Michelin Pilot Power 2CT -120/70 & 160/60

I had a track day coming up (Sept. 3rd) and needed a set of new tires. My old Pilot Powers seen two SV Rallies, two track days and some twisty riding along with some two up stuff. So yeah, they've seen better days. I thought about going to a set of DOT Pilot Power Race tires, but thought better. As I didn't want to run tire warmers at all. I could have got away without running them..but why take the chance.

So I purchased a set of the Pilot Power 2CT's from www.sportbiketrackgear.com. Great service. I got them the day AFTER I ordered. What more can I ask for? AND...they came in a box. Not taped together like most places ship tires now-a-days.

First Impressions:

1. They look good, off the bike. Profile is nice and trianglulated.
2. Rubber..for some reason...SUPER sticky right out of the box. Didn't see much mold release compund on these. Put 'em to the concrete floor and all they do is squeak and groan. Funny...

Installation Impressions:

Orangegilly provided the tire mounter and I the know how to use it. These went on like a dream. The only issue we had, was breaking the bead on the old Pilot Powers. Super easy to install!

Street Impressions:

I put the pressures to 33F/36R for a 60 mile street ride. I didn't get a GREAT feel for these in this amount of miles on the street...but..having new rubber KICKS ass. I wanted to atleast scrub them in a bit, before I hit the track. Those old worn out and busted tires...were well..old and busted. Turn in is great, stability beats the regular Pilot Powers, hands down.

Track Impressions:

I ran 30 psi Front and 28 psi in the Rear. I checked them for pressure growth when warm and I never needed to waver from these settings. Seemed PERFECT.

WOW-WEE!!!

I ran them on Mid-Ohio for their first day. For the first session..well, they were sketchy. I was sliding all over the place...and this was after 2 laps of easy riding to get them warm. Well, come to find out that due to some rains, the track had all kinds of dust and crap in the corners you couldn't see. So the sliding..NOT the tires fault. But they still were very predictable during a slide. I lost the front end through turn 11 over the hill in Thunder Valley...it slide on me quite a bit, but caught and I kept on going.

The second session..wow... still getting used to riding at a track pace again. They never wiggled, nothing. Track was getting warmer and it had three sessions to clean it off. Warm up time was now down to two laps.

Third through the sixth session: Half to 3/4 of a lap to get them warmed up...and they stuck...like GLUE. No matter how ham fisted I got with the throttle, they stuck. Especially out of the off-camber turns (#4-Key Hole, #7-Top of the Esses, #11-Entrance to Thunder Valley and #14, Carousel)... During the last two sessions I was running my best laps of the day and was really trying to get the power down early. If these spun up, I never felt them. They just rocketed me forward.

With a combo of 41mm flat slides, 03 Intake Cam swap, I was able to pull and rip past every other SV650 there, like noones business. The one SV650, that I was hoping to give me trouble (full race bike on race tires and warmers)..couldn't. Granted, I ran Intermediate, but still. Next time, I'll be upping to Advanced. Also, these tires helped me blow through a set of knee pucks. I ate away the right on so bad in one session, that it's razor thin on the edge and my leathers saw a bit of track as well.

Here's some pics:

Front LEft Side:

After 140 miles of track day, I would have expected to have the nubs worn off...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/wacky_woodchuck/Buell%20Track%20Days/DSC00496.jpg

Front Right Side:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/wacky_woodchuck/Buell%20Track%20Days/P9060492.jpg

Rear Right Side (Great wear for a predominately right hand turn track)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/wacky_woodchuck/Buell%20Track%20Days/P9060489.jpg

Rear, Left Side

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/wacky_woodchuck/Buell%20Track%20Days/P9060491.jpg

Until I can start sliding these on the track, I will NOT be using any other tire out there.

FAN-FRIGGAN-TASTIC!!!!

Just one more pic... as I like it... Track day ready, now. Takes me 30 minutes to fully prep (it's all safety wired). Tape, pull two fuses and the rear brake light connector.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/wacky_woodchuck/Buell%20Track%20Days/P9060496.jpg

Good write up. From the looks of the tire...it's perfect for your suspension set up, and your riding style. That is exactly what you wanna see after a track day. Good deal. :thumbsup:

WOW! I know what tire I want on my SV to replace the stock ones. If they were that good for you on a track they'll be great for me in the mountains on the twisties!

Great write up!

I have these tires on my track bike also. They have been great. I threw them on and my first ride was a track day in light rain with no wear in. They have been excellent. I have 4 days on them so far, and will do 1 more this year and move them over to my street bike to finish them off. I will probably get 5 track days and about 3-4k out of them. Not bad!

ac

Thanks for the write-up. I'm out of the loop, I just found out today they released CT2 in our size!

Will be my next tire for sure (to replace Dunlop Qualifiers which I'm not fond of in comparison to the standard PP).