PRESENTED BY -
All rights reserved Not Your Average Pty Ltd
RIDE SAFELY, TAKE IT TO THE TRACK....
TRACK DAY PRO
Team
Tyres are possibly the most important item you will ever purchase for your bike. There is of course, only them holding you to the bitumen through all of those corners, the acceleration, and braking, that we like to be at the most extreme level of our ability. I say our ability, because realistically, there are few amongst us who will really test the level of the modern sportsbike or it's tyres. In saying that, there is a quite comforting feeling in knowing that the tyres you have put your trust in are more up to the game than you are.
Michelin are a company with a rich history of manufacturing tyres for the race track, and a trophy cabinet that tells you they are good at it. So when a company like that releases a tyre, designed specifically for the track, I have reason to be excited at the chance to give them a run.
The Michelin Power ONE is that tyre. Now there is a standard road version available, as well as the race compounds, which is what we are talking about here. This tyre is so good it has it's own dedicated website www.michelinpowerone.com which is a pretty cool site, and worth a look. It will guide you through your tyre selection and advise which of the many different models, sizes and compounds will best suit your application.
I settled on a V compound front tyre and a B compound rear for my ZX6 after looking at the site and talking to Stewart Winton from S.W Racing. Both of these tyres are classed as the Med/soft compound. The V front tyre is the odd one here, as it actually has a different profle which is, as the name suggests, more V shaped. What this does is provide excellent tip into corners, and then, amazing side grip at greater lean angles than I think I have ever felt before.
The first few laps out on these tyres at Victoria's Phillip Island Circuit saw me tipping in at my usual markers and heading straight for a point a long way before the apex I was looking for. They just tip in so easy and get you turning so much quicker than I was used to. The great thing about this is that I was able to adjust my lines to accomodate this by running in deeper to the corner before tipping in, which resulted in a shorter corner and a straighter drive out of the corner. End result, quicker through the corner!
The other thing I noticed straight away was the amount of outright grip these tyres provided. WOW!! Although I was going faster immediately on these tyres, there was never a hint of movement from either the front or rear tyre, not while they were new, or up until yesterday, after 4 track days. That's pretty impressive.
The rear B compound tyre is by far the best tyre I have ever had on the back of a bike. I was warned that using the B compound I might not have the longevity of the harder C compound, but 4 track days down on this one, still going, is more than sufficient life from a tyre that is used at race track pace for it's entire life. looking at the front wear, i would say three rears to each front will not be out of the question, possibly even four.
I have heard some concern from riders who have a 'thing' about only riding on slicks at the track and can only say, try these Power One's, they are up to the challenge in every way, and, they have tread. So on those days when you get that little sprinkle of rain on the track and the big "wet track" sign goes out, leaving all the slick shod bikes stuck in the garage, you are still able to ride. On that note however, the tread on these tyres is not a lot, and in heavy rain, I would be very cautious taking them onto the track.
I spoke to a rider at a Track Day recently who had put these tyres on his FZ1 and could not believe the difference in his bike, likewise another rider on an MV, who was about ready to sell his bike because he couldn't get it to handle well, and since putting these tyres on has found a new enthusiasm for his bike.
To Michelin, a big thumbs up on what is just a great tyre, and with 20 models, 8 sizes and various compounds available, there will be one to suit just about any bike out there. Get some on your bike and give the throttle a twist, you won't be disappointed.
Michelin are a company with a rich history of manufacturing tyres for the race track, and a trophy cabinet that tells you they are good at it. So when a company like that releases a tyre, designed specifically for the track, I have reason to be excited at the chance to give them a run.
The Michelin Power ONE is that tyre. Now there is a standard road version available, as well as the race compounds, which is what we are talking about here. This tyre is so good it has it's own dedicated website www.michelinpowerone.com which is a pretty cool site, and worth a look. It will guide you through your tyre selection and advise which of the many different models, sizes and compounds will best suit your application.
I settled on a V compound front tyre and a B compound rear for my ZX6 after looking at the site and talking to Stewart Winton from S.W Racing. Both of these tyres are classed as the Med/soft compound. The V front tyre is the odd one here, as it actually has a different profle which is, as the name suggests, more V shaped. What this does is provide excellent tip into corners, and then, amazing side grip at greater lean angles than I think I have ever felt before.
The first few laps out on these tyres at Victoria's Phillip Island Circuit saw me tipping in at my usual markers and heading straight for a point a long way before the apex I was looking for. They just tip in so easy and get you turning so much quicker than I was used to. The great thing about this is that I was able to adjust my lines to accomodate this by running in deeper to the corner before tipping in, which resulted in a shorter corner and a straighter drive out of the corner. End result, quicker through the corner!
The other thing I noticed straight away was the amount of outright grip these tyres provided. WOW!! Although I was going faster immediately on these tyres, there was never a hint of movement from either the front or rear tyre, not while they were new, or up until yesterday, after 4 track days. That's pretty impressive.
The rear B compound tyre is by far the best tyre I have ever had on the back of a bike. I was warned that using the B compound I might not have the longevity of the harder C compound, but 4 track days down on this one, still going, is more than sufficient life from a tyre that is used at race track pace for it's entire life. looking at the front wear, i would say three rears to each front will not be out of the question, possibly even four.
I have heard some concern from riders who have a 'thing' about only riding on slicks at the track and can only say, try these Power One's, they are up to the challenge in every way, and, they have tread. So on those days when you get that little sprinkle of rain on the track and the big "wet track" sign goes out, leaving all the slick shod bikes stuck in the garage, you are still able to ride. On that note however, the tread on these tyres is not a lot, and in heavy rain, I would be very cautious taking them onto the track.
I spoke to a rider at a Track Day recently who had put these tyres on his FZ1 and could not believe the difference in his bike, likewise another rider on an MV, who was about ready to sell his bike because he couldn't get it to handle well, and since putting these tyres on has found a new enthusiasm for his bike.
To Michelin, a big thumbs up on what is just a great tyre, and with 20 models, 8 sizes and various compounds available, there will be one to suit just about any bike out there. Get some on your bike and give the throttle a twist, you won't be disappointed.
RIDE SAFELY, TAKE IT TO THE TRACK....
HOME - PARTNERS - ABOUT US - THE TEAM - JOIN THE TEAM - CONTACT - COMPETITIONS - PRODUCT REVIEWS - SHOP
