you can usually run a softer compound on a smaller (lighter) sportsbike as the loading is not as much. They will warm up quicker & stick better but don't expect a tyre with F all tread to be great in the wet. The only problem I have had with PP's is I had a little blistering on the sides of the front tyre when it was getting near replacement wear. It was replaced the following day.

[Sniper]

For all those that want to know. I didn't do the tyre change. It was done before me. Hence why Im so clueless about it.

Devil, I'll check when I get home at the tyre sizes and I'll post up.

[Devil]

Cool. I'd go and change them back to the correct sizes when you're due for new tyres (uhm, 110 and 140?). If you want super sticky, go for bridgestone BT090's if you can get hold of them. If you can outride those, you're due for an updated bike!

[Sniper]

I was thinking GPR70's. Only heard good things about them.

[Devil]

Or those...

When I tried to get BT090's they were always out of stock because the F3 racers kept snapping them up.

[onearmedbandit]

I can't do at the moment. Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge than myself can pop around and check it out.

Sniper, I can come around with a digital camera tonight and post up some pics of your front tyre. Might help with sorting out this issue you've got.

[imdying]

Any word on the pics?? Really helped out the guy with the wavy pattern on the edge of his tread, it's amazing what you can tell from pictures :)

[Sniper]

Sorry, I caught up with OABs offer a bit late. I have decided that the best way to handel things will be to just change the tyres. It means I will have spare set

[k14]

well what were the tyre sizes you are running? make sure you get the right size gpr70's. i don't know if they are the best tyres for riding in chch, specially seeing as its coming up winter. in winter down there you'll never be able to get them hot enough to work properly. that was a contributing factor to my crash, cold day, cold tyres, too fast.

im pretty sure the stock tyre sizes on a cbr are 110 front and 140 rear. you can get gpr80's in that size and they are slightly less racing orientated. gpr70's are racing tyres and are damn good on the track but not ideal for commuting and road riding (specially in winter). my 2c anyway.

[imdying]

Might help to let us have a look before you spend your wedge though, all sorts of helpful types on here. I'm sure if you let oab know today via PM, he'd be more than happy to pop over tonight :)

[Sniper]

Might do that, cheers Imdying.

[N4CR]

I Just got the new model GPR100's and they are great (VERY good :D) $340 fitted at cycle treads, they got badly raped after the corro loop ride last week due to suspension sliding around. I just put a new rear end in and the arse was skittering everywhere so it needed tweaking, have done so and it seems to hold better. The weird thing is that I have got to the edge/off a bit of the rear but the fronts still have 0.5-1cm to go, and these tyres are perfectly matched to the reccomendations on the rear hugger. Weird. Still getting used to suspension/tyres though so this should change in the future.

[Sniper]

I keep hearing a bit on the GPR100's. Are they suitable to be pushed hard? I need grippy (hehe I said grippy, who can name the ad?) tyres, not commuters really.

[N4CR]

They are friggen soft and ball very easily, the middle is harder so it tears and corrugates easily. Can't see these doing 16k like my last plastic ones ;)

It didn't slide when I started grinding the corner off the exhaust either, my old tyres tried to introduce me with a bank when that happened last. They are very confidence enducing and I find myself getting the bike right over even while commuting as it is so easy and 'trusting'. GPR100's are the new gpr80 models so not full blown gpr70 as they have the softer middle. I doubt you would notice the difference between them and 100's unless you took it on the track.

[Sniper]

Cheers mate, I'll look into them

[onearmedbandit]

Stu, I'll come over after work and get a couple of pics. Could save you spending more money. Say 6:30pm, light is still good so we can have a good look.

[Sniper]

Sounds good, I'll PM and let you know.

[onearmedbandit]

Mate, I see you posted your own pics of the bike in another thread. Get some pics up of your tyre so we can help out!

[Sniper]

Will do mate, sorry, got a Digital camera yesterday. Still trying to work it out. Pics will come up tonight.