Member Contributer Motor_Ref Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I was hanging out in the motorcycle store today. Imagine that. I was looking at tires. There was a 180-55-17 Pilot Power -U right next to a 190-xx-17 Pilot Power. ^^^^ Does anyone know what the -U means? I asked the guys who work there. Nobody knew. I asked google. Nothing there. I visited the Michelin website. I couldn't find anything there. Now I am asking here. Ideas anyone? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dutchinterceptor Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I want to know too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Motor_Ref Posted August 7, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I want to know too!! If we find out here, we will both know. I shook hands with Merckx once and have an autographed picture. He was quite a figure back in the days of bicycle racing. I also have a bicycle with his name on it. :goofy: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer VFR FLYER Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I want to know too!! If we find out here, we will both know. I shook hands with Merckx once and have an autographed picture. He was quite a figure back in the days of bicycle racing. I also have a bicycle with his name on it. :goofy: . this could be the speed rating? i have never heard of a U but maybe it wasn't printed well and is another letter? did the U appear on both sides or other tires? you got my attention too!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dutchinterceptor Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Still have your Campy stickers sitting on my desk! :goofy: I honestly can't say that the U has always been on the labels but it did pique my curiosity when I bought tires the other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Motor_Ref Posted August 7, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Still have your Campy stickers sitting on my desk! :ph34r: I sure hope you enjoy looking at them. I really like Campy stuff. Stop by some time. We will get all that stuff out, spread it all over the floor and drool over it. I honestly can't say that the U has always been on the labels but it did pique my curiosity when I bought tires the other day. I really don't know about this. I do know that what caught my eye was the -U on one of the tires and not the other one. The 190 really looked good. Too bad I can't put it on my VFR. I would get yelled at here. But I do have another bike for it that would look just right. :goofy: BaileyRock where are you? We need you to tell us what the deal is with this -U. :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 "The 190 really looked good. Too bad I can't put it on my VFR. I would get yelled at here." you need to go with a 190 55 not a 50. has a profile very similar to the 180 55. 190 50 is very different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 even the goofy DN-01 runs a 190 50 :biggrin: and the u means... Makes U Wonder :goofy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 found this on google images 190 55 tire profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer hondalover Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I'm wondering if you "U" is an indicator of an OEM tire. I'm not sure why a dealer would buy a tire from the bike manufactuer unless it was a warrenty type issue. Enquiring minds want to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer poconovfr Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 I've run both a 180 and 190. Other than turn in, I don't find a big difference. I know some guys out here frown on running the 190....Hey when your on a budget. Oh, you do have to lean a little farther to lose the strip. :fing02: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jeremy556 Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 190/60 :fing02: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer poconovfr Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 190/60 :fing02: Yeah and something tells me there's no strip left on those tires. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Motor_Ref Posted August 7, 2008 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 190/60 :fing02: Yeah and something tells me there's no strip left on those tires. :laugh: There is usually a strip on race take-off tires. It is in the center of the tread. :goofy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I think the U means: "U need this tire" j/k I don't know, my guess is that it has to do with the hardness/softness of the tire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmythecop Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 * 120/70L10 Michelin Pilot City U RF tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileyrock Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Both of my PR 2's have the "U" on the label(120/180) not sure what it means, but doubt if it has any significance. :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Vee-Ef-Ar Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Hmmmm, I have three possibilities: 1. According to the Triumph forums, the U stands for a specific tyre designed for the United States = Seems too odd to be true. 2. In Australia, most Michelin truck tyres comes with a letter which denote it's use. U = urban... eg. local bus, stop start and tight cornering = But we don't have trucks. And 3. Which is my own speculation - The U means updated/upgraded. Didn't the PR2's have a recall last year? Maybe these are to differentiate between the two. Anyway... lets talk about oil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer VFR FLYER Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 as i had previously thought, the U is the tire speed rating. i just never heard of the U! http://www.dunntire.com/Learning_Center/Tire_Speed_Ratings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Vee-Ef-Ar Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Speed ratings are usually marked ON the tyre. In the case of the PR2's, they are ZR rated last time I looked. I would steer well clear of any mc tyre that didn't have a ZR rating. Especially a U rating. I can understand Michelin not wanting to change molds in order to add a U to the wall of the tyre. Hence, they are delievered with the U label, as once it is removed, the U would make things alittle confusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soichiro Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Yeah, my first thought was speed rating. I believe pilot powers are ZR rated. Just went and checked and powers are ZR rated. I believe that is the highest speed rating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer VFR FLYER Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Yeah, my first thought was speed rating. I believe pilot powers are ZR rated. mine are but the tires pic ed are pilot roads. i know knowing about them................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer VFR FLYER Posted August 7, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 7, 2008 Hmmmm, I have three possibilities:1. According to the Triumph forums, the U stands for a specific tyre designed for the United States = Seems too odd to be true. 2. In Australia, most Michelin truck tyres comes with a letter which denote it's use. U = urban... eg. local bus, stop start and tight cornering = But we don't have trucks. And 3. Which is my own speculation - The U means updated/upgraded. Didn't the PR2's have a recall last year? Maybe these are to differentiate between the two. Anyway... lets talk about oil! i think we have a winner! i just talked to Dave at cycle gear. he didn't know so he called his tire supplier for Michelin's. the U on the paper label designates destination. usa. :warranty: let's NOT talk about oil............read the thousands of posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the dozens of threads!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rice Posted August 9, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 9, 2008 I have just installed a rear PP 2CT and was wondering how to position it. Pirellis had a red dot to position against the valve stem. PPs have no such designation, but they do have this weird U. First i thought that U should be placed across from the valve stem, but then I saw another U on the other side, which did not match. So, I too am interested in finding out what U stands for, but even more so, i would like to know whether I installed the tire correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer motogpfan Posted August 9, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted August 9, 2008 Since I worked at a tire manufacturing plant for 20 years at the tread and side wall dept.we stamped many different codes on the sidewall of the tire i.e. U meant we run it on Sunday,3 that it was run on machine 3 or it could be a code at which plant the tire was made.Each manufacturing plant has it on coding so it's not worth knowing.Michelin has the best mixing process which means a better tire. Regards. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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