Michelin vs Pirelli

[Team Spalding]

Anyone been on both of these in the last year or so? Giving the Michelins a try and I have never been on anything but Pirelli. Just wondering what to expect. Starting off with med/soft slicks.

Any comments or recommendations would be appreciated.

[Court Jester]

I ran Dunlop, Pirelli, and Michelins last year just playing around seeing what worked. I'm one of the slowest on the track but I've always felt better on Pirellis than Michelins or Dunlops. But that's one of those things with no right answer for everybody.

[tug296]

Raced Michelins since 2002 , then on Pirelli's for the first time in the inaugural Moto ST 8 hr at Daytona. The biggest difference I noticed was the profiles of both front and rear. The grip was similar, even though the Pirelli's were hard compound slicks and the Michelins were medium DOT's. We went through 2 fronts and 3 rears in 8 hrs, they lasted fairly well.
I'd say both are excellent.

[Super Dave]

Raced on a lot of tires.  Many, many Michelins, but I've been on three others recently too.

Same thing, they are both good tires.  Each has some strengths, but after being round and black, they are different.  One may try each, but recognize that you'll probably have to make some chassis adjustments to account for different heights of each manufacturers' tire and the contour, round or triangular, of each one to get a good read on the advantages of each.

Personally, I use Michelin, and that's related to the race support network from Tommy, Walt, Dave, Ron, Frank, Qentin and the rest of the Bib guys.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Isnt Michelin and Pirelli the same company?

[Super Dave]

Isnt Michelin and Pirelli the same company?

Almost was a buy out a few years ago.  Metzeler and Pirelli are though...like Chevy and Pontiac. 

[Team Spalding]

What about tire pressures? Hot or cold and how much?

[benprobst]

What about tire pressures? Hot or cold and how much?

Cold.

DOT : front - 31-32 rear - 21-22 ( I ran 22 in the PR3 and 21 in the PR5)

Slicks : front - 30-31 rear - 28 (1246 A front and 1545-48 rear)

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Almost was a buy out a few years ago.  Metzeler and Pirelli are though...like Chevy and Pontiac. 

Got the wrong "M" brand.

[Team Spalding]

So just set them cold and don't worry about hot temps. Must not be as sensitive to temps at the Pirelli's. I have heard the structure is stiffer. That must be why?

[Ducati23]

Anyone know what pressures are usually used in the Pirelli SC1/SC2 slicks?  Are the 16.5's set to different pressures than the 17's?

I normally run Michelins and the slick pressures are usually different than the DOT's. Sometimes we run the slicks quite a lot lower than the DOTs again depending on the spec of tire.