Michelin Pilot Power
08-30-2006, 07:15 PM
#1
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Squid
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Michelin Pilot Power
I just bought a set of Pilots for my '05 Hawk. The front tire is labeled with the size 120/70 ZR 17 C, the tire dealer said is was made for Yamaha for the R1. Can anyone tell me more about this designation?
08-30-2006, 08:50 PM
#3
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Squid
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I asked for a 120/70-17(generic), he said he had one but it was the last Pilot(front) that he had until Tuesday next week, but he said that he had to tell me about the designation. The reason was because of all the sue happy people out there. ???? He didn't know why it was different, he speculated that it was so that Yamaha could sell it as a OEM tire at their dealerships.
08-30-2006, 08:52 PM
#4
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I know for my Integra, when I first bought it, it had Michelin MXX4 tires. At that time, they were "specific" for the Integra. Replacement tires with this specific designation were more expensive than their "generic" counterparts. And from what I had tested, there was no appreciable difference between the two. I suspect that the same applies in this case, except if they tried to charge you more.
09-03-2006, 05:26 PM
#8
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Pilot Powers are awesome. I have them on the Duke, and I had them on the Ducati I owned before. Incredible cornering angles, and they warm up really fast. Well worth the slightly extra $$. When the nearly new Dunlop Qualifiers on my Hawk are done, the Michelin Man will be making an appearance.
09-04-2006, 08:00 AM
#9
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Thumbs up on Pilot Powers. My Super Hawk has always had a tendency to "fall into" corners. Put them on and couldn't believe how much more neutral the handling was. It was almost like a different bike.
09-05-2006, 12:49 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by woozer996
Pilot Powers are awesome. I have them on the Duke, and I had them on the Ducati I owned before. Incredible cornering angles, and they warm up really fast. Well worth the slightly extra $$. When the nearly new Dunlop Qualifiers on my Hawk are done, the Michelin Man will be making an appearance.
Hey, a comparison!! I've been running Pilot Powers, and love them. I have wondered about the Qualifiers, and would love to hear how they compare, especially on another SuperHawk. I assume you like the PPs better, as you plan to use them again.
09-05-2006, 01:41 PM
#11
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Any reports about how Pilot Powers perform in the wet and cold?
Being in the UK, we don't enjoy so many lovely long hot sunny days as many others here do.
Being only recenlty back to biking after many years, I have zero confidence cornering in the wet, and a few slips and slides on a bad wet tyre would blow any confidence I do have.
Being in the UK, we don't enjoy so many lovely long hot sunny days as many others here do.
Being only recenlty back to biking after many years, I have zero confidence cornering in the wet, and a few slips and slides on a bad wet tyre would blow any confidence I do have.
09-05-2006, 06:44 PM
#14
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The Duke (and the Ducati that preceded it) both came into my life with mismatched tires front and rear, and I had heard that PPs were the hot ticket and so I bought them and never looked back.
Now I'm hearing that Qualifiers are the current hot ticket so who knows.
I'm still just getting used to horsepower again. No chicken strips on the Duke, big chicken strips on the Superchicken. Gotta get some West Marin backroad miles under me to decide.
Now I'm hearing that Qualifiers are the current hot ticket so who knows.
I'm still just getting used to horsepower again. No chicken strips on the Duke, big chicken strips on the Superchicken. Gotta get some West Marin backroad miles under me to decide.
09-05-2006, 10:33 PM
#15
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Both these tires are what you call "high silica content" compounds. They don't take very long to heat up and have excellent wet weather traction. I have run them both on the 1000RR and I think I like the DQ better than the PP. I had some issues with the front PP in that it wore really quick (~4500 miles) and the bike didn't want to turn in well. I've not yet put a lot of miles on the DQs, but they seem to be wearing quicker than the PPs.
09-06-2006, 04:00 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by Hawkrider
Both these tires are what you call "high silica content" compounds. They don't take very long to heat up and have excellent wet weather traction. I have run them both on the 1000RR and I think I like the DQ better than the PP. I had some issues with the front PP in that it wore really quick (~4500 miles) and the bike didn't want to turn in well. I've not yet put a lot of miles on the DQs, but they seem to be wearing quicker than the PPs.
Maybe it's just me,,,,, but uhhhh, what? 'm sure I'm just reading this wrong.. LOL.. But what tire are you suggesting? which one do you like better?
09-06-2006, 08:41 AM
#17
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To clarify, the DQ REAR is wearing evenly, but a little more quickly than others I've seen. I have the DQ on both the RR and the VTR.
I've only run the PP on the 1000RR, and I got about 4000 usable miles from them. I replaced the rear first but should have replaced both at the same time.
I've only run the PP on the 1000RR, and I got about 4000 usable miles from them. I replaced the rear first but should have replaced both at the same time.
09-06-2006, 08:47 AM
#18
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Just been down to small local bike shop.
Very nice biker/manager runs the place.
