How are the new Michelins... and other tires?

[Burt Munro]

Very well said. I would vote for you before i vote for Obama.

Thanks a lot Mark.......  now Timmay's gonna need to buy a bigger helmet!

The last time he was this diplomatic and eloquent was on Prom night!   

[roadracer162]

 

I am not going to get into a pissing match about who has a better tire, all I can ask you to do is give the Pirelli a try. Sure, I could tell you about how Pirelli's are constantly improving, applying knowledge from World Superbike and World Supersport right into our tires. I could talk about what compound Ben Spies prefers or why Haga likes a certain rear compound. I could tell you that  many or our tires have been updated from the tires that were coming off the truck just 6 months ago.  Not major changes, but lots of small incremental changes that add up in the end. I could tell you Pirelli does not wait years to make things better. I could also tell you another great thing about Pirelli is EVERYONE gets the same tires.  Our top Riders, get there tires off the same stack as you and me.  You wont see a Pirelli Guy winning on tires that are "Specials" that nobody else can get. 
I could tell you alot of things about the tires and throw out riders names and championships. blah blah blah...    But, I wont...

Being of great intelligence this is my observation...

You didn't get into a pissing match, but you did pee in his cereal. It's great to compare product to World class stuff and the benefits that is received at the club level in the end. We just can't compare World level skilleed riders to the average club level and even top club level skill.

Now back to the question at hand. All the brands have their level of performance, but when it comes right down to it I only possess a certain amount of talent and courage to use the equipment that I purchase. If it were free I would be using it. Because it isn't I have to make the best choice for me.

I have not used the Pirelli and I hear good and bad things about them. My buddy does use them and won, but then again he hasn't received any sponsorship support.

Bridgestone for me has worked out well. Racing in classes that I am competitive in helps and actually receiving certs has been a Godsend. Last year Bridgestone paid for about half of my tire bill where I was fortunate to place on the podium for many of the races. At the end I also received another cert for winning a regional championship.

Michelin? I like the look of the Michelin and I am doing a little research of my own. Testing if you may, and I am liking them. I have yet to know the nuiances of the brand but I am just beginning my learning curve.

Burt, I will leave it to you to keep Timmay in check. Just think of it as I like to be encouraging. What do they say in child development? praise goes a long way.

Mark

[tstruyk]

Thanks a lot Mark.......  now Timmay's gonna need to buy a bigger helmet!

The last time he was this diplomatic and eloquent was on Prom night!  

worked out well for me then too.. but in more of a "las vegas" kinda way! 

[Mike829]

Umm..you did.  Or did i miss a weak attempt at sarcasm?

yep...you missed it Will....dang french tire riders!

[MELK-MAN]

these threads always get into a pissing match.. 8) I may be shorter than some of ya, but I got a strong bladder.
Pirelli has a good tire for SURE. I don't think that was ever a question. Michelin has a better contingency program. I don't think anyone can dispute that, just look at what the payout is and how many riders need to be in the race. I know for a fact the payout in cash is very fast.. (not so fast with Pirelli as i have been told). This is not a determining factor for some racers, but does go a long way to getting faster riders on the tires that count on $$ , that then are seen by other rider/racers that then consider the brand. Win on sunday-sell on Monday was never so true. That being said.. Michelin will be selling alot more tires this year.

[lil_thorny]

these threads always get into a pissing match.. 8) I may be shorter than some of ya, but I got a strong bladder.
Pirelli has a good tire for SURE. I don't think that was ever a question. Michelin has a better contingency program. I don't think anyone can dispute that, just look at what the payout is and how many riders need to be in the race. I know for a fact the payout in cash is very fast.. (not so fast with Pirelli as i have been told). This is not a determining factor for some racers, but does go a long way to getting faster riders on the tires that count on $$ , that then are seen by other rider/racers that then consider the brand. Win on sunday-sell on Monday was never so true. That being said.. Michelin will be selling alot more tires this year.

Yeah, what he said.

Furthermore, Bib is way cooler a mascot than anyone else. Just try and contest that!

[roadracer162]

So I did a little testing of the performace of the tires tis past weekend. 70 plus laps before they are worn out but still holding traction. Just remember that I don't have the Melka type speed on this Ducati 748.

Next up is testing the performace of the Michelin contigency program with 2 race wins on the Take -off Michelins that Melka provided.

I'm pretty happy thus far.

Mark

[red900]

They are all good tires depending on what your prefer,    Contingency is close, tire sales are also close.   Not sure why you would say  there is some sort of tire shift going on, Hirsh sold 4 more michelins than i sold Pirelli's at Road America.   Not much of a landslide if you ask me.  But hey, if  "everybody is doing it", then why not right?? 

Tire vendors in the midwest are friends, this is factual data. 

[MELK-MAN]

So I did a little testing of the performace of the tires tis past weekend. 70 plus laps before they are worn out but still holding traction. Just remember that I don't have the Melka type speed on this Ducati 748.

Next up is testing the performace of the Michelin contigency program with 2 race wins on the Take -off Michelins that Melka provided.

I'm pretty happy thus far.

Mark

YES! I was wondering how those worked out for ya Mark. THat is great to hear!

[roadracer162]

Greg,

It worked pretty good. I was practicing on what I am told was Nate Kerns Daytona take-offs 120/190 B-front and B-rear. Then to your V-front and B-rear 120/180. What a difference in the mannerisms of the bike. Turned in much quicker and seemed to have more traction on the side while leaned over allowing more trail brake. Seemed though that the rear spun up more but it could have been me going that much faster and driving-out harder. Frank told Marc, the owner of the Ducati 748 that the tire was done, but we used it anyway to a win.

Maybe I should try a new one next? Great tire.

Mark

[GIGOLO]

If you race in the mid-west, you would be an absolute retard to not run Pirelli's.  Set-aside the fact that almost every single michelin rider I know complains about the tendency to tuck the front over Dunlop and Pirelli, is the fact that the trackside service is basically unbeatable and the price is good for what you are getting.  If you look at the pirelli forum, there is a very small number of people waiting for payouts compared to those who have already gotten theirs.  Does Michelin have a forum, or Dunlop?  I dont know if they do, but I do know that the only reason that Pirelli would go through the trouble of instituting a forum is to hear from the market what is good or what is bad.  I personally dont have a single complaint about Pirelli's product or who they have chosen as dealers.  My first weekend the Pirelli guy came to my pit out in the boonies in the middle of the day (the busiest time for tire dealers)  to see how I was getting along.  I thought that I was special, but I am not, cause he went to alot of pits that day.

Not trying to thread jack but Pirelli was getting a bad rap without an un-biased opinion, I dont get any free or discounted tires so there isnt any underlying reason to this post.  Didn't Michelin get fired from Moto GP?

[tstruyk]

is the fact that the trackside service is basically unbeatable...

I think you would be REALLY hard pressed to find anyone that has had a negative experience with Tommy... ever

Overall I would say the tire service in the midewest is not a "swing" point...

If you race in the mid-west, you would be an absolute retard to not run Pirelli's

Wasnt it just last season that DanO was chasin down Robbie Jensen... just sayin.

and really I didnt see where Pirelli was gettin a bad rap... I really didnt read all this crap though