Michelin Tire Opinion, Pictures Added

[Mick Milakovic]

Hi All, I came across a bargain on eBay and bought a couple of Michelin tires:  an HP4 Starcross front and M12 rear.  The pair were only $75 with no shipping cost, and they are for a bike I'm building to sell, so to have new Michelin's seemed like a pretty good selling point.  Have any of you used these tires?  I think I've heard comments on the M12 but don't remember the HP4?  The advertisement claimed the M12 to be a good intermediate tire, and HP4 was said to be a good "blue-groove" application, so I'm assuming it's a harder tire.  It's also a 90-100 so it's a little wider than some.  I got the tires yesterday, and the M12 has impressive knobs!  The HP4 has what they call a "wave pattern".  Thanks in advance for your opinions,

Mick

Here's the Michelin HP4 front tire; anybody ever use it?


Here's another tire I found in eBay, a VEE Rubber 4.60x17 for one of my Huskys, only $49.99; very vintage looking with massive knobs:

[derek martin]

I don't have any experience with the HP4 Michelin. I ran a set of M12 Michelins on the PV bike (84 IT490) I was racing in AHRMA cross country late 2008 and a few events in 2009 and preferred them over the Dunlop 490 front and 695 rear or Bridgestone ED11 front and IRC VE33 rear combinations I had ran for years. With that being said I used Michelin S12 front and rears on a 74 CR125 that I raced AHRMA vintage motocross on in 2009 and immediately realized tremendous cornering confidence. I removed the M12 tires from the IT490 and installed a new set of S12 tires and experienced the same. The S12 tires held up pretty well too on the 490. Short story long - I liked the M12s but prefer the Michelin S12. Regards - Derek.

[Jack Penton]

I have exclusively used M12 tires on my '77 250 for years. I personally feel they are the best all around tire available.

[Mike Hufnagel]

I use the Michelin S12 exlusivley on the rear of all my dirt bikes. I only use the S12 front when it's really muddy (normally the M12 or a Maxxis) In my opinion the S12 front in dry conditions doesn't offer me enough grip and seems to flex a bit.  

BUT!!!! The rear S12 is awesome. Wears like steel, even in rocky conditions! Knobs get rounded off, turn the tire around. I can go one season on a rear. Plus, you can get it in a 140 size. (I haven;t seen anybody elses tire in that big of size)

74 Yamaha TY 250
75 Jackpiner w/ 250 eng.
80 Ktm Mc 400
82 KTM GS250II (import)
82 KTM 495
2) 84 Yam RZ350
98 KTM 300mxc
00 KTM Duke 2
06 KTM 950 Adv.
08 Suzuki DR70Z

[brian kirby]

I have an M12 on the front of the Maico and I like it, but I have had very poor results with the S12. The S12 is great in full soft or sand, but contrary to what everyone tells me, it is horrible in rocky or hardpack conditions. I tried a set of the new S12XC tire on my modern YZ125 which is supposed to be more durable than the original S12 to see if they were any better and completely shredded it in one day of riding. Needless to say, I'll never buy another set of S12s

Mike, the Michelins are not physically any bigger, the number them differently. The Michelin 140 is the same physical width as a 120 from Dunlop or Pirelli.

Brian

[Dwight Rudder]

Vintage looking tires belong on vintage bikes. IMO.  I would look at Duro tires and Kenda K257 for lower priced tires and small bores.  For 175cc and up bikes I would use Pirelli MT16 front and rear or Metzeler Unicross.  The Later , look vintage but work modern. I use the Pirelli on my modern bikes when I can.

[skiracer]

I have a S12 on the back of my 250 MC5, and love it.  It works really well on grass tracks.  On my modern bikes, I run the MT 16's.  They work well in the New England rocks and roots.

1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1982 Suzuki PE 175
1976 Husqvarna 175GP
2002 KTM 200 EXC
2007 KTM 250 XCF
1979 KTM 250 GS (Project)
1981 KTM 250 (Project)

[tooclose racing]

Help - I'm going to mount some new MT-16's on my 76 MC5 250 in my quest to beat ANYBODY in 2011.  Can a fellow POGGER confirm which size rear I would use?

Dwight - are you affiliated with a retailer that does mail order?  If yes, you are welcome to email me at [email protected] if ya want to share that information with me.

Thanks

Bob Close

[brian kirby]

120/100-18.

Brian

[Dwight Rudder]

No Mail order normally but the KICKSTAND sometimes helps vintage riders. Why not just buy from your favorite retailer locally ?
As for the MT16 on a 250, you have the choice of 110/100X18 or 120/100X18.  The 120 is a BIG tire.  Depends on your riding style and power of the bike.  The 110 would not be too small.  It takes a strong 175 or bigger to pull the 110/100X18.  It is a large size 400/425X18 where the 120/100X18 is a full 450/5.10X18.
Dwight

quote:Originally posted by tooclose racing

Help - I'm going to mount some new MT-16's on my 76 MC5 250 in my quest to beat ANYBODY in 2011.  Can a fellow POGGER confirm which size rear I would use?

Dwight - are you affiliated with a retailer that does mail order?  If yes, you are welcome to email me at [email protected] if ya want to share that information with me.

Thanks

Bob Close

[Larry Perkins]

With the MT on a 250 MC5 go the 110 especially for MotoX.

Larry P

[tooclose racing]

Thanks guys...I actually did think about going to a local shop for my tire order and NOW I will, Dwight.  We've got an outfit up here called Bristol Racing - not a dealer, just engines and maintenance on bikes and ATVs.  Great guys and the owner shows up at a few of our events with his early eighties YZ490.   I suspect the move to 4 stroke motors has kept their business somewhat healthy - kids just don't how to do the top ends and the parents sure as hell don't have the time.  He did a great job with a 125B cylinder that I needed rebored.

Now Brian..you've bucked the trend by  going with the 120 vs. the 110 recommended by Dwight and Larry.  Please share...

And  - while a bit off-topic, I have FINALLY purchased a set of 38mm forks from another POG member to mount up on the MC5 after talking about it for a season or two.  I looked back at your set-up information (Brian) and passed it along to the shop (Thor's Suspension products) helping me with them - I am also going to Race Tech emulators.  Yes...I'm lazy, but also working about 80/hrs week till 3rd week of April so very little bike prep time available before I go racing.

Again...thanks.

[brian kirby]

I said 120 because the 110 works good on 175 Canned Hams, so I thought it might be too small for a strong 250 like a Penton. I run the 120 on the 400, which obviously, cant have too big a tire as long as it will fit between the swing arm. Ernie and Kid Christopher run the 120 on their vintage 250s, but it IS a very big tire and I think Larry and Dwight are not wrong that the 110 would work well, maybe better than the 120 for MX like Larry said.

Brian

[Larry Perkins]

Brian,

How is the knee doing?

Larry P

[brian kirby]

Its better every day, I can bend it 90deg today. I go to see an Orthopedic Dr on Thursday.

Brian