Sport vs. High-Performance Sport tires
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I’ve been wondering about the new Dunlop D208 and Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and how they compare against the Qualifier and Pilot Powers respectively. Luckily, Sport Rider magazine had a write up on this very same subject called “Tire Test” on their December 2006 issue.
The article was not trying to compare the Dunlop vs. Michelin, but rather how five categories of tires – sport-touring, sport, high-performance sport, DOT and slicks compare within the same brand.
Since I was only interested in comparing Sport vs. High-Performance Sport, I figure I would share what I read with you.
The contents below were taken right out of the magazine. I shorten it for quicker reading.
Sport Rider MAgazine used two riders to compare all tires on the tract and street. Both riders who tested the Sports and High-Performance Sport (HPS) tires noted that the HPS tires’ traction, and specially edge grip, was superior to the Sport and that brought along with extra confidence on the track. One of the rider’s on the Michelins, wrote that the 2CT felt almost identical to the standard Power but with more grip. The other rider, on the Dunlops, noted a large improvement in traction couple with a slight deterioration in compliance and stability in faster, bumpier turns. Both riders agree that with the extra grip came the requirement for more accurate settings [something I will need to work on this winter].
On the street portion of the test, the extra traction on the HPS tires was more of an advantage over the sport tires on smooth pavements than in rougher sections. Both riders cited slightly sharper steering characteristics compare with the sport tires’, but the HPS were noticeably less compliant, getting flustered more easily over bumps.
Judging strictly from the street data, the HPS tires had the highest average speed through many sections, indicating the best compromise of grip, stability, compliance and steering for street work.
Hope this helps…