Before inviting a group of top dealers from across the UK to Seville for the launch of the new Road 5, Michelin hosted the official press launch in the capital of the autonomous Andalusia region of southern Spain.
The launch included a trip to Monteblanco circuit, plus a road ride on some top Spanish twisties to give journalists a real chance to put the new rubber to the test.
Top UK magazine Fast Bikes sent their man Carl Stevens along for the launch, and in their May edition Carl gave readers his feedback on how the new Road 5 performance.
After the wet handling track test, Carl commented:
“In all honesty, I’m not the biggest fan of the wet but the 5s did give me the confidence to ride faster than I normally would on road rubber. They felt instantly grippy and offered a surprisingly positive amount of feedback for a tyre that’s arguably pretty hard-wearing and built for distance above all. The new tread design does wonders for firing the water out of the way, and even on the high speed slalom the Road 5s gripped impressively well, while still offering a level of flick-ability you’d expect from a much sportier tyre.”
For the first leg of the road ride, he jumped on the superb Yamaha MT-07 and went on to say:
“Thanks to the latest gen compounds, there was astounding amounts of feel on the edge of the tyres. As the roads became twistier the Michelin’s kept on taking every single ounce of abuse I could throw until the MT’s softly damped suspension was screaming ‘no more.”
After a quick coffee stop it was time for a change, in the shape of Aprilia’s big Tuono V4, and big inputs of the throttle would start to see the traction control kick in.
Summing up, Carl says:
“Despite being plastered with new tech, pleasantly rolling profiles and cleverly shaped sipes, the Michelin Road 5s were never made for setting lap records, but to give a predictable and long lasting road-friendly riding experience which is exactly what they do.”
For the full article from the launch, pick up the latest copy of Fast Bikes.
Find out more about the new Road 5 here.
