posted December 17, 2008 08:22 PM
Weight rating for tires... My dealer is steering me away from the Michelin Pilot Powers telling me they are not "weight rated" for the 14. He is suggesting (other than OEM tires) Metzeler Sportec M1 or the Michelin Pilot Sport HPX. Any thoughts on the weight rating comment? Further, does anyone have any experience with either the M1's or the HPX's.
I do a lot of highway riding but carve corners when I can. I plan to be way more aggressive in my riding style this summer, probably a track day or two or three.
____________ 2012 Blue on Black ZX14R with Go Faster Stuff...
2007 Blue ZX14 Gone...
posted December 17, 2008 08:29 PM
Edited By: SteveWFL on 18 Dec 2008 04:31
"Weight" rated tires for the ZX14!? Your dealer is bright huh. Did he give weight ratings on the brand he sells by chance, if so what are the weights lol
many of on this forum run nothing but the pilot powers. and I never had the slightest problem with them on mine.
posted December 17, 2008 08:57 PM
You know that's kinda what I thought. The data on tires never mentions weight capacity other than to say the HPX's were designed for the "big" supersport bikes like the busa and the 14.
Thanks Steve.
____________ 2012 Blue on Black ZX14R with Go Faster Stuff...
2007 Blue ZX14 Gone...
posted December 18, 2008 07:34 AM
Edited By: CrotchRocket on 18 Dec 2008 15:41
He's just trying to get you to buy tires he already has or can make more $$$ on...
By the way I use a 180 55 on the back of my 12...dont worry about the tires they are fine for anything we can throw at them...
posted December 18, 2008 12:31 PM
Michelin recommends the HPX because the compound is supposedly harder and will wear better for the "touring" use of the 14. I have used the 2CT and the center seems to wear just as quick as others. I wonder if the Road 2 does any better. I frequently ride 300 miles plus on a trip.
quote:Michelin recommends the HPX because the compound is supposedly harder and will wear better for the "touring" use of the 14. I have used the 2CT and the center seems to wear just as quick as others. I wonder if the Road 2 does any better. I frequently ride 300 miles plus on a trip.
+1
For touring who can argue with hard compound tires for "wear"?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted December 18, 2008 12:36 PM
Edited By: SteveWFL on 18 Dec 2008 21:54
Dear Dealer that mentioned "weight rating" of Pilot Powers not recommended for a ZX14:
A Pilot Power equipped Kawasaki ZX14 has been tested and proven to hold two Hooters employees plus the weight of the motorcycle itself with no problems
posted December 18, 2008 03:37 PM
Nothing will come close to the 190/55 profile for carving corners.
I've had PIlot Powers 2CT on my bike for a couple months and
couldn't be happier.
I'd never go back to a 190/50 on my 14!
____________
universal@mind
posted December 19, 2008 07:46 AM
amazingly i have over 4500 miles on a set of pilot powers and they stick like glue. the original battleaxes would "wash out" under hard cornering and i only got 2500 out of them. get the pilot powers and don't look back!
____________
2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
quote:amazingly i have over 4500 miles on a set of pilot powers and they stick like glue. the original battleaxes would "wash out" under hard cornering and i only got 2500 out of them. get the pilot powers and don't look back!
posted December 20, 2008 02:53 AM
Edited By: BobC on 20 Dec 2008 11:36
Do Michelin themselves make any comments about the suitability of Pilot Powers on a 14?
They seem to recommend the Pilot Sport for the Hayabusa etc. but I couldn't even find the ZX-14 on their website.
Just thinking back to the 1980's when I fitted Hi Sports to my GSXR1100K and it ripped them to bits when I rode hard, little balls of rubber stuck all over and shreds hanging off. It really impressed some of my friends but the tires were beyond their safe limits on that bike, overheating.
____________
Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
posted December 20, 2008 09:47 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 20 Dec 2008 17:51
Well, I'm running the 2CT's myself- which are simply Pilot Power's with a softer compound on the edges. I weigh 320 unsuited.
