Michelin invents Road-Legal Multi-Compound Racing Tyre

Michelin has launched the first road legal multi-compound racing tyre, the Power Race. The hypersport bike tyre utilises Two-Compound Technology (2CT), which the manufacturer says represents a “leap forward in the development of commercial motorcycle tyres.”

Positioned at the top of Michelin’s race range the Power Race replaces the discontinued Pilot Race 2. The tyre has been designed to meet the requirements of sportsbikes, and is available in seven different rubber compounds to cover a wide range of uses, for both road and track.

Michelin explains the theory behind the seven compounds: “Bear in mind that the front and rear tyres of a motorcycle are subject to very different forces. The front tyre experiences less strain than the rear one and therefore has softer tread, delivering better grip, more precise steering and easier handling. The rear tyre has a harder tread, since it has to transmit engine torque to the ground, and therefore has a longer life.”

With seven compounds and six tyres (three front and three rear), the Power Race offers a wide range of options. A Tyre Guide has been published alongside the new tyre, to help riders choose the right tyre. The interactive, guide makes recommendations based on five criteria: temperature (high, medium or low); weather conditions (dry, wet or damp); type of track or itinerary (fast with gentle bends or slower and twisty); use (qualifying, 50-100 km race. 100+ km race, or road/leisure travel); and engine displacement (750cc or less, over 750cc).