Dunlop Q2 or Michelin Power 2CT

Has anyone any first hand experience on a SD with both Dunlop Q2 and Mihelin Pilot Power 2CTs?

I've got a set of Q2s currently mounted but they are wearing quickly and unevenly. I've used Pilot Powers in the past on other mounts and like the way they felt. Use would be primarily Sunday AM rides a track day or two and commuting.

Thanks for your feedback

Not run Q2s but i bloody love my 2cts. Perfect tip in angle for the SD imo and nice grip vs wear for my riding pace (quite fast road pace I'd say). Not trackdayed them though, use Racetecs for that.

I just put a pair of Pilot Road 3s on my SD. I know, street tyres, it's controversial, but I'm sure I'm going to run out of tallent before they run out of grip and I hated the Corsa 3s in the wet, bloody aweful tyre for cold or wet road riding I think.
Not had enough miles on the PR3s to really know, but so far they're good. Even after 15 miles, they had more grip in the wet than the corsa's

I would never, ever run 2CTs. I am, admittedly, perhaps a bit more track focused than your average street rider, but if track riding is on your agenda, stay clear of 2CTs. They will, if you have a bit of speed, overheat and let go without warning. I've got numerous friends who have crashed on track with them on, and no newbies by any measure. The story is ALWAYS the same, the traction just disappeared. Looking at the rubber, they've overheated. I'm sure there are people with different experiences, but I wouldn't use them even if I got paid.

If you do, say, 70% street and 30% track, I'd go for the Dunlop Roadsmarts. If it's the other way around, i.e. 30% street, 70% track, go for the Dunlop Sportsmarts. The latter are the best tyres I've ever used alongside the Dunlop GP Racers.

The SDR has Q2's on it now. I did Monticello last fall on them. No problem. I ran the same track in the fall of 09 with Pilot Powers. No problems.
Did a spring track day last year on the 2CT's and toasted the rear and put significant ware on the front in 6 sessions.
I like the front end feel and feedback of the Michelin's better.
The Q2's rear has a stiffer carcass and works a bit better.
If you are having ware issues with the Q2's; The 2CT's will too.
You could try running the 2CT front and one compound Pilot power rear.
.....or adjust the suspension
.... or adjust tyre pressures.
just don't expect to get touring rubber mileage out of sport tyres.
...and the faster you go the quicker the tyres ware.

I am very interested in this thread as I have 2 rear and 1 front Q2s on their way to me for the SDR.

I will be running Pilot Road 3s on my other bike when it is due for tyres again.

i used both on my SD and both worked very well but i like the Q2's better because they are cheaper and have a deeper profile so at extreme lean there was still more tyre there, but with the 2ct's i was at the absolute edge with no room for more lean if needed. i could barely get to the edge of the q2's but with the 2ct's i was at the edge just scrubbing them in.

First off, thanks for all the feedback. As some of bought up other tyres, here are my additional thoughts on other tyres mentioned. Roadsmarts and Pilot Road both scare me. I don't care for the feel of either tyre when mounted on previous rides so I won't be trying those. The feel of the Q2s on my SD was fine and as intuitive as the Pilot Power's have been on previous rides, the wear a bit strange though, front end cupping primarily, perhaps because of suspension set up?

I have two days of the Keith Code school scheduled for the beginning of May. I am closer to the fast beginner end of the spectrum of track day riders than the anything else. I probably could do with proper setting up, sag, etc of the suspension and do intend to do so prior to the school. Per Trackday Junkies recommendation I've installed the Nichols upper triple clamp, but unfortunately the suspension guy I intended to use for a proper setup this spring is now closed (GMD Computrak in Connecticut). No other track days are planned, yet. As for pricing I could get both within about $30 per set of one another.

At this point I am leaning towards the Dunlops for the school and when those wear out I might give the Michelin's a whirl, as these seemed to have better wear, long term on the road where I ride primarily, over the Dunlops.

What Dunlops are you looking at for the school? I would HIGHLY recommend going for the Sportsmarts. Great track day tyres and from personal experience, they last longer than other "sport"-tyres as well (on track and road).

do yourself a favour, get some Pirelli Diablo Rossa Corsa's and never look back..... exept to see where the other bikes are.

KTMguy is on to something.
Pirelli's cost is competitive too
http://www.racingmotorcycles.com/
http://www.orionmotorsports.ca/us/techInfo.htm
with these kind of prices I may run a set or 2 of theirs this year.
jeff

I personally am a fan of the q2s good tyre, predictable and u can push the front tyre too as they are very progressive. The let you know when you are getting to their limit so u can slide them. I also like for commuting the continental road attack 2s... Great road tyre, can push them hard but last well... Maybe 4 to 5 thousand kms. Not a track tyre but you should be happy with them... Can happily grind the pegs off my ducati with these

Cheers bud.

You have made my decision for me. Dunlop it is.

I used to run 2CTs and liked them, and never had any grip problems at Brands, but then again I'm at Inters level and always intend to ride home on the bike, LOL... so I'd say I'm conservatively fast and don't usually push my luck.

I have now moved to the Sportsmarts and so far I prefer them on road and track, and they're a quite a lot better in the wet.

...Been reading in new Bike mag about the latest tyres with "sipes" transforming wet weather riding, I'll def be running those next winter.