Author Topic: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?  (Read 2508 times)

Offline flower_king001

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Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« on: December 25, 2018, 01:29:24 AM »
Hi,

Anyone run Michelin Pilot Activ Tire on a 1998 EV and if so what do you have to say? Handling, mileage and wear characteristics?

Thanks, Brian
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
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Offline n3303j

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2018, 10:12:24 AM »
Subjective report only:

Ran these tires on my K100RS and R100RT BMWs. Was always very happy with life and performance both wet and dry. I dont ride agressively so I'm not tearing the rubber off the rears in 5K miles. It wasn't unusual to get 10K miles on a rear or 18K miles on a front. There was some odd shaped wear patterns on the front thread from braking but not enough to compromise the service life of the tire. Tires were a tight fit on the R100RT rims. First time I ever had to go to 100# to seat a bead. I think Michelin corrected that as the complaint disappeared from the chat groups about a year after it appeared.

Since they were of such predictable and reliable performance on the BMWs they were the logical choice for my '98 V11EV. There were no problems seating or mounting them on the EV rims. Ive got about 12K miles on them so far and they appar to be wearing about the same as they did on previous bikes.

There is one thing concerns me about the EV more than the tires. Coming from the BMWs I was used to neutral steering. You pointed the bike at low speeds and it went where you pointed it with minimal steering pressure. When I got the EV I noticed that at low speed (parking lot) you initiate a turn and the bike goes into the turn. It requires a very definite back pressure to keep the bars from turning further into the turn. The front end is heavy. This is quite a change from the BMWs and my T3 which just hold the turn radius with almost no steering pressure. I found this EV trait unnerving enough that I spent a bunch of time measuring wheelbase length and fork tube straightness to assure myself that the bike wasn't bent. The heaviness is symmetrical for both right and left. To lessen its unnerving effect I did add a true hydraulic steering damper. At speeds of 20 plus the steering is neutral and in the twisties the bike is a joy as it executes each turn with delightful precision.

Now the odd thing is that When I installed the Pilot Activ tires front and rear the heavy front end disappeared. I blamed it on the old rubber the bike came with. But about 6Kmiles later it returned and has been with me since.

So I do highly recommend the Michelins but I want to know if this heavy front end is unique to my EV or if they all do it at parking lot speeds. Its a bit of a distraction leaving a stop with an immediate right or left turn.

Merry Christmas to All!
'98 MG V11 EV
'96 URAL SPORTSMAN
'77 MG 850T3 FB

Offline Park Ridge Phil

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2018, 10:38:28 AM »
 I have them on my 2000 Jackal. Will definitely buy them again when the time comes. 😎

Offline Sheepdog

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2018, 10:51:44 AM »
I use Activs front and rear on my California Vintage. Good grip in the wet or the dry. The rear will easily surpass my 5K miles treadlife minimum. Likely mileage should be 7-8K for the rear. The fronts will cup if you don’t keep them at 34-36 psi. I keep my rears at around 40 psi, but raise it a bit for touring loads. I like this tire’s profile. Steering feels very neutral considering that they are bias ply tires. They are my favorites, so far.
"Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." John C. Maxwell

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2018, 10:51:44 AM »

Offline flower_king001

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2018, 10:54:25 AM »
Hi,

Were you running this size?

Rear Tire 130/90-17 68H
Front Tire 110/90-18 61V

Thanks and Merry Christmas!


Subjective report only:



Since they were of such predictable and reliable performance on the BMWs they were the logical choice for my '98 V11EV. There were no problems seating or mounting them on the EV rims. Ive got about 12K miles on them so far and they appear to be wearing about the same as they did on previous bikes.

« Last Edit: December 25, 2018, 10:55:28 AM by flower_king001 »
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
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1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2018, 10:56:02 AM »
I have the Michelin's on my V7.  3 fronts were all out of round.
Put ME 880's on my 2001 Jackal.  Very much pleased.
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Offline flower_king001

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2018, 11:27:03 AM »
Hi,

 In the past I ran Metzler's (horror show as the rear thread peeled off like an onion) and Bridgestone Battax (cupped) but this time ran this combo.

Shinko 712 Rear Tire 130/90-17 68H
Shinko 230 Front Tour Master Tire 110/90-18 61V

Just a bit over 5,000 miles and nice even wear and just about time to change. I'm thinking of going back with the Shinko's but using a 230 on the rear as well.

Merry Christmas! Brian
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Offline n3303j

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2018, 12:01:02 PM »
Hi,

Were you running this size?

Rear Tire 130/90-17 68H
Front Tire 110/90-18 61V

Thanks and Merry Christmas!


Subjective report only:



Since they were of such predictable and reliable performance on the BMWs they were the logical choice for my '98 V11EV. There were no problems seating or mounting them on the EV rims. Ive got about 12K miles on them so far and they appear to be wearing about the same as they did on previous bikes.
Don't have numbers in front of me but I am running the tire sizes recommended by the manufacturer. Always did well following their guidelines.
'98 MG V11 EV
'96 URAL SPORTSMAN
'77 MG 850T3 FB

Offline flower_king001

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2018, 12:43:02 AM »
I have the Michelin's on my V7.  3 fronts were all out of round.
Put ME 880's on my 2001 Jackal.  Very much pleased.

I used to run nothing but Metzler's on my bikes till this happened a few years back.





Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2018, 06:36:22 AM »
That's ugly.  I'd think it's a manufacturing error as thousands of those tires are run every day without that happening.  It would make me pause and think a bit, though.

As I said, I'm on my third Michelin Activ front on my V7.  All three were out of round to some degree.  The first two so bad that they were not acceptable over 35mph.  The third one is borderline. Michelin would not step up with a replacement under warentee-the dealer ate two tires.

