My Michelin Pilot Activ Rear/Front Tire Opinions

[skuuter]

MY TEST VEHICLE: 2010 Gold Wing 1800 Motor Trike IRS with 4.5 Degree Rake Kit..........OK, I now have over 3000 miles on the Michelin Pilot Activ Rear Sport Bike Tire that I swapped out my stock Dunlop Gold Wing Front Tire with. I wore the stocker COMPLETELY out at the 5000 mile mark. It was completely smooth down the middle before reachin' Home after the TRIKE TALK RALLY III in Maggie Valley this year, and was cupped terribly...!!!

After readin' all the Discussions, and listening to various Veteran Trikers advice here on TRIKE TALK, I went with this option. The only variance was, unlike "MOST" Members here, I mounted mine straight up with the arrows pointing in the normal direction. We will see how this plays out Long Term compared to the Other Folks on down the mileage road.....Today, though, we discuss what I do and don't like so far about this Tire....we will start with the "Don't Likes".....

OK, now that we got those out of the way, we'll move on to my Likes...:laugh:

LIKES: *** Turn-in with this Tire is much better than the stocker...You can run right up to a curve, and "almost" square it off as You would with a 2-Wheeler *** Wet and Dry Traction seem better, and so far I haven't hydroplaned this tire (something I did 3 times with the stocker) *** Stutter-bump deflection is much better, and the Tire recovers it's milisecond traction loss much quicker...really shines on Tar Snake infested roads *** Retains original Air Pressure settings much better with less "sitting loss" and hot road contact gains

*** The Stocker started minimal cupping at 1200 miles, so far, zero cupping at 3000 miles, and no visual Tire wear yet *** Quicker, Lighter Steering...much less effort on the bars, and less bar travel to negotiate familiar turns on my home roads *** Better carcass, tread shape putting a larger contact patch on the road.......More to come, but as of right now, this has definetly been the way to go....I definetly recommend this to Anyone thinkin' about tryin' it...I am totally SOLD....more reports comin', all the way to completely worn out...Stay Tuned.....:wtg:

 

[katfish16]

I need to buy a new one, for Zook to install when I get over his way..




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[ricle41]

excellent report, but wouldn't we need to know what type of trike you are using the tire? Isn't it possible that a goldwing might respond differently than a volkswagon trike?

I see a lot of info on this forum, but not knowing the owner, I don't know if the info pertains to a trike like mine or not.

 

[skuuter]

excellent report, but wouldn't we need to know what type of trike you are using the tire? Isn't it possible that a goldwing might respond differently than a volkswagon trike?

I see a lot of info on this forum, but not knowing the owner, I don't know if the info pertains to a trike like mine or not.

OOoooops, yeah, just assumed by my Avatar that Everyone understood I had an 1800 Gold Wing Trike...guess I better go back and add it...THANKS.....

 

[skuuter]

Test Vehicle Type added......

 

[Blondie Gal]

We use a reversed Pilot Active on our Goldwing 1800 CSC - put it on just before our trip to Maggie Valley and it still looks like new!

 

[John Luciano]

I have 20,00 on mine right now and it is worn to look like a brand new OEM Dunlap front tire. I guess I have about 5,000 left on it then .

 

[tatco]

Can you give us the tire size. Thanks. I've got 4800+ miles on the OEM Dunlop and am starting to get a little wobble now and then so thinkin I'd try a different tire up front.

 

[meredog]

Just installed my pilot yesterday (backward)

Instant noticeable difference (improvement) in ride and handling. Oem 5100 miles cupped and worn bad

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

My stock tire was half gone at 3,000 miles.
I then had my dealer put on a chrome front rim and a MPA mounted backward.
I have 20,000 miles on it and it's like brand new.
IMHO, the only way to go.

 

[Comanche]

I also have the MPA for my GL 1800 Champion trike mounted backwards.

Put this on nearly 7000 miles ago and it shows no wear. I had to replace the rear tires yesterday. Had Dunlops on them and at 20, 364 miles, they were worn to the wear bars.

Replaced them with Michelin Hydroedge and turning is so smooth. It was smooth with the Dunlops, but now its easier.

 

[TRIKERBOB69]

have 13,000 on mine since april, some limited cupping ran mostly 38psi,,,,pumped it up to 41 per some advice OTS, still handles and rides like a new tire, did not hydro the front in over 2k of rain soaked roads in canada and alaska, Highly recommend the tire, in fact I purchased a second on and have it ready to go in another 5k or so, I will always have a back-up just in case!! motorcycle super store had them at a 96$ price delivered

 

[Boscoporp]

I have a Michelin PA on my 1800 with 12,000 miles on it and it looks like new. I had one on my 1500 and I got 28,000 miles on it before I sold my 1500. Great Tire. I have run them backwards and forwards and I can't tell any difference!

 

[skuuter]

I have a Michelin PA on my 1800 with 12,000 miles on it and it looks like new. I had one on my 1500 and I got 28,000 miles on it before I sold my 1500. Great Tire. I have run them backwards and forwards and I can't tell any difference!

WOW...28,000 miles.....so far I've never gotten over 9000 miles on "ANY" motorcycle Tire....I'm hopin' this is a first for me.....:wtg:

 

[kj5ix]

Can you give us the tire size. Thanks. I've got 4800+ miles on the OEM Dunlop and am starting to get a little wobble now and then so thinkin I'd try a different tire up front.