Had a ZX12R for about 5 years and now an R1
He says the Pilot Powers are the best tyre he's ever used. Feel totally stuck to the ground.
I'm deff going with some of these when my current tyres wear out.
Very nice biker/manager runs the place.
Had a ZX12R for about 5 years and now an R1
He says the Pilot Powers are the best tyre he's ever used. Feel totally stuck to the ground.
I'm deff going with some of these when my current tyres wear out.
09-06-2006, 01:35 PM
#19
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Squid
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Another cool thing about the Qualifiers is that they are made with a "Dual Compound Rubber" which means they center of the tire is made with a harder compoud rubber, sort of like what the Dunlop 208 was made out of, and the sidewalls are made of a softer rubber. When you are riding in straight lines like on the highway you are on the harder rubber so it doesn't wear as fast as the tires that are all soft rubber, and when you lay it over around corners you get on the soft rubber that sticks good and heats up fast.
03-21-2007, 07:51 PM
#20
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Just put the PP's on and now have about 600 miles on them, all I can say is WOW....talk about cornering like your on rails....sticky, sticky, and sticky...I thought I was going over the side of the mountain 2 weeks ago, and the tires whispered back, no sir not today....lol...They rock...
Buddy of mine got the PP C2, which like the Q's has the dual compound, the only neg thing he says is every now and then there is a bad feeling when going from center to side and back...he says it is a noticable difference...I say forget the dual compound unless you are stuck doing a lot of flat tracking...otherwise just get the regular ones....I doubt you will get that many more miles out of the dual comp....but then again, what do I know...LOL
Buddy of mine got the PP C2, which like the Q's has the dual compound, the only neg thing he says is every now and then there is a bad feeling when going from center to side and back...he says it is a noticable difference...I say forget the dual compound unless you are stuck doing a lot of flat tracking...otherwise just get the regular ones....I doubt you will get that many more miles out of the dual comp....but then again, what do I know...LOL
03-21-2007, 08:08 PM
#21
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the center of the dual compounds are the same as the whole tire on the standard powers. I'm running the standard powers now and they are as good as everyone claims. truly awe inspiring. with about 4000 miles on them the rear is just past halfway worn.
03-21-2007, 08:12 PM
#22
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4K, nice, that makes me happy....
03-21-2007, 08:24 PM
#25
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I have heard good things about the PP and am leaning that way when the bird comes out of mothballs/rebuild later this spring.
03-21-2007, 08:28 PM
#26
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ah, rebuild....so it is coming out of the ashes...nice...didn't know...been out for a bit...Mom passed away on march 3rd, so had to take care of family business....She died on my 15th Anniversary...Guess she thinks this way we can never forget her....lol...I grew up with a Jewish mother (not really)...
03-21-2007, 08:28 PM
#27
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just eyeballing the tread in the center. I'm in FL and don't have much chance to wear the edges. what I find most interesting is that the shape of the rear tire doesn't chance much as it wears. if on my last ride I was able to do a bit of cornering the tire isn't 'worn square' and flat looking in the center. if I just came off a straight highway run it will look square. it still doesn't 'feel' square at any time.
03-21-2007, 08:42 PM
#28
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ah, rebuild....so it is coming out of the ashes...nice...didn't know...been out for a bit...Mom passed away on march 3rd, so had to take care of family business....She died on my 15th Anniversary...Guess she thinks this way we can never forget her....lol...I grew up with a Jewish mother (not really)...
Not immediate family but we've hung the black wreath a couple times here as well this winter. I learned a long time ago that life is for the living and part of living is to keep the departed close to our hearts and in our thoughts.
Mom would want it that way!
03-21-2007, 09:50 PM
#29
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My rear qualifier just finally wore out after about 4500 mi. I have been very happy with it. Just put on a new set of DQ's now to see how it goes. I don't know how anyone gets better than 5000 mi out of a sport tire.
I have the Pilot Powers on my GSX-R and really love them too...problem is the bikes corner so much differently in my opinion that I can't tell the difference between the two tires yet. I've been to the edge of the qualifiers finally, and haven't fell over (although my foot hitting the ground made me stand it up quickly), but have yet to go more than 1/4 inch stripe on the the GSX-R. Seems I can ride the gixxer faster without going as low on the tire. Maybe a rim difference??
I have the Pilot Powers on my GSX-R and really love them too...problem is the bikes corner so much differently in my opinion that I can't tell the difference between the two tires yet. I've been to the edge of the qualifiers finally, and haven't fell over (although my foot hitting the ground made me stand it up quickly), but have yet to go more than 1/4 inch stripe on the the GSX-R. Seems I can ride the gixxer faster without going as low on the tire. Maybe a rim difference??
03-21-2007, 10:13 PM
#30
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Pilot Powers are awesome. I have them on the Duke, and I had them on the Ducati I owned before. Incredible cornering angles, and they warm up really fast. Well worth the slightly extra $$. When the nearly new Dunlop Qualifiers on my Hawk are done, the Michelin Man will be making an appearance.
