Question on Mich 2ct tires in the rain - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Jammer · 05-13-2008, 11:54 AM

I've seen this question asked before.

How well do the sportbike tires grab in corners in the rain?

More specific on the highway.

Specifics: I was coming home from Jonestown PA over the weekend and got caught in a Noreaster. The rain was so heavy I couldn't see the road other than the white lines on either side of the highway. I slowed down to 55mph. A Harley passed me doing over 80mph. I have a fairly new set of Michelin Pilot Power 2 componds now to try out on my 04 Gixxer. They grabbed on the highway. The minute rain comes, alarms start sending off in my head. This time I thought I would push it and see what would happen. Nothing extreme, but under normal riding conditions, they held.

Does anyone know the answer? How much is too much for the rain?

Sincerely

Davecm203 · 05-13-2008, 08:25 PM

They are all I use. They are great.

MikeHump · 05-13-2008, 11:26 PM

In corners, unless you have rain tires, they probably won't grab too well.

In a straight line at highway speeds or greater, they'll hold up just fine. I've ridden at highway speeds before, and the bike felt almost exactly the same as if it were dry. The only difference I noticed was that every time I went over some paint or a reflector, I felt the rear wheel spin a little bit.

Now...how much is too much for the rain? I'm not sure, I haven't found out yet, and I don't plan on it anytime soon hahaha but I'm sure the tires can handle high speeds in the rain. Just look at some MotoGP races, they race in the rain and their tires hold up just fine.

Tab B. · 05-14-2008, 12:11 PM

You have to be careful on this one. Todays' modern sport tires are indeed awesome on dry pavement. Like Mike said above, you shouldn't have much to worry about, straight up and down. It is still wise to err on the side of caution when cornering with modern sport tires in the rain. The trend towards less tread sipes {grooves} is the reason. The grooves are really there to just channel water away. Less grooves, better chance of hydroplaning. I have Pilot Power 2CTs on my gixxer, and so far no problems in the wet. I just don't push the issue. I've done 120+ mph down the front straight of NHIS in the rain, on a set of Dunlop K591s. No problems, even braking moderately hard,,, straight up and down, but they were just awful in the corners. That was something I wouldn't do AT ALL on the street. The MotoGP guys have the expensive luxury of having many different tire designs available to them for varying conditions. So what they get away with, doesn't transfer too well to our world.

MikeHump · 05-14-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tab B.

The MotoGP guys have the expensive luxury of having many different tire designs available to them for varying conditions. So what they get away with, doesn't transfer too well to our world.

Good point, I forgot about that.

05-13-2008, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jammer Sprocket Pilot Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2004 GSXR 750, 2003 Kawasaki Mean Streak, 2007 Susuzki DRZ400s Location: York, Pennsylvania Posts: 867	Question on Mich 2ct tires in the rain I've seen this question asked before. How well do the sportbike tires grab in corners in the rain? More specific on the highway. Specifics: I was coming home from Jonestown PA over the weekend and got caught in a Noreaster. The rain was so heavy I couldn't see the road other than the white lines on either side of the highway. I slowed down to 55mph. A Harley passed me doing over 80mph. I have a fairly new set of Michelin Pilot Power 2 componds now to try out on my 04 Gixxer. They grabbed on the highway. The minute rain comes, alarms start sending off in my head. This time I thought I would push it and see what would happen. Nothing extreme, but under normal riding conditions, they held. Does anyone know the answer? How much is too much for the rain? Sincerely __________________ 2004 Gixxer 750 2003 Mean Streak 1500 2007 DRZ400S Location: York, Pennsylvania

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
hello from mich.	boypop	New Member Pitstop	6	12-23-2007 09:57 PM
Hello from Mich....	cfift	New Member Pitstop	8	07-04-2007 02:15 PM
After The Rain	87gsxrnut	The Nutshell	23	05-10-2007 02:14 PM
Rain X	Fishpart	The Paddock	12	09-29-2005 05:41 PM
Rain, Rain Ugh!	Danr	Cruisers	4	06-05-2005 09:26 PM

05-13-2008, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Davecm203 Puddle Runner Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2006 GSXR750 Location: Central North Carolina Posts: 385	They are all I use. They are great.

05-13-2008, 11:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
MikeHump Found second gear by accident Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 GSXR 600 Location: Tracy, CA Posts: 315	In corners, unless you have rain tires, they probably won't grab too well. In a straight line at highway speeds or greater, they'll hold up just fine. I've ridden at highway speeds before, and the bike felt almost exactly the same as if it were dry. The only difference I noticed was that every time I went over some paint or a reflector, I felt the rear wheel spin a little bit. Now...how much is too much for the rain? I'm not sure, I haven't found out yet, and I don't plan on it anytime soon hahaha but I'm sure the tires can handle high speeds in the rain. Just look at some MotoGP races, they race in the rain and their tires hold up just fine.

05-14-2008, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tab B. Third gear and cruising Joined: May 2007 Bike: 86 GSXR750G, 93 GSX1100G, 89 YSR50 Location: Kingston NH Posts: 457	You have to be careful on this one. Todays' modern sport tires are indeed awesome on dry pavement. Like Mike said above, you shouldn't have much to worry about, straight up and down. It is still wise to err on the side of caution when cornering with modern sport tires in the rain. The trend towards less tread sipes {grooves} is the reason. The grooves are really there to just channel water away. Less grooves, better chance of hydroplaning. I have Pilot Power 2CTs on my gixxer, and so far no problems in the wet. I just don't push the issue. I've done 120+ mph down the front straight of NHIS in the rain, on a set of Dunlop K591s. No problems, even braking moderately hard,,, straight up and down, but they were just awful in the corners. That was something I wouldn't do AT ALL on the street. The MotoGP guys have the expensive luxury of having many different tire designs available to them for varying conditions. So what they get away with, doesn't transfer too well to our world.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)