Needless to say, the new tires this spring will not be Activ model tires.  So, yea, I get tire problems and how frustrating they are.

I'll be watching my 880's carefully.
« Last Edit: December 26, 2018, 06:37:17 AM by kingoffleece »
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Offline flower_king001

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2018, 07:19:45 AM »
That's ugly.  I'd think it's a manufacturing error as thousands of those tires are run every day without that happening.  It would make me pause and think a bit, though.

As I said, I'm on my third Michelin Activ front on my V7.  All three were out of round to some degree.  The first two so bad that they were not acceptable over 35mph.  The third one is borderline. Michelin would not step up with a replacement under warentee-the dealer ate two tires.

Needless to say, the new tires this spring will not be Activ model tires.  So, yea, I get tire problems and how frustrating they are.

I'll be watching my 880's carefully.

Yes, for sure a manufacturing error but one that I'll never buy a Metzler again. I called Metzler and they were of no help. Searching around I found many other such manufacturing errors so not a fluke as I might of thought. Revzilla in the end helped me out and was willing to give me another Metzler (I declined) or total $'s towards anything else. So in the end I tried some Shinko's and have been pleased so far. Put a set on my EV, Breva 1100 and Lemans IV.
Current Fleet

1971 BMW R90/5
1986 Moto Guzzi Lemans IV 1000
1998 Moto Guzzi 1100 EV
2005 BMW 1200 RT
2007 BMW 1200 GS
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100

Offline Sheepdog

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2018, 10:05:22 AM »
That's ugly.  I'd think it's a manufacturing error as thousands of those tires are run every day without that happening.  It would make me pause and think a bit, though.

As I said, I'm on my third Michelin Activ front on my V7.  All three were out of round to some degree.  The first two so bad that they were not acceptable over 35mph.  The third one is borderline. Michelin would not step up with a replacement under warentee-the dealer ate two tires.

Needless to say, the new tires this spring will not be Activ model tires.  So, yea, I get tire problems and how frustrating they are.

I'll be watching my 880's carefully.

The Activ's bead was very difficult to seat the first time I mounted it on the front wheel of my Vintage. It looked fully seated, but was not. It would not balance. I removed the tire, carefully cleaned the inside of the rim, and re-mounted with lots of tire lube. This time, the tire fully seated at 62 psi and balanced with only minimal fuss. I expect this may have been the problem with your V7, also. The roundness of a tire/wheel assembly is mostly dependent on the wheel (many bicycle tires actually have folding beads that fully depend on the rim for their shape). Most legitimately faulty tires have an excessively heavy spot in them or bad lamination to the carcass.

As for Metzler 880s; I liked them until they got over about 6k miles, but they got squirrelly after that and really prone to punctures. Considering the cost, I found the Metzler 880 to be underwhelming (and don't get me started on the Lasertecs...they were truly terrible).
« Last Edit: December 26, 2018, 10:07:24 AM by Sheepdog »
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Offline Sheepdog

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2018, 10:24:39 AM »
[quote author=n3303j link=topic=99170.msg1567544#msg1567544 date=

Now the odd thing is that When I installed the Pilot Activ tires front and rear the heavy front end disappeared. I blamed it on the old rubber the bike came with. But about 6Kmiles later it returned and has been with me since.

So I do highly recommend the Michelins but I want to know if this heavy front end is unique to my EV or if they all do it at parking lot speeds. Its a bit of a distraction leaving a stop with an immediate right or left turn.

Merry Christmas to All!
[/quote]

Most of this is due to wear. Since the rear tire wears more quickly than the front, there is a very slight slowing of your steering. The tendency of the rear tire to "flatten" their profile exacerbates this condition. I'd wager that your bike will feel right again with a new rear tire.
"Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." John C. Maxwell

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2018, 04:26:50 AM »
We rigged up a gizmo to check out of round.  The fronts were, or at least that was our conclusion.  Dealership concurred.  Tires were removed and remounted to be sure we didn't mess up.
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Offline s1120

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2018, 06:37:28 AM »
Ive been out of the bike world for a about 10 years now...  Just getting back in.  Im sorry to hear about the Metzler's having issues.. they were my go to tires on the older bikes. Back on the old 70's and 80's bikes the lazers, and Perfects were great!  My new to me Guzzi has 880's, and lazertec on it now... Ill keep a good eye on them.
Paul B

Offline marcmorrison

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #15 on: December 28, 2018, 06:54:40 AM »
I have a front/rear set on a '97 75th Ann. (inner tube) and a '99 Bassa (tubeless)......about 5K total miles on both sets and no problems at all.  IF there are no manufacturing problems with the tire itself (rare, but it does occur), nothing out of sort with your wheel/shocks/suspension AND the tires are properly mounted/balanced, then you should notice a big all-round improvement.  At this point, I would recommend and buy again.
1999 MG Bassa (pearl white)

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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2018, 07:57:49 AM »
[quote author=n3303j link=topic=99170.msg1567544#msg1567544 date=

Now the odd thing is that When I installed the Pilot Activ tires front and rear the heavy front end disappeared. I blamed it on the old rubber the bike came with. But about 6Kmiles later it returned and has been with me since.

So I do highly recommend the Michelins but I want to know if this heavy front end is unique to my EV or if they all do it at parking lot speeds. Its a bit of a distraction leaving a stop with an immediate right or left turn.

Merry Christmas to All!

Have your forks been lowered? Anything more than1/2" and it will get very heavy.
I've run both the avon roadrider, pilot active and the shinko's along with just about everything else over the last 19 years and 180,000
 miles. I think the shinko is by far the best value and as good as anything.current set looks like it will win the mileage contest too.
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Re: Michelin Pilot Activ Tire '98 EV?
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2018, 07:59:37 AM »
Next question is have you greased the steering head bearings?
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