Same size as the OEM...

I have over 26K on mine with lots of tread left,,:wtg:

 

[John Luciano]

Whos idea was the that to put a rear tire on the front of the bike anyway??/ HUMMMMMM

 

[skuuter]

Whos idea was the that to put a rear tire on the front of the bike anyway??/ HUMMMMMM

........:laugh:

 

[TRIKERIDER]

Whos idea was the that to put a rear tire on the front of the bike anyway??/ HUMMMMMM

What dumb idea did the Michelin Man come up with to sell more rear tires..............?

 

[skuuter]

What dumb idea did the Michelin Man come up with to sell more rear tires..............?

Michelin Pilot Activ Sport Bike Rear Tire mounted on the Front of Gold Wing Trikes....buy same size as the original Front Tire. It works, I'm within less than 1000 miles of when I wore my original Dunlop out (4200 hundred miles vs 5000 miles) with no visible wear. I like the quicker corner turn-in much better also.....:wtg:

 

[ejjr]

Anyone with a VTX 1300 try one of these tires yet???

Thanks!

 

[Big_Steve]

Anyone with a VTX 1300 try one of these tires yet???

Thanks!

Yes. I replaced a Dunny front that was around 60% gone. Of course it felt great coming out of the dealer, it's a new tire...........

That said, it helped put a damper on the inherent shimmy in the front on the 1300's. But the shimmy is the cheesy head bearing, so the tire didn't fix it completely.

I really don't feel much difference, (if any) in handling. It handled great before (well solo anyway) and it handles great now. It does have a lot more rubber on it than a front tire, so I'm expecting to get many more miles out of it. I mounted it backwards, and the tire seemed noisy compared to the Dunlop. But I got used to that pretty quick.

I got caught in the rain last weekend, and it gripped the road fine, no hydroplaning. When accelerating into a 90* turn from being stopped at a traffic light, the Dunny used to feel like the bike was going to tip over when I drove over a reflector (at an angle) in the street. That is much less dramatic with the MPA.

I think folks that report night and day differences are on the heavy trikes. And maybe that "new tire feel" skews opinions (??)

 

[mpolissky]

I also have this tire installed after my stock was done at ~6000 miles. Great ride, but got a small wobble at low speeds, especially visible if I let my handlebars go. This wobble happened immediately after the installation.

Had no wobble at all on my stock Dunlop before. Does anyone know what can cause this problem?

 

[skuuter]

I also have this tire installed after my stock was done at ~6000 miles. Great ride, but got a small wobble at low speeds, especially visible if I let my handlebars go. This wobble happened immediately after the installation.

Had no wobble at all on my stock Dunlop before. Does anyone know what can cause this problem?

What air pressure are You runnin' in the Michelin, just out of curiosity......and "nope" Big Steve, my Michelin, definetly has quicker turn-in than the stock Dunlop. I can run up closer to a turn before cuttin' for it, and turn in with slightly less steering input, and handlebar sweep....."Trust Me", it ain't "New Tire Feel".....been doin' this stuff a Loooooong Time......:laugh:

 

[mpolissky]

What air pressure are You runnin' in the Michelin, just out of curiosity......and "nope" Big Steve, my Michelin, definetly has quicker turn-in than the stock Dunlop. I can run up closer to a turn before cuttin' for it, and turn in with slightly less steering input, and handlebar sweep....."Trust Me", it ain't "New Tire Feel".....been doin' this stuff a Loooooong Time......:laugh:

I'm running 41 lbs on the front and 25 lbs in the rear.

 

[Big_Steve]

What air pressure are You runnin' in the Michelin, just out of curiosity......and "nope" Big Steve, my Michelin, definetly has quicker turn-in than the stock Dunlop. I can run up closer to a turn before cuttin' for it, and turn in with slightly less steering input, and handlebar sweep....."Trust Me", it ain't "New Tire Feel".....been doin' this stuff a Loooooong Time......:laugh:

You're also on a wing, aren't you? I was saying heavy bikes seem to have bigger differences.

 

[Wayne Harmsen]

We have over 23,000 miles on a MPA mounted in reverse on our 1500 Motor Trike.
It looks like we will get another 10,000 miles out of it.
When this one wears out we will put the same thing back on mounted the same way.

 

[skuuter]

You're also on a wing, aren't you? I was saying heavy bikes seem to have bigger differences.

No problem........why I like personal chats better than "Blue Screen Ones".........yeah, I think the Gold Wings seem to be much harder on Front Tires after bein' Triked than any of the other Bikes, and also more sensitive to "feels" good or bad when changing Tires.....:wtg:

 

[skuuter]

New Report: My Michelin Pilot Activ Tire rolled over 5000 miles on it this mornin'. This was the mileage point that my Dunlop Stocker was worn completely slick. This Tire still has zero visible wear...This Thing works Folks...Great Investment......:wtg:

 

[Boscoporp]

I am running 41 in the front and 23 in the rear. I never take my trailer off is why I use 23 in the rar.

 

[skuuter]

OK...."Fresh Report"....almost 10,000 miles (double the stocker), still no really visible wear, but just startin' to get a little bit of cupping, nothing major, but enough to feel it with Your hand. Non-noticeable through the bars unless the Frontend is cut a lot on a very sharp, non-cambered curve, at a fairly quick pace..........just an update.....more to come.....ThumbUp