FIVE MINUTES WITH… DEAN BAUDART, MICHELIN TEST RIDER

FB: What was the main aim for the Road 5s?

DB: We all knew how good the previous Road 4 was, which put a lot of pressure on us to create something even better. The big aim for us was creating a superior all-round product to appeal to the worldwide audience – meaning we had to improve the tyre in the wet and dry, but most importantly focusing on longevity as it’s a product made to last.

FB: How rigorous was the testing programme for the Road 5?

DB: It was crazy! We worked day and night to make this tyre as good as possible, finishing off with a back-to-back test against its major rivals: Metzeler Roadtec 01, Dunlop Road Smart 3, Continental Road Attack 3, Pirelli Angel 3 and the Bridgestone T30 EVO, which were each fitted to a control bike. We used a Suzuki Bandit 1250 and overall the Road 5 scored better in terms of dry performance, wet performance and stability.

FB: How hard would you be willing to push on the Road 5s?

DB: At the end of the day, they’re a sports touring tyre at heart which is made to last the duration. When putting them back-to-back with the Road 4 at our test track, I had a difference of three seconds around just a 60 second lap. Of course they don’t offer the same amount of precision and feedback as the Power RS range will, but they offer a good level if you wish to go on track or ride fast on the road!