Modern Vespa

I've just done 5,000km with one of the new Michelin City Grip tyres on the rear wheel. It performed flawlessly. It's not the grippiest of tyres, but just as good as the Gold Standard or Pilot City. The important bit was the grip in the wet, which was excellent. i never felt a rear-wheel twitch except when the surface was a bit greasy - and any tyre would give that much feedback, and most might slide a lot more.

The wear (or lack of wear!) is astonishing. Apart from about 500km of more gentle pace, 4,500km was at the best speed achievable for the road conditions, and there has been almost no centre-line wear.

Highly recommended.

You neglected to mention that the last 1000 miles or so were in Italy, where there aren't any straight roads.

All good info that rear tire looks like new.

5000 kilometers = 3 106.85596 miles

Very encouraging. I put City Grips on mine (front and rear) when I got it a couple of months ago. Not done a lot of miles since but good to know what I can expect from them.

And I know it SHOULDN'T matter but they do look good on there...

Thanks Jim!

Mark

Impressive. That is on the Hornet right? Wonder how it holds up on an mp3?

I'd expect the wear to be slightly more on an MP3 250 (with 12" wheels), as there's more weight and more power transmitted on acceleration. However the Hornet was fully loaded for all the high-speed stuff to and from Italy, and the wear appears so minimal (so far!) that I bet the MP3 owners will be very satisfied with the longevity combined with excellent performance.

I think that's a good bet. Maybe I won't need to stay in the Dark.

wow 5000 miles and still have the nubs on the sides.
I have had mine on for just under 3K miles and so far much better wear than the diablo or the GTS24.

ive got a feeling their may well be a move away from the Heidenau for many now!

I generally get my tires through some friends at a local motorcycle shop. Gotta love the discount & the free mounting They were unable to find these tires for me in the correct size. What gives? Could it just be down to what their supplier stocks? I had to go for the Pilot Citys again.

tell them parts unlimited sells them alos westernmotorcycle parts, dennis kirk, motorcycle superstore, American motorcyle and tire, competion acc. shall I continue.....

Michelin has given LX riders the shaft. They don't make the City Grip in 11" diameter, and have discontinued the Pilot City. They no longer make anything at all for the front of an LX.

Time to find a new tire company.

Thanks for the info. I may just grab what my dealer still has in stock.

Sadly, the 11" wheel is a rarity, and I'm not surprised by some tyre manufacturers decisions. The same applies to the front tyre for the GP800.

Good to know!

Are those tread wear indicators, or did you collect rocks and screws?

old as dirt, Jim's got 5000 km, not miles. That would only be 3100.

Or a new scooter!

Thanks Jim. Do you think that they would suit my somewhat restrained appoach to riding ?

It's going to be between those and the Pirelli's.

Bill XX

Thanks Jim...still have a 130 and a couple of 120 Michelin City Pilots to go thru and will transition to City Grips...no complaints about the City Pilot.

I'd get those tires next but alas they are still my second choice. I love the Pirelli GTS 23 and 24s

Nah! Love the LX chassis! I've got a 4T Stella on order (but currently being held hostage by Customs/EPA) just because I want a shifty, and I'm looking at the LXV150i.e. just because I have S.A.S. (but that won't solve the tire problem).

Jim

I put on the City Grips in April but only have about 750 miles on them. I have been using the same factory recommended pressure settings that came with the Savas. Do you know whether the City Grips do better with a different pressure setting higher/lower than the Savas?? Thanks for the helpful review!!!!

Use the settings in the handbook (which doesn't need to mention tyre make) - but you can adjust these a little either way according to your personal needs/wishes. That's a whole new topic though!

Moved topic to Reviews section.

Thank you for review !

After 5000 km my two front Sava MC16 are about on 60% and hold road perfectly but rear Sava Diamond MC 28 is a worst tire ever.

I've contacted my dealer and he have very decent price for CityGrip:

120/70-12 MI CITY GRIP 51S 32,87 EUR
140/70-14 MI CITY GRIP 68S 43,92 EUR

No City Grip in 140/70 12.....

Deal killer for me.

R

8)

the worst tires ever were the stock Maxxis Nylon, my MP3 250cc came with. Used them for 6.800kms (99% in dry tarmac) and changed them for a set of Michelin City Grips.

Astonishing difference from the very first mile... I waited the first 500kms and them started trying then under different occasions. Full braking, full throttle, dry, wet... I am totally happy from my tires, I hope they last long.

At 5,400 miles the tyre was just half-worn - the tread depth in the centre was now equal to that at the sides. How much more left? I won't know this time, as I changed it out ready for a trip to Greece and back - that would probably have taken it to end-of-life, and knowing my luck would have happened somewhere where they didn't have any in stock.

