Michelin Power One Tyre of the Year for MCN

Announced at the Excel Motorcycle Show in London on 4 February 2010, Michelin’s Power One tyre has been voted Motorcycle News Product of the Year (Tyres). The French giant says that the tyre was developed integrating motorcycle racing technologies into its hypersport tyre range, boasting better handling characteristics through these innovations; a strategy that seems, in the opinion of MCN, to have paid off.

The Michelin Power One racing range comprises two sub-categories. The Michelin Power One grooved range is made up of 20 models available in eight sizes. With nine different rubber compounds approved for road riding, it is designed for optimal use in racing or on track days. In the second category, the Michelin Power One 16.5-inch slick and rain tyre is available in seven versions, with two sizes and 11 rubber compounds. It was developed exclusively for track use and in particular for high-level competition.

The Michelin Power One treaded range provides grip that the company calls “nearly on a par with a slick tyre, even at lean angles of 40° to 60°.” It also says that the tyre allows riders to “get their knee down, even in the first curve.” Having been developed from racing tyres, the Michelin Power One is highly responsive, enabling the rider to lean into the curve with minimal effort. This feature has been further reinforced for the 16.5” models, which enable more progressive braking and greater lean angles. With three different front-tyre architectures, the Michelin Power One treaded range allows riders to choose between stiffness (for a more precise trajectory) and flexibility. The Power One tyre range uses 16 different rubber compounds in total.

Michelin has also created a dedicated website for its Power One, which should help riders to determine which model is best for their needs. Available free of charge, this online service helps users to select the most appropriate tyre. It also provides tyre inflation recommendations based on information provided by the rider. Six selection criteria are involved and no technical knowledge is required, since the Michelin software does the calculation and chooses the right tyre immediately.