Tyres

[Chocky]

The Michelin Powershift tyre is the replacement for the Michelin Pilot Road 3 and 4. I'm going to get them fitted to my Tmax next week to replace the Pilot Road 4s I currently have. I have noticed that the front PR4 tyre seems to have developed 'corners' as it has worn down. Very strange.

I also experienced the same problems with Bridgestones a few years ago, as did a friend on his Burgman 650.

[knight2]

Chocky, thanks for that, didn't know what the replacements were. I've been reading about them on the Michelin site they get a lot of complaints about vibrations so I'd be interested to see how you get on.
I've also been reading Michael Neeves review of the Battlax SC2 tyres he fitted to his Tmax and he gives them a very good write up, they are bloody exspensive though.

[Chocky]

I had the Michelin Power Shift tyres fitted and what a difference it has made! The front paricularly, made a huge difference to the handling as I tried it for a couple of days before getting the back fitted. I then realised that I had been wrestling with the steering to turn into a bend with the worn PR4s, whereas with the new tyres I could turn in almost with two fingers. That probably says more about the strange handling on the PR4s than the new Power Shifts, but my initial impressions are good.

Just to be clear, the old PR4 front tyre was worn in the centre, but still had plenty of tread around the shoulder area, with just a hint of corners on the shoulders. It certainly didn't look as if it would cause handling problems. I spend plenty of time on wiggly roads, so it wasn't down to riding on straight roads all the time.

[knight2]

Thanks for that Chocky glad to hear they are good. Even on wriggly roads most of the time you're upright. Wriggly roads are good, most of my riding done in the Dales, Yorkshire moors and last year I started wandering around Teesdale. Motorway there and windy roads back.
Back to tyres for some reason the burgman has started tramlining slightly I'm assuming it's down to tyre wear but they aren't badly worn, so I'll just wait and see what developes.

[knight2]

After some very dubious handling on a ride out last Thursday I decided to get a new front tyre. Still a bit of wear left in it after 8500 miles, still fine on decent A roads but on some B and unspecified roads it was tramlining badly. Yesterday I got a Michelin power shift fitted took it for a short ride and it felt okay I'll take it for a much longer run tomorrow.
Like Chockys worn in the centre plenty left on the shoulders but it had worn slitghtly stepped which I think was causing the crappy handling.

[velocipede6295]

I am surprised that Michelin chose such a discredited automotive name as " Powershift " for their tyre. That was the name for the notorious Ford Powershift Automatic Gearbox, that cost Ford millions in claims for failed gearboxes. Michelin should have come up with better name than that.

[MrGrumpy]

I am surprised that Michelin chose such a discredited automotive name as " Powershift " for their tyre. That was the name for the notorious Ford Powershift Automatic Gearbox, that cost Ford millions in claims for failed gearboxes. Michelin should have come up with better name than that.

Well yes...and Ford's Ecoboost / wet belt engines have been a disaster as well. Never liked Ford anyway! No doubt Michelin hope people won't associate Bike tyres with car gearboxes! I guess the real problem is that all the good names have already been used!

[knight2]

Well took it for a decent ride on thursday and my experience was similar to Chocky's. Felt a little strange when I set off but I put that down to having a new tyre on the front and a well worn one on the back, by the time I was on my way back, rode from Sheffield to Malham cove and back about 130 miles, It was a real pleasure to ride. The only thing I did find was I seemed to feel the bumps a bit more, I've been out on it today around the city and it's the same this may change with wear or I'll just get used to it. But i'm pleased with the new tyre.