Road 2 Rear with Pilot Power Front, opinions ?

Have been running Michelin Pilot Powers Front and back since '04 and while I loved them found the rear a bit light weight and suffered flats on 3 of them near end of life all in the rain. :frown:

After changing front and back to better wearing Michelin R2's mid last year and have been very happy with there wear rate and grip but sometimes miss the quicker turn in and more precise feel of the triangular Pilot Power front when flip flopping through my favourite tight twisties.

Anyone here mixing a Michelin Road 2 Rear with Pilot Power Front, how do folks think they'd go together ?

 

I run a metzer M-1 rear and M-3 front with no problems as long as same manufacture should be no problem

 

I normally run a sport tire up front and sport-touring on the rear. I've done it with Pirelli, and Metzler with no problems at all. Even done a track day with that set up.

There's lots more grip in a sport-touring tire than most would think.:thumbsup:

 

That's a great combo. As long as you always have a stickier tire on the front, you're golden. I run a Dunlop Roadsmart on the rear and a Michelin Pilot Road 2 on the front and I love it. The roadsmart isn't lasting as long as I'd like, so I may put a Pilot Road (not a PR2) on the rear. I was going to go with a Power in the front, but I like the mileage and grip I get from the PR2.

 

I just put this combo on last weekend, going from a set of PP's. Seems to work great but definitely slower turn in than the PP's. Very linear, predictable turn in. I haven't run PR2's f & r so I can't compare against that setup.

 

So the PP Front with a PR2 Rear is still slower than a PP Front and Rear, how is the combo otherwise, one issue I have with the PR2 Front and back is finding myself running a fraction wider than usual a couple corners where I never did with the PP's.

Have you had a chance the push your current setup through twisties yet ?

 

I haven't had a chance to really even scrub them in yet, only about 30 miles on them. My PP's were so toasted f & r that anything would be an improvement. The best I can describe it is that the bike rolls smoothly side-side, not as much tip it in, but once you're leaned over it holds a line nicely with very little input. I'm not a peg scraper, but others much faster than me recommended the combo and I'm looking to get more mileage from the rear. I went through two PP rears for the one front.

 

It is a very popular combo (isn't there another thread on this subject here? I know this combo is very popular on the "other" site.)

 

I tried searching for R2 Rubber on the " other " site, what's a Gimp outfit ?

 

Here's a long thread if you have a couple hours to kill. Pilot Road 2's As A Sport Tire Review! - VFRD

You mean The Gimp? The Gimp

 

Nice one, seems some guys ( Bailyrock ) like the F PP and R PR2 Combo a lot so might give it a go next time but then again others seem very happy with PR2 F & B as they are...

Re Tim Camerons Gimp, was just reading about him and the V-Rex in a local Motorcycle rag, now thats one mad looking machine.

 

Having just completed another of my favourite 3day 1200mile Alpine rides have decided will Stick with the R2's front and back, found was still missing the quicker turnin of the Powers during tight flip flop sections but for the other 98% of the time the R2s were perfect. :thumbsup:

One of my Alpine ride mates on a CBR1000RR has a Pilot Power front with a R2 rear and thought the combination worked very well together but will try a R2 on the front next, will be interesting to ask his opinion of R2s Front and back on our next ride.

 

Hi guys...new to the vfr world.
Just picked up a used 07 non abs, and it has a dunlop roadsmart on the front and a battlax (bridgestone?) on the rear.
The dealer I bought it from put the new roadsmart on the front.
what do you think of that combo...? looks like the rear still has good rubber on it, but the combo seems like it was just sort of slapped together with no rhyme or reason.
thanks for any feedback

ace57

 

Not so sure about that combo but have recently read a UK mag T.W.O article where they tested some tyres on a wet track using a Duc 848 as test mule, the Roadsmart did very well in all tests and came in first place overall with the Pilot Power in 2nd.

If your rear BT looks a little iffy replacing it with a new rear Roadsmart would be a wise choice.

 

The PP front and the PR2 rear is my fav tire combo for a streetbike (not track but will do better than most would ever think) I have yet to find a rear that has the grip, turn-in and wear resistance of the PR2....It doesnt transition as fast as the PP rear, but having the PP front does help....The PR2 has 2ct rubber on the sides so if youve ever pushed a PP2ct you know it has more grip than most will ever need....My last PR2 last almost 8k miles, with alot of aggresive riding and alot of slabing....Roadsmarts I havent tried but a ride buddy had one on his viffer and told me he only got 2800 miles out of it..thats very poor for a sport/tour tire.........

 

2800? not too good at all.
however, maybe the idea just to throw another roadsmart on the rear would be the most cost effective, seein as i have the front already.
THEN I'll go for Pirellis the next time!:tongue:


ace57

 

I run cheng shin up front and shinke in back 130 90 17 front 170 40 17 rear rides awesome.. both blems great price too..:thumbsup: