Pirelli Diablo Strada vs. Michelin Pilot Road

HaulinAshe · Sep 25, 2006

Everyone at EOM had lots of good info on tires. After chasing that chick around the mountains for days... I finally got close enough to see that she was running Diablo Stradas (caught her at the hotel parking lot). Love ya Iris!!!

Anyway, front Mich worn out and changed to the Diablo Strada. Did this change and balance myself so I can't say for sure that my balancing was better than the speed balance done at the dealer, but the Diablo is SOOO SMOOTH. It's like having a different bike. No bouncy in the sweepers, no vibration at 100+. Corner grip "feels" equal to the Mich.

Will have to wait and see how the tire life turns out. But wanted to thank everyone for their input and I'll share more when I have real experience. Planning on chasing Grumpy around the mountains again in three weeks. Will definitely know if it grips well then!

MotorSWATCop · Sep 25, 2006

I'm having the Diablo Stradas put on my bike next week. I'm taking Reg Pridmore's CLASS at Barber Motorsports Park :yahoo: on Oct 9 and had to have fresh shoes for tech inspection. i will let you know how they handle under track conditions.

dcarver · Sep 25, 2006

My front Strada lasted ~6500 miles. No vibration or handlebar shake on decel ever. Even when completely worn out.

Groo · Sep 25, 2006

Stradas on order from University Motors... plan on reskining the bike prior to my ride out to Barber for the AHRMA races 10/20-22...

MotorSWATCop · Sep 25, 2006

Groo,

Give me a yell when you come to Barber. I live about a mile from there.

HaulinAshe · Sep 25, 2006

One more thing about the Strada...

It has to be the toughest damn tire to mount that I have ever done. It has Viagra impinged sidewalls!

I look forward to hearing the track condition reviews. Wish I could go.

Feejer/Weejer man · Sep 25, 2006

I just got the new Perelli Diablos Corsa III's. Had a buy the rear get the front for $25 in shipping.

Fjroamer · Sep 25, 2006

Currently running (and loving) Pirelli's Diablo Strada EMS w/ 5000 or so miles. Ran Michellin Pilot Roads to 8500 miles prior (w/ Conti R.A.'s in between).

Comparrisons ???? Pirelli's definately the better "corner carvers", falling into corners easier and holding good line. Not sure yet how many miles I'll get from them. Excellent in triple digits, no decel wobble, great in wet and don't seem to wander through changing road surfaces.

Michellin P.R.s seemed a tad "truckish" in the really tight corners, needing bar nudging to get them heeled over but they would hold a steady line. Excellent at triple digits, superb in heavy rain, unaffected by road irregularities, no decel wobble and handled well right up 'till the end! An excellent tire for those less inclined to really charge through the corners.

just my impressions....

HaulinAshe · Sep 25, 2006

+1 on FJRroamer's comments except one. I have noticed the front Diablo "notices" pavement lines more than the Mich PR. At least my opinion so far. Nothing scary, just feel it more than the Mich "truck tires". Great description Roamer!!!

03silverbullet · Sep 26, 2006

I have 8000 miles on my Stratas, and I am very happy with them.

This is the most mileage I have gotten on the back tire, and I have tried them all.

The front tire is cupping real bad and will have to replace it soon. I admit that I got a little lazy on checking the tire pressure and when I noticed the cupping, the tire pressure was 34 PSI. I normally run at 42 PSI.

That probably had somthing to do with it.

I will buy another set shortly and hopfully will have better luck.

Scab · Sep 26, 2006

Fjroamer said:
Michellin P.R.s seemed a tad "truckish" in the really tight corners, needing bar nudging to get them heeled over but they would hold a steady line. Excellent at triple digits, superb in heavy rain, unaffected by road irregularities, no decel wobble and handled well right up 'till the end! An excellent tire for those less inclined to really charge through the corners.

Geez. On my first set of PR's. I must have a bad front or something. Got about 4K on them now with even wear, but from day one this front sucks ass. "Truckish" in the turns, yes. Affected by road irregularities, HELL YES. Able to hold a straight line in wind or draft air, HELL NO. Triple digit stability, no. I am not impressed or happy. Anyone else with any experience like this or is this an isolated incident with this particular front?

