Diablo III's vs Pilot Powers

**mister.koz** · 21st September 2009, 15:22

Greetings,

I just got a new zx10r and it has pilot powers. My last bike(s) had the Pirelli diablo III's and i loved them.

These powers are brand new, i have only just managed to scrub them in (still got a little chicken strip) but they just don't seem to have the same sort of feedback.

At first i had doubts and then i checked and set the tire pressures (38f 40r) and that made them allot better but still they don't seem to have the same feel, i don't feel as well planted on the road. I am running out of ideas beyond the tires actually being less grippy (which has been suggested a couple of times). So many people seem to love the powers so i am guessing they are a sticky tire!

I am tempted to run the pressures another 2psi down until i get the same stick.. But my experience tells me that i do not have allot of experience and should ask first

Any ideas?

Cheerz

**Quasievil** · 21st September 2009, 15:28

mmmm pressures seem high, whats the recommendations for those tyres and your bike ?

**Sidewinder** · 21st September 2009, 15:31

just run what they say if ya dont know. and yes they arnt as good!
dunlops are the best

**mister.koz** · 21st September 2009, 15:34

Originally Posted by Quasievil

mmmm pressures seem high, whats the recommendations for those tyres and your bike ?

I thought those were the recommendations... i will ask around

**Quasievil** · 21st September 2009, 15:42

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

just run what they say if ya dont know. and yes they arnt as good!
dunlops are the best

Well no they arent cause they are so fuckin expensive

**Cajun** · 21st September 2009, 15:53

pressures seam high especially in the rear

michelin normal say for the 1000cc bikes

2.5bar front (36 psi)
2.9bar rear (42 psi)

but use those as a starting point and play with them until you feel it suits you, only move 2psi or so at a time.
and i guess try not run under 30psi front & rear on the road.

Or put your Diablo's on and on sell the Powers

**OutForADuck** · 21st September 2009, 16:08

The pilot's take a little getting used to as they don't give much feed back they are just grippy. I'm a Dunlop fan myself and found it hard on 2CT's at first because you just didn't know how much you had left at any time. But they stick, last and hold their shape well throughout their life.

P.S. Went back to a Dunlop in the end though

**mister.koz** · 21st September 2009, 16:10

Originally Posted by Cajun

pressures seam high
michelin normal say for the 1000cc bikes those are normally to high espially in the rear. but use those as a starting point and play with them until you feel nice.

2.5bar front (36 psi)
2.9bar rear (42 psi)

Or put your Diablo's on and on sell the Powers

Yeah i am tempted to sell them, probably wont get allot for them though which will suck because the diablo's aren't cheap at all!

There's a "setting your tires to you" thread from ages ago that basically says:

Set to recommended pressures
get the tires hot & check pressure
hot they should be 10% - 15% higher psi
if they are less that 10-15 reduce by 1 or 2 psi from cold
if they are more, increase by 1 or 2 psi from cold

This sounds like the best plan possible but its a right pain in the ass to do because it could take all day.

Still i guess a morning or a day of working out the tire pressures isn't a bad thing.. Just need to find 2 towns that are 20km of twisties away with a gas station each

waihi-whanga???

I like the sound of this...

**Quasievil** · 21st September 2009, 16:12

If you wanted my tyre recommendation go for the Continentals Sport attack never let me down racing, Pirellis pfft three laps new tyre = crash

**mister.koz** · 21st September 2009, 16:15

Originally Posted by Quasievil

If you wanted my tyre recommendation go for the Continentals Sport attack never let me down racing, Pirellis pfft three laps new tyre = crash

Cool, i will look into those

I had the conti race attacks on my 6rr and liked those - i was allot more noob back then tho....

Quite different on the track to the road though, your pressures would be ALLOT lower.

**mossy1200** · 21st September 2009, 16:17

I was running my pilot powers at 32,34 even two up on zx12r and they lasted well.The pilot powers go silky black when the pressures are correct and stay grey if they are not getting hot enough.If they go blue then to hot with not enough pressure.If fitted pilot 2ct as the replacement set and found them even better.

**mister.koz** · 21st September 2009, 16:19

Originally Posted by mossy1200

I was running my pilot powers at 32,34 even two up on zx12r and they lasted well.The pilot powers go silky black when the pressures are correct and stay grey if they are not getting hot enough.If they go blue then to hot with not enough pressure.If fitted pilot 2ct as the replacement set and found them even better.

Cool thanks man i will drop the pressures, how many km's were you getting?

I used to get about 4500 on the diablo's

Its looking like i keep them and wear them out