Michelin Power One
Michelin Power One
CW EVALUATION
MotoGP tech comes to the street!
NOW THAT MICHELIN IS OUT OF MotoGP, the legendary French tire-maker—26 world titles and 360 wins in Grand Prix racing's premier class alone—is making three decades of experience available to street and track-day riders.
Power One is a collection of highperformance 17-inch DOT-approved street and race tires, and 16.5-inch competition-only rains and slicks. Within those seemingly relatively simple categories, the number of options is dizzying: 20 tires in eight sizes and nine compounds in the treaded range, and seven slick/rain models in two sizes and 11 compounds.
`10 ease the decision-making process, Michelin created a dedicated website, www.michelinpowerone.com. Consumers are asked to answer a series of questions: make and model of motorcycle, intended use, type of tire, predicted weather con ditions and nature of circuit. The site then suggests the appropriate tires and even recommends air pressures. Street riders are required to answer only the first three questions. -
We sampled three of many possible combinations at the fabulous Portimão circuit in Portugal. First up: the 17-inch RoadlTrack, which, despite a near-com plete lack of grooving, is DOT-approved for street use. Stability was the watch word here, and the dual-compound, three ply-carcass rear came up to temperature
quickly. Circulating on a Kawasaki ZX-6R and a Bimota DB7, we noted good grip and excellent mid-corner bump compliance.
Our next sessions were on the 17-inch treaded Racing, also DOT-approved and popular in the nonspec-tire Spanish and Italian Superbike championships and World Endurance. Biggest differ ence between the PIT and the Racing is construction: stiffer four(rear) and five-ply (front) carcasses and more triangulated profiling. On a Yamaha YZF-R 1 and YZF-R6, we observed enhanced feedback at full lean but reduced bump compliance. Straight line stability was also lessened in favor of greater shoulder grip.
Far and away, the highlight of the day was sampling the triple-compound slicks mounted on Honda CBR1000RRs equipped with 16.5-inch Marchesini wheels. Simply put, grip was outstand ing. In the past, if your name wasn't Rossi, Edwards or Hayden, these tires were off-limits. Now, they can be pur chased from your local Michelin race tire distributor.
Bottom line: No matter if you are a streetrider, a track-day fanatic or a club level roadracer, Michelin has a Power One combination to suit your needs. Think of the website as your own per sonal tire engineer.
DETAILS
Michelin North America P.O. Box 19001 Greenville, SC 29602 800/346-4098 www.michelinmotorcycle.com Price:.. .Roadflrack $553-$615; all others set by distributor
Ups
Asymmetrical-compound slicks can be mounted in either direction, depending on track configuration, for best grip More than 860 front/rear combinations! Website takes guesswork out of tire selection
!oowns
Pray for sunshine (minimal sipes) 165-inch wheels Uber-expensive Dealers will likely have to order your selections
