Pilot Road 2 for The Concours 14?

**Max Preload** · 23rd November 2007, 17:16

Originally Posted by Pixie

PR 2 fronts use a harder compound on the sides than in the middle of the tread

Other way around - softer on the sides.

I fitted a Pilot Power 2CT front and a Pilot Road 2 rear. Both are dual compound and seem to be wearing very well. I figured since I usually replace as a pair anyway, and the rear chews out first, I'd just put a stickier one on the front. I don't mind the rear squirming, but the front... no thanks!

One thing I noticed was the low speed rumble they make - feels like you're on knobblies just before you stop or when you're going as slow as possible. I put it down to just being quite a chunky tread.

**MSTRS:Me** · 23rd November 2007, 18:38

Originally Posted by awful-truth

One thing I noticed was the low speed rumble they make - feels like you're on knobblies just before you stop or when you're going as slow as possible. I put it down to just being quite a chunky tread.

Really? Can't say I've noticed any of that. Mind you, out here in the provinces we don't get the best of road surfaces

**Ocean1** · 23rd November 2007, 21:40

Originally Posted by awful-truth

Other way around - softer on the sides.

I fitted a Pilot Power 2CT front and a Pilot Road 2 rear. Both are dual compound and seem to be wearing very well. I figured since I usually replace as a pair anyway, and the rear chews out first, I'd just put a sticker one on the front. I don't mind the rear squirming, but the front... no thanks!

One thing I noticed was the low speed rumble they make - feels like you're on knobblies just before you stop or when you're going as slow as possible. I put it down to just being quite a chunky tread.

Michelin don't supply numerical spec's, PR fronts are described as having medium-soft compound on the middle 60% and soft on the sides. Rears have medium compound on the middle 20% and medium-soft on the sides.

Having said that I've just taken readings of the hardness of the 2CT PPs on the Buell, if there's a difference it's smaller than the resolution of my metre, which is a good one...

**Hitcher** · 26th November 2007, 08:19

A new set of Storms is booked to go on this Friday. Fortunately the roads this weekend were dry, clean and hot. But even then on a few right-handers I had this unnerving "Is it, or isn't it?" thing going on. Hard work indeed.

If anybody wants a 180/55 17 PR2 with about 4,000km left on it, no squaring or any visible signs of distress, please let me know (it has already lasted 11,500km). It's a shame that the PR2 fronts aren't up to the task that the rears are.

**Meanie** · 26th November 2007, 08:31

Just dropped mine off to have the storms fitted, having to do the rear as well now after the week ends effort, still be good to have both tyres matching
Scrub in session tonight i think

**NZsarge** · 26th November 2007, 08:42

Originally Posted by Meanie

Just dropped mine off to have the storms fitted, having to do the rear as well now after the week ends effort, still be good to have both tyres matching
Scrub in session tonight i think

That friend of mine with the 2000 Bandit, is storm is cutting out alarmingly quickly, thought it might be tyre pressure maybe, we'll see. It was Vipers he had a good run on the set before. Does anyone know if the Avon Storms are particulars sensitive to tyre pressures?
Just fitted a Contisport attack to the Ace and the bloke who sold it to me said to keep a very close eye on the pressure as they seem to be highly sensitive incorrect settings. Pressure recommend for the Contisport Attack is 42psi!!

**Hitcher** · 26th November 2007, 08:50

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Does anyone know if the Avon Storms are particulars sensitive to tyre pressures?

I found the Storm front to be more sensitive to tyre pressure than other makes of tyre I'd run. I generally run all tyres at 36 front and 40 rear. I could always tell when the Storm was down a couple of psi, or if I'd added a couple too many. I found 36 to be ideal.

**NZsarge** · 26th November 2007, 08:54

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I found the Storm front to be more sensitive to tyre pressure than other makes of tyre I'd run. I generally run all tyres at 36 front and 40 rear. I could always tell when the Storm was down a couple of psi, or if I'd added a couple too many. I found 36 to be ideal.

Cheers for that, i'll have a yarn to my mate about it.

**banditrider** · 26th November 2007, 16:37

Originally Posted by Meanie

Just dropped mine off to have the storms fitted, having to do the rear as well now after the week ends effort, still be good to have both tyres matching
Scrub in session tonight i think

Yeah noticed a certain silver bike being hauled around on a trailer again...

**Meanie** · 26th November 2007, 16:44

Originally Posted by banditrider

Yeah noticed a certain silver bike being hauled around on a trailer again...

He he he yea i dont want to run the risk of being given the volty to ride to work Oh the humiliation

**KoroJ** · 27th November 2007, 07:15

After much drama....I finally fitted a single compound Pilot Road (not PR2) to the ST last week and have now done 1300Kms in 15 - 30 degree temps and a wide range of speeds..??!!

Report here if you want a wee chuckle. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/bl...9500&entry=325

It's early days, but I would have to say that maybe the ST is too heavy for the softer compounds because after being a bit apprehensive, the tyre performed well. Kennif followed me over Mt Messenger and thought I looked a bit squirmy at the back but I certainly didn't feel it and would have thought that the rider would feel a shift before anyone could see it.

The proof will be in the pudding when I get in the wet and lower temps but for now, ....I'm impressed and maybe I'll get some good Mileage on it.

Will keep you advised as to how it performs.

Al · 27th November 2007, 10:08

I had PR2s fitted to my BMW R1150RT 2 months ago and have found them to be better than the BT20s that I had before.
The roads here in the Northern Territory are "unforgiving", very hard on tyres due to the surfaces. Different because of the rain problems in the "wet", which is fast approaching / already here!
The road camber is also weird at first, helps with run-off of the heavy rain.

Lot of "straight-line" travel, but if you look around there are a lot of twisties, but have to keep an eye out for the GREY NOMADS in their campervans or caravan combos...

Have fun

Al

**Meanie** · 2nd December 2007, 20:03

Well, i done 1600 kms on the new Storms over the last four days and i must say at this early stage i am very impressed with them. Handle like a dream, stick like shit to a blanket, in the dry anyway and are scuffing up nicely with not too much wear showing yet And no sign of the "wobble" at low speeds. Very impressed

**Hitcher** · 2nd December 2007, 20:22

On Saturday morning I picked up the FJR with its second set of Storms fitted -- with what was left of the Pilot Road 2 "experiment" consigned to TSSes recycle bin.

750km later I am a most happy camper. I just love the Storms. At one stage I thought that the PR2s were a similarly competent tyre, but I've now confirmed (to myself at least) that the Storms are vastly superior, particularly in the handling stakes, which is surely the most important consideration?

You think they're great in the dry? Well, they are. But wait until you get them out in the wet, where they are just outstanding.

Hmmm, Storms... Hitcher happy.