HaulinAshe · Sep 27, 2006

Scab said:
Geez. On my first set of PR's. I must have a bad front or something. Got about 4K on them now with even wear, but from day one this front sucks ass. "Truckish" in the turns, yes. Affected by road irregularities, HELL YES. Able to hold a straight line in wind or draft air, HELL NO. Triple digit stability, no. I am not impressed or happy. Anyone else with any experience like this or is this an isolated incident with this particular front?

Scab, I would have to say that so far, my Diablo seems a bit more aware of road irregularities than the Mich PR was. My Mich was a pretty good tire, especially on sweepers. But the Diablo is definitely a smoother feel so far. Sounds like you have a bad Mich PR.

GalaxyBlue · Sep 27, 2006

I will report back on the PR's after my trip to Arkansas. my previous tires were the original BT's and 2 sets of Avons.

I have about 300 miles on the PR's now and they feel pretty good so far. I am somewhat a corner carver and thus far they are better than the Avons were.

Time will tell though...

Fjroamer · Sep 27, 2006

I agree on two more observations stated above... The Mich's were indeed more oblivious to pavement irregularities than the Pirelli Diablos. Last weekend I ran 1,200 miles in s. e. British Colombia with lots of marveloius twisties but on several occasions I noticed a slight moving/ slipping while hitting center line stripes up there (bone dry pavement). First time I ever experienced that.

Also, when running the Mich's, I believe they did wander in strong side winds and when closing in on semi's on less than calm days.

Both of these reactions were subtle so they are just observations..., not an effort to fault either one.

madmike2 · Sep 27, 2006

MotorSWATCop said:
I'm having the Diablo Stradas put on my bike next week. I'm taking Reg Pridmore's CLASS at Barber Motorsports Park :yahoo: on Oct 9 and had to have fresh shoes for tech inspection. i will let you know how they handle under track conditions.

I have 8500 miles on mine at the moment and have plenty of tread left for our little romp in NorCal this weekend. So far it looks like I could get 10K plus on the set (Except I have a planned 1K trip coming up in Oct. and want new tires on for that--SkooterG I'm not.)

My experience is the Pirellis like the rear suspension more "stiff" than the PRs. At 240+ lbs, I got a little "unsettled" feeling until I stiffened the rear 2 clicks. YMMV, but IIRC, vectervp1 made the same comment when we were riding above Sonora as he, too, had just put a set on.

I have a set of PRs in the garage to replace the Stradas so I can do a better comparison. I may go back to the Pirellis. I'm really impressed with them.

04 FJR Pilot · Sep 29, 2006

Replaced Avons with the Stradas. What a difference. She feels like a new bike. Smooth as silk. Tha avon squirm at low speed and head shake @45-55 is gone. Found the tire for me if they get good wear. Time will tell. I put 2000 miles on the stradas in 3 days and the rear has the typical flat spot in the middle from lack of curves on the trip but the wear is minimal. running 80 MPH through 3 states in the pouring rain and the only time I felt them give a bit was when I was hitting the cold, hard and wet "tar snakes" which is to be expected at that speed. Other than that these are "my tires".

SkooterG · Sep 29, 2006

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. As with most of the farkles around here, individual preference rules the day.

I went back to the Avons after trying the Diablo Stradas. The Pirellis were a bit more stable, easier to hold a line once leaned over, but the Avons had much quicker turn in. They (Avons) feel like a much sportier tire.

Another thing I really don't like about the Pirellis is the lack of a center tread/wear bar on the rear tire. As many others have also posted, the rear tire went from "looks good" to showing steel belts in a matter of a few hundred miles. Not confidence inspiring.

Fjroamer · Sep 30, 2006

hmmm...., my Diablo Strada has tread wear indicators on the rear, just like the Metz Z-6's.

...you just gotta look harder and pay closer attn.. 5,000 mi so far and lookin' like a couple thou. more.

SkooterG · Sep 30, 2006

Fjroamer said:
hmmm...., my Diablo Strada has tread wear indicators on the rear, just like the Metz Z-6's....you just gotta look harder and pay closer attn.. 5,000 mi so far and lookin' like a couple thou. more.

Yes. The Stradas and Z-6s have tread wear indicators in the tread. But......both those tires have no tread running down the center of the tire, which is where *most* of us wear the tire the most. So unlike a tire that has tread running through the center, it is nearly impossible to tell how close you are to hitting the metal belts. That's why so many here have posted about it.

See post #16 in THIS THREAD.

Pirelli Diablo Strada vs. Michelin Pilot Road

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