Anyone have experience with BOTH Pirelli & Michelin?

[Speedballer347]

06 GSXR1000, Ohlins rear, Thermosman Ohilns valving front.
I am on the Pirelli Superbike slicks.  Stick real good.
Only issue I am having is I can't get the bike to flick in, and also switchback.  Seems real good at 80%, but once speeds increase, bike requires A LOT of muscle to get it to hit apex or change directions.
I have raised rear and dropped front and has made a big difference, but I am at the max of geometry, on the verge of starting to push the front.

Question, does the Michelin (front) steer quicker?
Tstryk goes real good on Michelins with his 06/R6 and is reccommending them to me.
I am sure the Michelins stick as good as the Pirelli's, no issue there.  Just trying to get my bike to steer easier. I am wearing out trying to steer my bike real fast, can feel myself get tired after just a few laps.

Anyone have experience with BOTH brands?

Thank you.

[tstruyk]

experience with both...

YUP!!!  If experiencing beating you on Pirelli's with me on Michelins is experiece enough...   

 

actually I didnt beat you... friggin big Gix...

Surely someone does... hey gimme a shout when you get a sec.   office/cell/email... whatever! 

[citygarage]

I have experience with both back to back on the same weekend. To me the Michelin was simply alot better. Especially on the front tire. The Pirellis squirm to much for me and dont inspire confidence when entering corners. The michelins also tend to last longer, though they are notorious for giving 100 % grip right up until they give 10 % grip and you are sliding on your head, so I would say you still go through about the same number of tires just to be safe. I liked the Pirellis, and wasnt scared to run fast on them, but when it came time to push the front and make deep passes I felt much better on the Michelins. P.S. They typically require much more temp to run at full grip so cook 'em on those warmers real good like. 

[tstruyk]

heat... not so much the C... I run em at 135, PR5 yeah... 175 there...

[Spooner]

Yep run the front warmer on low. 

I have always heard that the michelins will give way with no warning but the only time I have experienced this was with it rained suddenly at my last round lol! 

Really, the C front is incredible.  I have run some VERY used front tires at trackdays and still had no front end issues.  Yeah, they stick a bit better when new, but I was comfortably using the front for two weekeds of racing (not practice) with no trouble.  Then I would use that tire to practice on, then I tossed on the SV for its final punishment lol!

[Speedballer347]

... friggin big Gix...

Me and you will be endurance racing the beast next season    8)   

[Speedballer347]

I have experience with both back to back on the same weekend..... 

Thanks!

[benprobst]

I think Eric and I are talking about slicks. He mentioned pirelli superbike slicks, so I told him about michelin slicks. You guys are talking about the DOT PRC and PR series rears, way different. And you need to heat the front slick as much as the rear 165 - 180.

Sorry to see you crash out in the rain spooner, we had just caught you and it was about to get interesting when it started drizzling then started pouring coming down that short shoot, you and the other AM went shooting off the track and me and Brock just barely squeezed by.

Anyway, back to the tire. The slick is a much rounder profile than the PRC dot tire. I run a slightly triangulated profile on my front slick but no where near the PRC. I noticed that the PRC transitions from straight up and down to corner entry very quick, but tends to slow down going from 25% to 90% lean due to its flat big contact patch. However, the slightly rounder profile of the slick provided a much smoother and quicker roll and transition than the dot. (again I rode these tires back to back two practice sessions in a row at Barber.) I would take either Michelin over the Pirelli and take the slick over the DOT due too two primary reasons, overall feel and wear.

[goldwing70]

Hey, I was that AM that went shooting into the grass when the mist turned to rain!  I'm using the old Michelin S1200 front and it works great for me.  Haven't felt a need to change, that and having 4 more fronts in stock.

[Stone]

Having just been riding the Michelins this year and switching to the Pirelli's I pretty much know which tire works. The tire that works the best is the tire that has the right geometry and suspension settings....peroid.

I personally like the way the Pirelli's slide and the front has me trail breaking deeper than any other tire that I have ridden. Why you ask....because they have a softer sidewall that allows the tire to spread out and have more contact patch with the pavement surface. Ya I agree...it was a little un-nerving when they wiggled around. After time thou....you dont even notice it.

The rear tires have what I like to call a "gentle slide". They almost gave you a tap on the shoulder to say..."we are going to start sliding here". On the other hand....the Michelins was....grip, grip, grip and let go without a moments notice.

As for the sweat numbers for the GXSR 1k 05/06.... 329mm eye to eye on the rear shock when the bike is sitting on the ground, 10mm of static sag with the right spring for your weight, and install the Racetech 2mm swingarm offsets. The front forks set at a base of 508mm from the top of the bottom triple clam to the center of the front axl. Set the static preload at 22mm of sag with the right springs for your weight. Your rear axl needs to be 85% as far back as it can in the swingarm.

I'm not there...so I cant do your suspension. But the above is a great start and if ya want to turn in faster....raise the forks up in the triples. 

[tstruyk]

Me and you will be endurance racing the beast next season

yeah...I'm thinking of switching to a 1/8 throw to get a little better feel in my hand for throttle control, either that or a superman cape!! 

Once schedules are released lets pick at least 2 6 hour races and a couple ASRA weekends!