Writing about the
Michelin City Grip 2 given
97% (120-70-12-)
Driving on
mostly country roads for 2500
spirited miles
For what it is, this tire is amazing! I paired these with EBC sintered brake pads and hardened vented EBC rotors on a 250cc Honda scooter. The braking strength and grip is astonishing for a scooter with 12 inch wheels. I'm concerned that it might have strong enough braking power to actually collapse the little front suspension or steering head bearing and fold the front wheel under the bike in a panic stop with a fully loaded bike and warm tires- its THAT strong on dry roads with warm rubber, the grip is just endless. When the rubber is cold-cold, it's really best to ride quite delicately, and this it true for literally all tires. These tires warm up quickly and that's when they bite into the street and start to really work. In turns, they are stable, predictable, very grippy and offer excellent feedback. My 250 scooter drags hard parts on the street when I lean it all the way over in the curves, both left and right. Turn-in is sharp and precise. Grip is progressive in the way it eventually crosses the limit, giving the rider a very good chance to counter manoeuvre and save it. This second-gen tire does much better than the original city grips, which struggled with the painted lines on the road when wet. Since these are "M+S" tires, they are technically all-season tires. I can attest to their reliability in all weather, as I've daily driven this Honda scooter throughout winter in the Alps of Austria. Rain, snow, freezing temps, all are possible when the bike is ridden appropriately for the conditions. Tires are not a cure-all, but quality rubber certainly changes the riding experience, and these Michelins are my only choice. Wear is only just now becoming discernible after 2,500km, and performance is unaffected. Price is slightly higher than competition, but undoubtedly worth it to me. I wouldn't need any additional sporty performance than what I'm getting from this all season tire, so it is used in all seasons. It does just as great in the city as it does on the motorway or canyons. My wife hated motorcycles and the idea of riding, but she is now applying for her motorbike license after riding less than one season with me. I can't help but believe that these Michelins played a role in that effect.