Power To the People
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Grand Prix tire tech on deck
With 24 world championships to its credit, there's no question Michelin can make a good roadracing tire. And now the French manufacturer is direct-connecting consumers with a street-legal radial that utilizes the latest dual-compound, “2CT” racing technology.
The new Power Race features a combination of compounds to optimize the tire’s total performance.
Softer shoulder sections provide maximum corner grip at full lean, while harder rubber down the center
makes for improved braking and maximum straight-line stability. Three variations are available: medium, medium-soft and soft.
Rear tire sizes range from 150/60 to 190/50 with prices from $207 to $311, while fronts come in 110/70 to 120/70 at $170 to $214.
Available in the same sizes, the more street-biased Pilot Power radiais use a single compound, and are priced from $138 to $142 for fronts and $168 to $213 for rears.
We used the Pilot Powers at the Streets of Willow, and these “track-day” tires were impressive, with good feedback and just slightly less grip from the slightly harder compound. All day long, our six deprived desk-jockeys swapped the crop of ’05 600s, only stopping to add gas and change riders. The tires remained
consistent till the sun went down.
We used the new Power Race radiais the next day at Willow Springs International Raceway, which provided a completely different challenge. The “Fastest Road in the West” is just that-a serious test of testicular fortitude and high-speed handling. But the Power Race tires proved their worth, with more grip than we had gall. Banking the Ducati 749R into Turn 2, it almost felt upside-down! We ran the soft compound in the morning and the medium in the afternoon, and the tires proved both consistent and long-lasting.
Michelin’s support of our test was the most complete we’ve yet experienced, with a tractor-trailer truck full of tires, mounting and balancing equipment, an espresso machine and even grappa as darkness fell on
the second day of our test! Thanks, guys.
Modern sportbikes need modern tires with a high level of performance and consistency to take advantage of their chassis and engine technology. Are the new Michelins good? Ask Valentino Rossi... -Mark Cernicky