My guess is that this very reliable tyre in both wet and dry will have a useful life of 9,000 miles (15,000 km) even if often ridden at WOT with a full touring load.

Most impressed - my tyre of choice from now on. I note Piaggio now fit them as standard from new.

Have over 5000 miles on my City Grips and they too are showing very little wear. My Gold Standards went over 12K and the CG's look like they will get there too. The wet weather traction is "priceless". My only nit pik is there is a bit of howling at speeds over 50mph. Really good tires

I am so glad I am an active member of Modern Vespa. The best advice is to be received here. I changed my rear sava at 4k to a city grip. I am really hoping for 9k on the new city grip. It was expensive.

Does anyone have anything against mixing rear and front tires? I want to get a pirelli for the front once the Sava is worn out.

My city grip has done 6000 km now and it's reasonably worn, though it's already done better than the 4500 km that finished off the OEM pirelli

Hello !
My Vespa GTS 300 Super is my new Michelin City-Grip was fitted to run 6,600 km and has a very high opinion of him I am.
The Vespa GTS 250 ABS previous engine 40,000 km on my running Sava, Pirelli, Heidenau tires !

Translation please. Has this post been disenvoweled or an I seen double?

I just got my set of City Grips for my GTS last weekend, and have put about 500kms on them since.

For anyone considering buying new tires for their scooter they bought second hand, two words: DO IT. The GTS rides like an entirely different animal on the new rubber, compared to the old. Part of that had to do with the Pirelli SL36 on the back being worn, but a lot of it had to do with the Sava up front just being old. Cornering feel in the dry has been completely changed (and for the better), and they did not have any problems in the light rain we had on Sunday.

I've done the same to old cars I've bought, and been astounded at the difference a new set of rubber has made, so I'm not sure why I'm so surprised this time around. But everything to do with ride, handling, and comfort on the bike is better than it was, so from me, these tires get a huge recommendation. Now to see if I can get the same awesome wear others have.

Jim - I confess to not being terribly experienced or informed (hey, that's why I'm HERE on MV) My service shop.Modern Classics in DC, said "no,not City Grips, you're getting the Pilot Sports." What is your opinion on the pros and cons, Pilots vs Citys? I trust Gerry to keep me safe - he knows I'm a newb, but now wonder why...

AFAIK the City Grips have replaced all the 'Pilot' series (BICBW).

Whatever, the City Grips work very well indeed for the 'standard' user.

They last very well for the speed maniacs as well - but they do 'cup' and 'feather' - so might be considered as brilliant all-year-round commuter tyres rather than track-day tyres...

That said, the only ill effect on one out of four scoots with (rear) City Grips on over 4,000 miles was a slight increase in front-end 'wobble' - not a deal-breaker as all of those were taken to the limit, and the extra 'wobble' won't be apparent in the most usual set-ups.

Life expectancy? Over 7,000 miles if not all freeway-type WOT riding.

I bought both front and rear "City Grips" based on the good reviews I had read, here on ModernVespa I believe. Anyway, I installed them at 17,500 miles, just before my trip to Amervespa in New Orleans in June. I now have 25,500 on the rear, and still looks like another 1000 or 2 to go.
I've almost always gotten good mileage on my Vespa 200 and now Vespa 250. In the the past I have been using Pirelli's - getting 6000 miles or so.
I think these City Grips are fantastic, at least on the rear. The front tire gave me a little more wobble than I would like right from the start. At 6000 miles the wobble was enough to scare my mechanic (and me frankly). Went back to a new Pirelli on the front, wobble gone. I should mention that I use Dyna Beads for balance in my tires, don't know if that makes any difference.
Here's a picture of the tire at 25,500 miles, you judge for yourself.
Jack

I have now put 14k miles on my Cities. The rear is about done. The front still has some life left but the last 5k miles they have worn unevenly and are howling at highway speeds. My wobble is back but I believe my wear/wobble/noise are all related and I think it is due to wheel balancing or lack of it. Do Dyna beads help? I will definitely put another set of the Cities on my BV. Initially my wobble was gone and redeveloped as tires wore. They have continued to have great wet weather traction 8)

The Pilots are still featured on the US website in most relevant scooter sizes. It is apparent that there is a difference in the tread pattern, but I have no idea what that would mean to performance or wear.
http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/index.cfm?event=TireSelector

why did you not have them balanced when installed?

Balancing tires is half the life of them , the other half is tire pressure.
If the installer does not have the tools to balance them get a marc parnes balance tool and do the yourself.

mostly based on this thread, i just ordered a pair of cities.
the pirellis on her now are starting to crack a bit, in between the tread. they ride well, though. got caught in the rain, yesterday and drove about 15 miles, wet roads. with rain having been scant this year i expect the roads to be a little slicker than usual. she cornered well and braked confidently. let's hope michelin hold up to their rep...