Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

Tires / Tyres - Michelin Pilot ACTIV

52K views 91 replies 43 participants last post by  DylMar85 
#1 ·
Nothing like yet another tyre thread. Tyres go through "vogue" swings it seems. For a long while THE performance tyre for the bonneville was the Pirelli Sport Demon, then everyone raved about avon roadriders for great price / performance / durability combo.

I see that Michelin have a tyre out called Pilot Activ, which according to their tyre selector is their tyre of choice for Bonnevilles. It's not quite as expensive as Metzeler, and not quite as inexpensive as Avon.

I think it's a new tyre - I haven't seen it before - am I right on that, or has anyone tried these?

If not, who's gonna be first?

:Naughty

These are bias play tyres. I'm still not aware of a radial type tyre in 19" for the Bonnie fronts - again correct me if I'm off on that one.

http://two-wheels.michelin.com/2w/f...codePage=2092004104059_30092004085642&lang=EN
 
#2 · (Edited)
Nothing like yet another tyre thread. Tyres go through "vogue" swings it seems. For a long while THE performance tyre for the bonneville was the Pirelli Sport Demon, then everyone raved about avon roadriders for great price / performance / durability combo.

I see that Michelin have a tyre out called Pilot Activ, which according to their tyre selector is their tyre of choice for Bonnevilles. It's not quite as expensive as Metzeler, and not quite as inexpensive as Avon.

I think it's a new tyre - I haven't seen it before - am I right on that, or has anyone tried these?

If not, who's gonna be first?

http://two-wheels.michelin.com/2w/f...codePage=2092004104059_30092004085642&lang=EN
I bought a set last month from Motorcycle Superstore at a great price: $85 Front, $115 Rear with free shipping, in other words $200 for both. They were shipped the day I ordered them and they have a low price guarantee (will match or beat any price). Good company.

Haven't yet installed mine -- still have about 1,000 miles left on my current tires -- but will provide a review after I have at least a few thousand miles on them.

BTW: They've been available for a few years now but not a lot of reviews -- none for Triumph that I could find. FWIW, the Goldwing trike users absolutely rave about them as an incredibly long-wearing front tire when "mounted backwards' (go figure).
http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167180
 
#4 ·
FWIW, the Goldwing trike users absolutely rave about them as an incredibly long-wearing front tire when "mounted backwards' (go figure).
Yeah, they are plenty of Goldwing and Goldwing trike reviewers on the Motorcycle Superstore reviews of this tire too. Frankly, that raised a red flag for me. Call me biased...
 
#5 ·
I fitted the Pilot Activ tyres last week and while I only have a couple of hundred K on them so far, I am very impressed indeed.
Admittedly the Bridgestone's that came off were pretty well worn out but the pilots feel very precise on the road but at the same time feel very smooth running (almost like floating on air).
I haven't had them in the wet so far until they are thoroughly scrubbed in so can't vouch for wet performance.

My local dealer advised me not to consider the Avons, which I thought I wanted, as he had seen far too many returned for warranty issues. (yep, the tread and sidewall splitting).
Time will tell how they wear and if I get more than the 15,000k I got from the Bridgestone's, I will be even happier with them.
 
#6 ·
Good info, Wooly. Didn't order Avons for the same reason you and some others mentioned. My Michelins will go on next month.

You did amazingly well with your Bridgestones. My first rear Bridgestone (BT45 Battlax) lasted only 5k (high speed road trips), the one on there now has a bit under 4k on it and will need replacing in about 1k. The front Batttlax has almost 9k on it and is still in decent shape.

Am hoping for good results when I install the Michelins. Send an update when you rack up some miles. Finding good tires that last and handle well is the Holy Grail.
 
#7 ·
I think Avon are over the splitting and cracking issue, based on research on this forum and gathering manufacture dates from people, but truth is Avon shouldn't have allowed themselves a process problem in the first place, so if people are nervous about buying their tyres, Avon only have themselves to blame.

I just fitted a second rear roadrider, and it's holding up great, but if these Michelins perform well for people I'll prolly try a pair next, which will likely be spring 2011.
 
#8 ·
Before I mislead anyone re longevity of the Bridgestone Battleaxes I should add that I got 15,00km from them, that's about 9,000 miles.
The front BT45 would have done 3-4,000km more, but better to change them as a pair.

Agree with Prop re the Avons, If they had addressed the problem correctly I would have certainly gone for them in the first instance, but too much doubt built into the brand now.
 
#11 ·
Pilot Activ

Mounted a set last month on my BMW R100. Easy to mount, didn't take much weight to balance. After a few hundred miles of local riding, I did a 2,200 mile/9 day/7 state trip in everything from 100 degrees F/hot/humid to mist to rain.
Absolutely great!
Got them from Bike Bandit. Under $200 delivered for the pair. With 3K miles on them, they look unused. Never broke a tire loose in turn.
Very nice : )
 
#12 ·
Pilot Activs: The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive don't lie

Propforward: I'm not tire expert, but I'd say, BUY EM, BUY EM, BUY EM. The Mich. Activs DO NOT follow the damn rain grooves or irregularities in the roads-- incredible. Great, really great in the rain (all 220 miles of it so far).

