Michelin PR2 - easy to spin up in the wet or past it?

**SPP** · 15th June 2009, 21:45

I have PR2s on a little CBR 600RR with 15,000 km on them. They look just less than half worn (really hard wearing on a light bike!)

In the wet/rain these spin up and step out A LOT more than I thought they would especially considering the CBR is hardly a torque monster and I'm not really giving it heaps

e.g.
• 95-100k not accelerating and going uphill in 6th. Road was smooth perhaps a little tar bleed. Rear stepped out to 4 o'clock but no fish tailing.
• 60-70k, 3/4 acceleration (2nd or 3rd). Road was smooth but no lines or tar bleed. Fish tailing 4 O'clock to 4 O' clock a number of times. I really thought somebody was going to ram me from behind

Unintentional spin up a few times now. Is this normal for PR2 or are they just past it? Is the bike too light to get these to grip properly? Harden up mate its all part of the fun?

I’m considering changing to BT016 or Powers. I think want sport tyres again.

Note: The OEM BT015 that were on it last winter spun up maybe once or twice in the wet but only mildly and always stayed straight. Never once did they suddenly let go and step out and I’m riding the same roads.

**crash harry** · 15th June 2009, 22:06

Strange, I've got PR2s on the R1, and they're solid as a rock in the wet. I've only lost traction once, and that was a little front wheel slide under brakes on a tar snake in pouring rain. I imagine I could break them free if I was really heavy-handed with the gas in corners, but never had them step out in a straight line.

What pressures are you running? Michelin seem to recommend lower pressure in the rear than some others - they recommend 2.5bar (~36psi) front and rear for the PR2 on the R1. If you've got the rear pumped up really hard it might be running a bit cold?

**cowboyz** · 15th June 2009, 22:28

really surprisd SPP and concour with crash harry. I have run PR2 on the ZX9r and they are solid as in the wet or dry. really confidence inspiring and one of the best tyres I have ridden on. (currently running pirelli diablo front and pilot sport on rear cause I got them cheap) but the pilot road 2s are awesome tyres.
I wonder how you get 15000km out of them though. I struggle to 10 if I play nice with them. Definitely look at your pressures.

**Max Preload** · 15th June 2009, 22:30

Originally Posted by crash harry

Strange, I've got PR2s... and they're solid as a rock in the wet.

Ditto. In the wet, my ZZR tended to wheelstand before it would spin on the PR2 rear.

**SPP** · 15th June 2009, 23:10

thanks

yeah, they have a really good rep for being solid in the wet and super hard wearing which means something is up... not the hard wearing bit.

Pressures: 36/42 and 34/38... too high? front has never slipped. Maybe a combination of high pressure, lightish bike (155kg dry), and riding too passively to heat them up?

Wear: yep, 15,000km so far and they're nowhere near the wear bars. Thats too much right?

I'm definitely going to drop the pressures down to 36 (or lower) like crash harry and try that. cheers.

**Ocean1** · 15th June 2009, 23:17

That's pretty good milage, still, my brother got more out of his PR2 rear on a ZZR1200...

I've run both PP2s and PR2s on the Buell, which is also fairly light, and I must admit the PR2s squirm more in a straight line. Mostly that's under engine braking but I've had the back step out more under power on the PRs than the PPs too.

They're actually the same compound on the sides, the PR2's just a tad harder in the middle. I'll be using both again, depending on what I'm planning. Bloody good rubber, especially in the wet, and quite predictable even at low temperatures.

Edit: I run 36/38.

**SPP** · 15th June 2009, 23:40

hey thanks.

All of your bikes have much more torque, and they work for you!

I'm gonna drop the pressures some more and maybe try to sit back a little.

Cheers

**puddytat** · 16th June 2009, 00:10

I ran 32 front,& rear....11000 on the R6. You happy with your suspension set up ?

**Kiwi Graham:Me** · 16th June 2009, 06:15

Mate, I have a set on my 14 (torque is its middle name), They are awesome tyres. They are the best all round tyre I've had for every day use wet or dry. Of course they will spin up given the right conditions but what you describe sounds like they may be past it, 15,000k is a very long time for a set of tyres to stay on a bike.

**MSTRS:Me** · 16th June 2009, 08:47

Only once had an issue with PR2s on the 750, and I thought it was my pillion shifting her bum in the corners. It was cold and damp at the time.
I run them at 33f/37r and changed them at 18,000kms. Front was triangulated and rear was slightly squared off. Still WOF standard tho. Just.

**cowboyz** · 16th June 2009, 16:34

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Only once had an issue with PR2s on the 750, and I thought it was my pillion shifting her bum in the corners. It was cold and damp at the time.
I run them at 33f/37r and changed them at 18,000kms. Front was triangulated and rear was slightly squared off. Still WOF standard tho. Just.

must ..........................learn .....................responsibility!

**Owl** · 16th June 2009, 18:05

I'm a big fan of the PR2 as well, with 8000km clocked up so far on the rear. No real issues and it also hasn't squared off near the end of its life.

**slofox** · 16th June 2009, 18:23

PR2's on the SVS. No problems thus far (7000k). But I run at lower pressures than you do - book says 32 front and 36 rear. I have had them up about 2psi each at times but can detect no noticeable difference so I go by the book.
Also a lighter bike and not demonically torquey...

**AllanB** · 16th June 2009, 18:41

Great on my 900.

Just how close to the wear bars are your tyres? If its only a mm or so off then I say trash them for the winter, especially if you are giving it a bit of stick in the wet.