Michelin "City Grip 2" scooter tires

[Stig / Major Tom]

Revzilla says they will have them in a month or two. Already avail in Europe & UK I guess.
If you find a site currently selling them in the USA please let us know!

Scroll down to see tire sizes which will be offered for this 2nd generation City Grip.
https://motorcycle.michelinman.com/motorbike/tyres/michelin-city-grip-2

Stig

[monkeybongos]

FYI, Michelin told me last week Power Pure was longer lasting than City Grip and CG 2.

[Stig / Major Tom]

FYI, Michelin told me last week Power Pure was longer lasting than City Grip and CG 2.

Thanks.
I am running a new CG and a new PP. I much prefer the rain tread of the CG....but I'm no tire engineer.
I just removed a front City Grip with nearly 16,000 miles on it. Plenty of tread, no cracks...put another one on.
Since scooter tires are a pain to replace, I'll probably NOT experiment with Angels, but stay with another set of CG on my Piaggio. Unless I read some really good reviews on the Angels.
Stig

[scooterfan]

I mounted a City Grip at the rear quite recently and I must admit - after about 7400 km I am a bit disappointed.
The right hand side of the tyre - halfway between the center and far right of the tyre is wearing quite fast. The left side of the tyre seem to wear evenly, like expected.

To my mind this is quite unusual - because the previous tyre (Cheng Chin) at the rear did not get worn in such a way. I still ride the same roads, at the same speed. Nothing has changed, but the City Grip gets worn more towards the right side of the tyre.

 At this stage it looks like the right hand side of the City Grip will be completely worn before the tyre has reached the same mileage as the Cheng Chin tyre (12500 km) . The centre part and left hand side of the City Grip might still be good at 12500 km - but the surface between the centre and far right will be completely worn before 12500 km.

I still have the old tyre, and I took some pictures.

1. The City Grip can be seen at the first photo (7400 km)
2. The Cheng Chin can be seen at the 2nd photo (12500 Km). Wear on this tyre was spread evenly from left to right across this tyre.

[scooterfan]

The left hand side of the City Grip can be seen below - in much better condition.

[Stig / Major Tom]

It is my understanding that the stock nylon tires from China that Kymco uses on our lower priced scooters will wear very slowly indeed.
Higher priced rubber tires wear more quickly, but have much better grip in all conditions.
Vespa mounts the City Grip on most of their scooters - perhaps all of them.
For mostly dry climates - $30 nylon Kendas, etc., might be the way to go?
Folks get all kinds of results from rear tires. Cupping usually. .....
Stig

[Stig / Major Tom]

The left hand side of the City Grip can be seen below - in much better condition.

That seems strange.
Wheel was remounted properly?.....although I'm not sure how it could be mounted with a tilt?....riding more on the right shoulder.
Very crowned roads in your wrong-sided driving there is S Africa?
Again, folks get all kinds of results from rear scooter tires. Some big scooters get only 5,000 miles out of a rear.

Stig
 

[Neil955i]

I used City Grips on my previous scooter for 3 years with absolutely no complaints at all, found the grip predictable in all conditions.  As soon as I'm able I want to try Power Pure tyres on my XT300 assuming  hey're available in the right sizes - last time I checked here in the UK only available for one end!

[scooterfan]

That seems strange.
Wheel was remounted properly?.....although I'm not sure how it could be mounted with a tilt?....riding more on the right shoulder.
Very crowned roads in your wrong-sided driving there is S Africa?
Again, folks get all kinds of results from rear scooter tires. Some big scooters get only 5,000 miles out of a rear.

Stig

Since my previous post I’ve had a good look at the original nylon front tyre still on the scoot as well. The tyre is on it’s  last legs and it is clear that the tyre is completely worn at the right - with slightly less wear at the left.
I guess the front tyre has been mounted by a supplier at the factury, while the City Grip has been mounted by myself. Definitely no tilt.
So it became clear that the wear on both tyres has something to do with the roads in our area. I think it just means the nylon tyres are a lot harder than rubber tyres - therefore compared to nylon tyres, City Grip rubber tyres will tend to wear faster towards the outer sides on certain roads.
I once watched a video regarding Michelin PR4  tyres which indicated that softer rubber get used towards the outer sides of the tyres while a harder rubber get used at the center part. If the same technology get used on the City Grips, I think it might be the reason why the rightat the CityGrip on my scooter is getting worn a lot faster than the previous nylon tyre.

I will forward a photo of the wear on the front tyre a bit later.

P.S. A photo of the wear on the nylon front tyre can be seen below.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I've read that the very crowned roads in Florida are built to drain the heavy tropical rains + they use shell fragments more than gravel in the pavement mixture....ALL of which eat up scooter tires at a maddening rate.
Stig

[Neil955i]

You're right Stig.  It is amazing the difference road surfacing techniques can make to tyre wear.  On the Isle of Man because of the TT Races and other car races I believe the roads which make up the "circuit" get a grippy type of tarmac.  That's the only explanation I have for managing to shag a pair of Dunlops on my Triumph Sprint back in the '90's in less than a week!

[john grinsel]

I have original City Grip on rear of my 2019 XTown 300i----nothing special in the handling dept---starting to wear square----looks like it will last for  long time---won't buy again.

[monkeybongos]

Have 3000 miles on a rear Continental Conti-Scoot.  Satisfied w the ride and handling, but doesn't look like it'll get much more than 5000.  Got 5800 on the Duro it replaced, which I don't think handled as well.  Looking at Power Pure or new Bridgestone Battlax SC 2 Rain next.  Not much info on the Battlax, however.