Pirelli Angel GT: long-term tyre test
With so much already going on underneath and around you, it’s reassuring to have a tyre you can trust -- and one that is a little kinder on the hip pocketAll too often we’re thrown a set of hoops with clever company claims that they’ll out-stick or out-last any tyre that has ever gone before them. Or that some revolutionary new hyper-silica space-age formula will see you riding like Casey Stoner from the moment you roll out of the fitting bay, even if it’s wet.
It’s usually bullocks...
But for once the claims of a manufacturer appear to be holding true. I’ve so far put around 8000km on our long-term set of Pirelli Angel GTs and they still have a lot of meat on them. In fact, the usual flat spotting across the centre of the rear is only slightly worse than when last we spoke -- and that’s after a fair highway stint on a recent trip back from Sydney.
Since last we spoke, the Angel GTs have completed a circuitous return trip to Sydney via the Snowy Ride in Cooma and a smoke-filled trip through Wisemans Ferry, a lap or three of the Reefton and Black Spurs and an extended waltz through much of picturesque South Gippsland.
Encountering a variety of road and weather conditions proved that the communicative and predictable nature of the Angel GTs is heaven sent.
On rough, loose and changing surfaces the Pirellis convey their purchase on the road below instantly. Knowing the amount of grip you can access is vital on irregular tarmac, and pleasingly the hoops do just that, which inspires a lot of confidence and allows you to concentrate on the task at hand.
It’s a similar experience in hot and cold weather. The Angel GTs appear to reach operating temperature quickly, and even when it’s a case of cold on cold the tyres don’t feel precarious in the least. And that’s a handy thing when you might feel a little dusty on those early morning starts...
Being summer, and albeit a dismal one, we haven’t had a lot of time in the rain during the course of this update. But we have clocked up another 5000km, and the claims that this tyre will out-last are indeed proving honest.
My previous rubber (the stickier OEM Pirelli Diablo Rosso) saw just over six months and 6000km service before biting the dust. I’ve managed a third more in the same time frame on the Angels and to look at, you’d guess I’ve done less than half that.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Angel GTs go the distance without deteriorating all of a sudden (I’ve had this happen quite inconveniently with a particular dual-compound tyre once before), and if hotter summer temps affect the compound adversely. Watch this space!
Pirelli Angel GT price guide (as tested):
Front 120/70ZR17 (58W) $199
Rear 180/55ZR17 (73W) $279
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