Left south Florida last week and am still on the road. Have driven nearly 2,500 miles on the Michelins, including running both the entire Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkways, even a side trip to Natural Bridge, then enroute tomorrow to Tennessee (yes, even the Dragon's Tail is on my list). Yes, I can see some wear on the rear tire-- but not squared off-- and yet I was running 80+ to get out of Florida Regardless, way less wear than the two sets of Bridgestones BattleAx tires on previously. My bags and seat packs are loaded to the gills, but the bike is handling the twisties incredibly well (even dragged the pegs a couple times -- been years since I'd done that). All I can say is I'm sold on the Michelins.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wke002
#17 ·
I don't think the bias ply aspect has much effect on that. People have mounted larger section bias ply tyres on the standard rims, but I forget how wide they have gone. Pretty sure I have seen someone put a 150 section on the rim. I personally wouldn't, but that's a personal choice thing.
 
#15 ·
Have you considered trying some Anakees or something a bit more dirt friendly prop? I guess you have the KLR, so can just take the appropriate bike for the task.

I think my next set I'm going to try some Anakees or similar. It's not like I ride at the edge of the bikes limits when I'm cornering on pavement, and I'd like to get some better grip on gravel/dirt, which I'm becoming fond of.
 
#16 ·
I have thought about it, especially in light of your recent rustic road escapades. Haggis runs his Bonnie on the gravel a LOT, and I know he has some similar tyres - in fact I think he runs anakees.

The Bonneville, though heavy, has the weight slung so low that it really handles gravel and off road very well.

But like you say, I prefer the KLR for those activities. That said, as you know, when the road turns to gravel, I don't (usually) turn back.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I'm curious if one could run the 150 70 17 radial version of the Michelin Pilot on the stock T100 rear rim. I want to stay with a radial and wonder whether this is too wide a tire...otherwise there is the Avon Azaro in a 140 80 17 that I was considering.

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.
Thanks,
FF
*edit. ...just to say why I want a radial on the rear. I am running the Avon Azaro radial in the front. I went to a 110 80R 19 Azaro instead of the stock size Lasertech 100 90 19. Height difference is 26.1 inches in the 110 80R 19 vs 26.2 for the 100 90 19, or shorter by 5 mm. A bit wider plus a bit quicker steering.
 
#21 ·
I'm curious if one could run the 150 70 17 radial version of the Michelin Pilot on the stock T100 rear rim. I want to stay with a radial and wonder whether this is too wide a tire...
The Pilot 2 in 150 section has a recommended rim width of 4.00 to 4.50...the technical data is at the end of this document:

http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/pubs/fitment2010.pdf

While you could probably fit one on a 3.5" rear rim, it probably wouldn't be the best choice.

Regards,

--Rich
 
#23 ·
Just read the thread and I'm going with pilot activs for my Thruxton. I browsed some shops and they don't seem to carry the stock size in V rating, only in H. I don't want to go wider in the rear, I'm trying to keep the bike looking slim, but I don't want to run an H rated tire. I wonder if anyone knows if there's a huge difference between the H and V ratings, and what sizes/speed ratings have you guys gotten on the Activs?
 
#24 ·
The stock OEM Metzelers (Lasertec and MEZ2) used on the Thruxton are H rated aren't they? H rated tyres are good up to 130mph, so I think you'll be safe unless you've done some serious mods to your bike.
 
#26 ·
Speed ratings are not an indication of stickier rubber but of the ability of the tyre/tire to carry a designed load at sustained speed. Correct inflation, ambient temperature etc., all affect actual performance but it is more to do with heat build up in a constantly flexing tyre and the whole thing staying together. It is no indicator of levels of adhesion or abrasion resistance. H is fine on a Bonnie. V is for faster machines that load their tyres more. You would be buying load capability beyond your needs - not getting more grip.
 
#27 ·
When I was going to order mine I called Michelin tech to try to get an answer as to the differences between the tires. on the one hand I didn't want so much sidewall flex that the bike would wallow, but I also didn't want concrete sidewalls that would make the ride harsh. All I got was 'duh, gee, I don't know'.
 
#29 ·
On a lot of fronts around here, there's this feeling that if it's good for the racetrack it must be good for my daily-ridden bomber. Lot's of tuning for WOT by folks riding in the country and in town, etc. I don't get it. I wouldn't go out of my way to put a superbike tire on my Bonnie, H rated do just fine.
 
#30 ·
It's been a couple 3 years since this thread opened. Are we liking the Pilot Activ's? How's the longevity and handling in the wet? This is important to me as I'm going to order this PM and I think I want to like the Pilot's. Price is right. I'm just going thru way to many Lasertec's, I'd like to get 10K in a season on a set if possible. Doing 8K with the Metz.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top