(No, the guy beside me is not a midget)
I've done very extended periods of high speeds since I installed them, mainly a 80 mile race through the mountains where I went numerous times to the speed limiter (stock gearing so aprx 188 mph), and AVERAGED 122mph. I spent so much time over 150 it actually got boring. All the while carving corners, mostly bigass 100+mph sweepers. I'm talking the most extreme use you could ever put a street tire through! And it made it like a champ, never overheating or balling up. I had to dump the video I made due to legal ramifications in my state, but heres a tamer video shot in 40 deg F weather with the ground damp. This is a run just a few weeks old, where I was just screwing around with a bunch of others following me. Had about 3500+ miles on the tires by then ('bout 25% tread left in center, sides worn evenly with center).
Your dealer ever says shit again about weight ratings tell him to bite your fat ass. ____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
posted December 20, 2008 11:52 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 20 Dec 2008 19:56
Basically, it comes to this for Michelin products:
Pilot Power : The original that brought Michelin back into the mainstream of sport bike tire gotta-have's, now a couple years old but still holding its own. A true "Street/Track" tire that will net a good rider track times within a second or two of full on race tires. Known for there outstanding road feel and non-symmetrical tread shape that is similar to a "U" shape with more tread hitting the ground while leaned over than when upright. That shape also helps bikes turn in sharper, making bigger bikes feel lighter and easier to flick. Even when they do break loose, they don't do it in a dramatic way allowing you a chance to regain traction. Only a chance, but thats better than NO chance like a race tire! Warms up quick, rarely ever overheats, great tread wear - wanted to say "phenomenal" tread wear but its competitors like the new BT-016's are matching it-, and does very well in the wet. Sucks ass in the snow though. I had to try it just to see today...
Pilot Power 2CT : Pilot Power carcass and 2/3rds of its tread. The outer edges are done in the Power Race compound. Excellent tire for those who run track speeds occasionally on the street, lasts alot more miles than a Race, and warms up in half the time (thats critical, btw. A high percentage of spinouts/low sides can be atributed to cold tires. The "racier" the tire, the 'colder' or harder to warm up they are. Full race tires might never get warm on the street, even under the streets version of hard riding!
Power Race: For those whose domain is ruled by a lap timer or leader board. Even among that group (average club racers), only maybe half of them actually are good enough to NEED a track-only tire like the Power Race. Also somewhat popular with the drag strip crowd.
Pilot Road 2 : The tire you buy if you want your Concourse to act like a zx14 in the corners. Or your zx14 to act like a Concourse on the freeway. It is similiar to the 2CT in that it has Pilot Power tread on the shoulders. Warms up extremely quick, the way a true daily street driven tire should. A few guys have them on there 14's here and like them alot.
Pilot Road : The tire you buy if you like your Concourse just the way it is- a mile gobbling sport(y) bike with the ability to make some of those miles happen on the scenic route at high enough speed to get your girlfrieind to slap your helmet to slow down.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
posted December 20, 2008 02:35 PM
Edited By: BIG BLUE_ZX14 on 20 Dec 2008 22:37
OK guys I get it now...no more tire questions from me! Pilot Powers it is! At least I will give them a shot and see how I like them with my riding style.
And Steve, thanks for the PM.
____________ 2012 Blue on Black ZX14R with Go Faster Stuff...
2007 Blue ZX14 Gone...
posted December 20, 2008 02:49 PM
For those of you who like bridgestone, you had better buy them NOW... they're hiking their price up in january. There's a shop here in san diego that's running a sale right now. Front and rear 016's for 242 after taxes. I wanted to put them on my bike, but couldn't afford them so I went with the same tires I've been running.
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
posted December 31, 2008 05:47 AM
that's another girl that steve paid to sit on his bike :P. He's got a pretty expensive habbit. We're talking at least a few hundred a week just paying the hotties to sit on his R6.75 .
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
quote:that's another girl that steve paid to sit on his bike :P. He's got a pretty expensive habbit. We're talking at least a few hundred a week just paying the hotties to sit on his R6.75 .
LMAO! Thats right its getting expensive, I gotta' cut all this fun out ____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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posted December 17, 2008 08:22 PM
posted December 17, 2008 08:29 PM
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