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so..just how good are the Michelin PowerCUP race tires?

16K views 65 replies 18 participants last post by  Fallis 
#1 · (Edited)
.. good enough that even at Daytona, with the rear chunking a bit on the 3rd lap of a 5 lap sprint race in every race, you can still win a national championship (on the supersport bike in the 750cc class no less), take a couple 2nds, a 3rd, and a 4th and 5th.. in your 6 total races. :)

The front tire is like velcro with incredible trail braking stability. And the side grip as stellar with the A 190/55. Even using 1st gear in some of the corners on a 140hp r6 superbike, i would just let it eat.. At Daytona when on the banking though, the tire just left of center is horribly abused. It is pushed into the new pavement with no let up like a few years ago when it was bumpy. When the tire gets over 300f the outer layer in that specific area comes off and other technical stuff happens i can't follow. BUT, the tire still worked at lean and everywhere else. You just felt it wallow a bit when in that part of the tire, so you did what you could to lift or push the bike off that part. Daytona is a fun but weird place for motorcycles.

SO.. if it can do that when up against an ARMY of Dunlop riders with Daytona specific tires, imagine how it will do at every other track where it is actually designed to work?

Running times above 1:57 or so, the riders had NO issues. In fact David Gray ran a 190b compound in the 44 lap team challenge. It looked amazing. It's just the faster times (not fast compared to pros but decent).. in the 1:52-54 range it would overheat just left of center where the tire is pushed hard on the banking. BUt again, some of the experts and all the am riders on the Cup had no issues with the tire at all at Daytona.

Fast Michelin rider Dan Ortega was just a tic off my times at this track on just a supersport bike, and had some very good finishes, even in the pro races. Some chunking but he still brought it home.

IF Michelin were to invest in a Daytona specific tire, something that had the hard middle compound over just 2" more to the left of where it stops now, you would see Michelin perhaps dominate the Race of Champions event next October.. :)
 
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#42 ·
I'll add that Power Cups are awesome as well!! Ran 'em all season but my bike loves eating up those rear tires!

Earlier in the season a buddy through Sportbike Track Time suckered me into a set of Cups for my R6; VB front and B rear. 11 track sessions later on the rear I had no rain sipes left - it was like the rubber was just smeared all over. Then I went with a C compound rear next and ran 12 sessions; 5 of which were taking it easy and learning new techniques. By the end of those 12 sessions, I was bald on the side.

Saturday evening here we are at the track walking another rear over to the tire vendor that I had already bought to swap it out for the Power Slick instead -- and THAT tire works great!! Still had the Cup on the front. These tires are spoiling me.
 
#45 ·
at some tracks, i prefer the feel of the DOT power cup tire over the slick. The slicks will wear a bit better though, for sure.
11 sessions is a BUNCH of riding on a competition tire .. Just FYI :) LOL They really are designed for a 24 lap race, or a few sprints. ;) they DO work even with the sipes gone on the sides. I would not say they work "better" than when it was new, but they just seem to fall off say a second a lap.. and stay there.
 
#47 ·
:fact about 3/4 through a race it turns into what is the tire going to throw at me mode :laugh SO much grip, the slide is very stable when it does come, just have to be mind full of the throttle, and since I am running a superbike built R1 I have to watch my throttle all the time.
 
#56 · (Edited)
this is what David G. was eluding to at Daytona, but no specifics, and I won't hold my breath. (in regard to a contingency program). I hope they come up with something vs. nothing though. :)

keep in mind guys, ya really have to be pretty dang fast and finishing on the box consistently to earn any worthwhile contingency. This what what was funny about some of the guys running Dunlops that don't finish in the top 3 on a consistent basis. They were paying $150 MORE for a set of tires that are in my opinion, no better.. and our front may actually be BETTER. So they were already OUT $150 and would have to WIN to get that amount back. Pirelli offers no contingency either, so if ya ran the PowerCUp tires, you were ASSURED to be $150 ahead of the game with a set of tires that is capable of winning races.
 
#57 ·
I ran Power Cups last year and they are in fact great tires. I was referring to contingency. Top 3 as a novice is not to difficult. Expert top 3 is a whole nother story. My goal is to have white plates after next year, then I won't have to worry about contingency at all. :mrgreen:
 
#58 ·
can't blame ya. stay tuned as there may be a program with Michelin, but that is just a rumor at this point. They had the absolute best program i ever saw in 10 years. $400 for an expert win in many classes, CASH, not a certificate toward tires that often never came .. to no program at all. weird.
 
#61 ·
and to cap off my best year ever, LARGELY due to the outstanding Michelin Cup tires.. i just wrapped up the overall Florida region championship. :)
Seriously, they GOTTA be pretty good, cause i sure ain't.. LOL




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#65 ·
Grats Greg 6th time round?
well, been at it 9 years.. but yes, in those years i amassed five #2 plates (and a bunch of other single digit plates but those just are insignificant :) ). So people have been joking with me that "five 2's equal 1".. LOL. I have lost the overall championship in those other five years by a total of 250 points+-.. Not 250 each season, but in total. one year it was by 7 points. This year was cool. Went into the final round this weekend 70 points down and just never said never
:YEA
 
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