Michelin vs Shinko

**DMCD** · 27th May 2009, 13:56

Hi,

I'm looking to get a new set of tyres for my CBR 250 MC22 I currently have a set of Shinko's which I've never really liked and this feeling was reinforced when I took a low speed slide in the wet recently.

I had a set of Dunlop's on my Bandit and they were good I always felt confident and they never gave way.

But when I went down to the tyre shop the guy recommended a set of Michelin's which come to about $388 fitted which is about the same as the Bridgestone's and a bit cheaper than the Dunlop's.

So I was wanting some expert opinion on wether the Michelin's are a good tyre, if they are better than the Shinko's I have and if the Dunlop's are better buy over the Michelin's?

**boman** · 27th May 2009, 17:37

IMHO. Shinkos and Michelins only similarity, is the fact that they are round and black. I haven't ridden on Shinkos, but I have ridden on Michelins. I would hazard a guess to say that the Shinkos are probably equal to 5 year old Michelin technology. Buy the Michelins. But thats my opinion.

**CookMySock** · 27th May 2009, 17:40

Chinkos are fine in the dry, but they rapidly turn to crap in the wet as you note. I have two GT250R's with shinkos on them, and a GT650R with Michelin PR2's on it, and they are light years apart. The shinkos are meatballs, and the Michys are like the hand of god holding you up.

If you want to corner it with any confidence, or you want to ride in the wet, then get the Michelins.

Steve

**McDuck** · 27th May 2009, 17:43

i have ridden on shinkos before, will not again if you know what i mean?

**hayd3n** · 27th May 2009, 17:44

shincos would be better than chensing tyres on the gn ive borrowed

**YellowDog** · 27th May 2009, 17:48

Mate, if you can afford Michelins then you should get them.

IMO - Best wet tyre there is.

The only negative is that they don't last as long as many others.

**mouldy** · 27th May 2009, 17:49

Which Michelins was he talking about cos I don,t know what they do in MC22 sizes . 140/70/17 or 140/60/17 on the rear and a 110/70/17 on the front . Bridgestone BT45s are the go if you can find some otherwise Dunlop Gt501s aren't bad or Pirelli Sport Demons which would probably be the best price . PM me for some prices .

**McDuck** · 27th May 2009, 17:58

A vote for the sport deamon, also think about a BT45 on the frount (i wish i had)

**DMCD** · 2nd June 2009, 10:24

Thanks guys,

I'm least concerned about how long the tyre will last and most concerned about how it performs in the wet, I don’t ride any ware close to the limits of my bike in the dry so as long as they keep me on the road im happy.

The model and size they have ordered are as follows.

Pilot Activ
110/70/17
140/70/17

**DMCD** · 8th June 2009, 11:46

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Chinkos are fine in the dry, but they rapidly turn to crap in the wet as you note. I have two GT250R's with shinkos on them, and a GT650R with Michelin PR2's on it, and they are light years apart. The shinkos are meatballs, and the Michys are like the hand of god holding you up.

If you want to corner it with any confidence, or you want to ride in the wet, then get the Michelins.

Steve

I got the tyre's fitted on Saturday and now I know exactly what you mean.

"Michys are like the hand of god holding you up" is no exaggeration in comparison to the Shinko's, it was nothing short of a religious experience when I got out on to the road it was like I was riding a completely different machine.

The amount difference it makes is unexplainable, no question the best $400 I ever spent.

**cs363** · 8th June 2009, 21:26

Originally Posted by DMCD

I got the tyre's fitted on Saturday and now I know exactly what you mean.

"Michys are like the hand of god holding you up" is no exaggeration in comparison to the Shinko's, it was nothing short of a religious experience when I got out on to the road it was like I was riding a completely different machine.

The amount difference it makes is unexplainable, no question the best $400 I ever spent.

Kind of reminds me of that Race Tech quote " The best you've ridden is the best you know"

Stick with the big well known European brands and Bridgestone and you can't go too wrong, yes some are better than others depending on application but I am generalising.

Shinko's have sexy looking tread patterns which started when they bought the moulds off the defunct Yokohama motorcycle tyre brand, unfortunately they didn't seem to get the carcass technology with the moulds despite claims to the contrary. Even now many of their tread patterns seem to be very close copies of other brands. Like many things in life, you tend to get what you pay for.

Is it just me or does Shinko sound like a Korean version of 'shonky? Maybe it's just a big Korean pisstake???

**CookMySock** · 9th June 2009, 07:28

Originally Posted by DMCD

I got the tyre's fitted on Saturday and now I know exactly what you mean.

"Michys are like the hand of god holding you up" is no exaggeration in comparison to the Shinko's, it was nothing short of a religious experience when I got out on to the road it was like I was riding a completely different machine.

The amount difference it makes is unexplainable, no question the best $400 I ever spent.

Aren't they awesome. Once you settle in on them, try leaning them hard around town at low speed, and feel the magic - literally like some unexplainable force folding you up. Try doing a fast open-road trip in the wet, and put concepts like "slipping a tyre in the wet" out of your mind. Those tyres are quite the mind-fuck, and after a year on them, don't for gods sake ride anything at-pace thats not got michelins on it, especially in the wet, or you will pay! LOL.

Originally Posted by cs363

Stick with the big well known European brands and Bridgestone and you can't go too wrong

Well, I took bridgestones OFF my 650 and put PR2's on it, and thats partly what I drew my comparison (above) from.

Originally Posted by cs363

Is it just me or does Shinko sound like a Korean version of 'shonky? Maybe it's just a big Korean pisstake???

Heh. "shinko" sounds chinese to me, and like 90% of cheapo chinese junk, it's, er, cheap chinese junk.

Steve

**cs363** · 9th June 2009, 10:05

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Well, I took bridgestones OFF my 650 and put PR2's on it, and thats partly what I drew my comparison (above) from.

Heh. "shinko" sounds chinese to me, and like 90% of cheapo chinese junk, it's, er, cheap chinese junk.

Steve

The one problem with making a generalisation like the one in my previous post is that some of those companies, Bridgestone & Dunlop in particular make a huge range of tyres many of which are for OEM fitment and may not be quite as trick as the sticky ones we all prefer, so we need to compare apples with apples. Also, some bikes (and riders) just prefer a particular tyre's characteristics or profile etc., so not neccessarily a bad tyre in the context of some dodgy Chinese rubber...

I've got Bridgestone BT45's on my old bike which are fantastic and beat the hell out of the American Dunlops that were on it when I bought it to NZ, another of my bikes, the 'hack' RF900 has Michelin PR2's which are awesome but of course no comparison as the old beastie doesn't use radials!

Regarding Shinko, I can assure you they are a Korean company, with offices and facilities in Japan and America. But agree totally with your comments regarding them otherwise!

**CookMySock** · 9th June 2009, 11:53

Originally Posted by cs363

The one problem with making a generalisation like the one in my previous post is that some of those companies, Bridgestone & Dunlop in particular make a huge range of tyres many of which are for OEM fitment and may not be quite as trick as the sticky ones we all prefer, so we need to compare apples with apples.

Agreed. The other thing to remember, is the old rooted tires handle fooken terrible compared to ANY brand new tire.

Steve