Tires – Michelin presents its new hypersport motorcycle tires – Michelin Power Cup and Power Slick

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Michelin presents its new hypersport motorcycle tires

Tires - Michelin presents its new hypersport motorcycle tires - Michelin Power Cup and Power Slick

The Michelin Power Cup is a tire approved for the road, but the replacement for the Power One is above all intended to chase the clock on the circuit, just like its cousin devoid of any sculpture called Power Slick… Explanations.

Michelin Power Cup and Power Slick

Michelin went to the capital this morning to present to the press its two new references in its Hypersport range: the Power Cup and the Power Slick, two motorcycle tires dedicated to use on the circuit only … !

The new Power Cup – it bears the same name as the famous brand "coupe" – is a road approved tire which has "the 5% of legal sculptures", tells us Tommy Maussin," Business Segment Manager Moto "at Michelin.

It is therefore possible for die-hard bikers who cannot imagine getting behind the wheel of a 4-wheeler, even to get to a circuit, to ride their Power Cup motorcycle. It goes without saying that in the event of rain on the return, extremely careful driving will be required. !

"We even offer the Power Cup in 180 at the rear, because some of our customers want to drive on the road with Supersport mounted on a 5.5 inch rim. However we recommend the use of 190 for 600cc and 200 for 1000cc, as they offer the best performance.".

Power "Cup", tires

Because like its predecessor Power One (read our), the Power Cup is aimed primarily at track-loving bikers who load their motorcycle onto a trailer to go tease the clock, or even start competing..

"What has changed compared to the Power One? Let’s just say that what has not been modified are the tread patterns of the tire !", sums up the French manager. Subtly placed, they offer the rider perfectly smooth tire bands: on the shoulders to improve grip when cornering and in the center to maximize traction and optimize longevity..

In short: the new Michelin motorcycle tire uses the NST technology (Near Slick Technology or "slick without appearing to be"), just as it retains the 2CT technology (Two Coupound Technology or "bigomme")…

Without going into details – the competition also reads Site … -, Michelin assures that the mixes have been improved: "The gum comes from hypercollant mixtures used in competition", specifies Tommy Maussin.

Technology transfer

"2-wheelers are getting closer and closer to competition vehicles", notes Michelin. And vice versa, since the Superbikes are gradually abandoning the 16.5 inches, size proposed on the old Power One but abandoned on the Power Cup. All this greatly facilitates the transfer of innovations….

In general, the advances made in terms of profiles, architectures or mixtures on competition tires appear two or three years later on the market. "Except when you have a tip and you don’t know your replacement", entrusted to Site the deputy director of the Michelin competition, Nicolas Goubert: in this case, we wait a little longer !"

"However, we take care to reduce the heating time of commercial tires compared to racing ones, because even amateur pilots do not stress the tires as hard and as quickly as Sebastien Gimbert or Erwan Nigon", continues our interlocutor.

Available in three sizes for the rear (and one for the front, see next page), the Power Cup offers "eight new compounds, three at the front and five at the rear, which allow riders to choose the tire best suited to the track conditions".

Fortunately, the French manufacturer has thought of redesigning its site (formerly, now) which allows its customers to find the tire that meets their needs..

Very complete and sophisticated, this tool goes so far as to take into account the level of abrasiveness of the circuit (23 identified in France alone)! It is now impossible to hesitate between the different models of Michelin tires or to choose the wrong type of Power Cup, from the softest (A) to the hardest (C).

The carcasses of the Power Cup also differ from those of the Power One. "On the front tire, the angle of the plies is more open, which increases the rigidity of the carcass and the stability of the tire. The motorcycle is thus more stable under braking and its rider can more easily keep its trajectory on the angle", describe the engineers from Clermont-Ferrand (from the Michelin technology center in Ladoux, more precisely).

Note also that a more efficient variant is also proposed, but "However, it is only road approved in the V speed index, i.e. for speeds below 240 km / h". A shame, no ?

Faster than the Power One … and the competition

At the rear, however, the carcass has been made more flexible: "by allowing it to deform a little more, we have increased the contact surface by 8%", decisive factor while the most sporty motorcycles now spit 200 horsepower !

In addition, Michelin claims to have had to adapt its new hypersport tire to the new technologies on board Superbikes. Traction control systems, in particular, are spreading furiously and "care must be taken to ensure that the tire reacts correctly to different brands, whether Yamaha, MV Agusta, etc..".

In the end, what does the new Power Cup bring? "Improved lap time compared to its predecessor Power One Competition, the Clermontois swear, wooden cross, iron cross, if I lie, I’ll pay dearly !

According to another test carried out internally with high level pilots (Bertrand Stey, in particular), "the Power Cup spins 1.5 seconds faster than two of our main competitors", even Tommy Maussin tells us by means of a highly confidential graph showing three curves: blue for Michelin, yellow and red for" the others "…

The gap would have been maintained over the 15 laps of the comparison (19 seconds ahead), ie the duration of a race: "we seek to be better than our competitors in terms of performance and durability of the latter, while offering equivalent longevity".

At the same time, Michelin invited 120 Italians – Italy is the biggest market for this type of tire and Pirelli is largely dominant there – on the Mugello track, in order to introduce them to their new product..

"Engaged in various championships, cups or trophies, they all knew their pace on this track … and 35% of them improved their time thanks to the Power Cup", welcomes the Bibendum, eager to plunder the market shares of the transalpine" Devils ".

The Slick Party

For those who are not fully satisfied with the performance of the Power Cup, Michelin offers the Power Slick, which is " nothing less than the most efficient tire in the Michelin range on the circuit: handling, stability, progressive braking and ease of adjustment", describe the engineers of the French brand.

And that’s not all : "Compared to its predecessors, the Michelin Power Slick also stands out for its better handling. With good grip in curves, it provides good feedback and is positioned as a tire as safe as it is efficient.".

Using three layers instead of the usual four, Power Slick further increases the contact surface with the track: "the tire thus gains in grip and its wear decreases because the stress is distributed over a larger surface", Michelin analysis.

Adapted to the vast majority of Supersport and Superbike on the market, "the Power Slick offers a new dimension: the 20/69", warns the Auvergne pnematician. Wider and larger in diameter, it would – even! – offer a larger footprint.

The front tire has four layers – "two Rayon carcass plies and two Aramid top plies", says Michelin – which would allow it to keep its stability in turns."An appropriate combination of top and sidewall stiffness combines good braking stability, good handling and great ease of handling", adds the manufacturer.

Integrating 2CT and SCT (Synthetic Component Technology) technologies, the rear tire has five new compounds allowing it to be available in three more or less soft versions (A, B or C). The front is content with two new gums (A or B).

Finally, in addition to the Power Cup, the Power Slick – but also the Power One Street which remains at the forefront for trail riders -, "a third range, Michelin Power Rain, will be available from May 2012 to meet the needs of bikers on wet tracks", concludes the Clermont-Ferrand manufacturer.

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