switch from Michelin to Dunlop

How difficult is it to make the switch from Michelins to Dunlops, suspension wise? I would love to go to the Dunlops because I have heard great things, but I fear getting in too deep with the suspension. How quickly can Thermosman or CTR adjust my bike over to the correct suspension settings for Dunlop? I'm on an '04 R6 if that is a factor. Would it be too tough to make the switch on a trackday on a race weekend?

 

The faster you are the more of a diff. you will see and need the suspension adjusted. The tire heights will be different. Just curious but what "great things" have you heard that make you believe they will be so much better than the Michelins?

 

I went the other way since all the Dunlops did is tankslap to death for me. I just put the Michelins on the bike and they were great right away

 

I've had nothing but problems with the michelins. I keep getting front end lowsides with no warning, feels like i'm hitting oil or something. I never once had that problems on the pirellis, but since I switched to michelin it's happened 3 times in 4 race weekends.

 

that's insane. i've never unhooked a michelin front.


maybe you should take off your street tires, and put on race tires.


that, or you have a valving problem. you ain't better than the tires, that's for sure.

 

which ones are you using? I use the PRC front and 5 rear. I've never had the front on the Michelin do anything but stick like glue for me

 

the PR2 may do that to you but the PR1 or PRC will stay glued better then just about any front tire out there...which are you using?

 

Ultra Fast guys with certain riding styles had some issues with PR1 fronts. PRC's are incredible..

Me...I'm a slick or Pilot Power (when it's wet) guy myself.. Sound's like you are having set up issues. You set all your ride height and suspension to deal with the different tire sizes... Right?

Michelins are a bit "smaller" than some other rears and if you don't adjust rear geometry your bike will want to "not finish" a turn or run wide after the apex. As you countersteer agressively to bring the bike back on-line you overload the front and BAM! low and behold you lose the front. Cound this be what's happening to you? More info please and I'm just trying to help..

WHat are you riding and where are you losing the front?

 

hmm I have yet to talk to anyone who had an issue with the pr1...the frt tucks I have heard of were all on the pr2. Not saying it didnt haapen, but I heard of a bunch of tucks on the PR2 (including my own)

 

Since you run Pilot power street tires Monte what do you think of running 34-36 on street or track??

I've heard they run those psi's at Spencers school on the class bikes

 

I'm a Michelin race tire distributor and possibly deal with/get info from a few more folks than you so that's prolly why I had experience with it. It was very rare as you have mentioned.

Have you tried the 190/55 yet? Seems to be be a good big bike choice.

 

I didn't change the suspension settings after I switched from the Pirelli's. It is a possibility that it is in my setup, but I can't figure it out myself. I run top 3 novice in nationals and SE region, so I don't know if I'm pushing the tires harder then some of you guys that have no problem with them or not. I always run the C fronts and PR3 rears. I haven't adjusted the ride height of my bike after the switch to Michelin because I was told by Buff and Thermosman that they are the same profile as Pirellis, and therefore the suspension setup I had would be fine on the Michelins. I ride an '04 R6 and I'm losing the front at about the apex in every turn. I trail brake in and then right around the apex the tire just lets go, no warning, no possible way I could save it either. Just lets go. I never had a problem with the Pirelli front tire, but the rear wouldn't hook up at all, I got absolutely no drive out of every corner on them and it was very tough to stay up front. I've heard a lot of people say that the front end is weak on Michelin, and that it has been for a long time, but I can not attest to that considering I've only been on them 4 race weekends. I love the tires, but the front just lets go with no warning. I'm losing confidence in the front end and it is slowing me down on corner entry speed. I don't appreciate the criticism of some of you, but the ones who are willing to help i greatly appreciate. I'm just trying to troubleshoot my problems with the tires so I can compete and not worry about losing the front end at any given moment. Thanks.
Also, do any of you have a contact number for Buff at Michelin? It may be a good idea to call him to get a better idea of what is going on. After talking to him I will call Thermosman to get his take on my situation.
Once again thanks to all you who offer genuine help, and have taken the time to read this novel I wrote .

 

I know who you are Monte Just this was the first I had heard of it. I wasnt doubting it at all. Did you see many issues with the PR2?

I did use the 190/55 on my R6...I couldnt quite get it set up with out extending the forks to compensate for the taller rear tire. I wish I could have though because the side grip was insane. 190/55 with a prC frt and you had all the full lean traction you could dream of.

 

35 front and 34 rear is my pick. Seems that guys insist on running them lower for "mental" reasons... and they'll work there but won't last as long as at the higher PSI

The Pilot Power front is honestly the best front tire I have ever used as far as feedback and predictability. Now I'm no supa-star so consider the source...but IMO if you fall on your head because you lost the front using a pilot power you REALLY screwed the pooch... it just doesn't happen unless you're careless or the bike is set up way, way off the mark.

 

so you suggest I talk to a suspension guy before switching tires? And again, does anybody have a contact number to Buff at Michelin?
Thanks

 

I didn't mean it that way..... sorry if it sounded like that way.

I was trying to say it was only a couple of guys total
I'm torn between sticking a 190/55 Med-Soft or slicks back with an S1200 front on the Mille this week. I'm really lazy and hate to screw with set-up but I just might have to do it....

 

people up front in novice races talking smack about tires.


precious. yeah, all those shitty pirellis that M4 suzuki, and michelins that rob jenson ride suck.

but hey, hacking's winning on dunlops, so i need that...

 

This might help. Michelin Data

OVERALL DIAMETER OVERALL WIDTH
Size MM CM INCHES MM CM INCHES
110/70R17 585.72 58.572 23.06 109.98 10.998 4.33
115/70R17 578.1 57.81 22.76 114.8 11.48 4.52
120/65R17 586.74 58.674 23.1 119.88 11.988 4.72
120/60R17 574.04 57.404 22.6 119.88 11.988 4.72
120/70R17 599.44 59.944 23.6 119.88 11.988 4.72
12/60R17 591.82 59.182 23.3 119.88 11.988 4.72

12/60R420 548.64 54.864 21.6 119.88 11.988 4.72
120/75R420 586.23 58.623 23.08 119.88 11.988 4.72
125/80R420 605.02 60.502 23.82 124.96 12.496 4.92



150/60R17 611.63 61.163 24.08 149.86 14.986 5.9
155/60R17 622.04 62.204 24.49 154.94 15.494 6.1
160/60R17 622.3 62.23 24.5 159.76 15.976 6.29
165/55R17 627.12 62.712 24.69 164.846 16.484 6.49
170/60R17 635 63.5 25 169.92 16.992 6.69
180/55R17 629.92 62.992 24.8 179.83 17.983 7.08
190/50R17 619.76 61.976 24.4 189.99 18.999 7.48
190/55R17 640.08 64.008 25.2 189.99 18.999 7.48
195/60R17 656.08 65.608 25.83 189.99 18.999 7.48
195/70R17 642.36 64.236 25.29 194.81 19.481 7.67

16/63R17 632.46 63.246 24.9 160.02 16.002 6.3
18/67/17 673.1 67.31 26.5 179.83 17.983 7.08
19/67-17 680.58 68.58 27 189.99 18.999 7.48

 

Michelin's are great! As mentioned above, you must use the PRC front. It is way better than the other Michelin fronts.

 

if you dont mind me asking what kind of geometry settings are you running...rear eye-eye length and how much fork tube is showing above your tripple?