2012 RT tyres

[Martyn H]

The first picture is of the Roadsmart 2's I had before I tried Michelins but the odd thing is,the front was also shot on the Dunlops. I've never worn a pair of tyres out together and wouldn't use Dunlops again. I seem to think I got around 2500+ miles from the Roadsmarts.
I've got PR 4's on my R1200R that I keep in Spain for me and the Mrs to use and they've not lasted too well. The edges have gone but the centre is OK!?!

Although the Michelin rear has gone on the sides,grip was good but it now moves around a little on full lean. The front is OK and will probably outlast another rear. The PR4's have covered less than 2000 miles.

If the PR4's last better than PR3's,I'm glad I didn't try the 3's

I'm OK with this rate of tyre wear while they grip well and keep me upright and if I want to use tyres that last 1000's of miles,I'll take the car.

I can honestly say I've never seen a set of Roadsmart 2's so comprehensively shagged. Even in police use they usually return between 4 & 6K.

 

[Our Gee]

My tyre supplier / fitter told me that the original Roadsmart is still the best all round compromise of grip, handling, ride, mileage and wear characteristics, the latter being important with the weird BMW suspension and that many higher mileage "service" riders prefer them over the later Roadsmart 2. I am on my second consecutive pair and they suit me just fine so as long as Dunlop keep them in production they will do for me. I loved the Conti Road Attack in both the original and 2 versions but as I said before the lack of any centre line tread groove made it difficult to assess just how much rubber was left.

 

[stanley]

Re. the original poster's comments on the PR4s.
I've found the same thing; PR4s are not lasting anything like the same as the PR3s. Same bike, same rider, same use. PR3s went for 6k miles before getting "interesting", PR4s only 4-5k before becoming a "handful".
PR4s are superb on cold tarmac though.
I run minimum pressures of 36-42 (under 12st, 2012RT and others).

Re. overheating comments: You will never overheat these tyres on an RT! 40+ degrees C in Croatia, fully loaded, pegs down on corner after corner, PR3s were fine.
When I do trackdays, I aim to get the tyres to 80 degrees before going out (OK- not an RT and not PR3-4s!!)

 

[BMPete]

Dunlop Roadsmart 2, & Conti Road Attack 2 Evo

Have you experience of the Conti Road Attack 2 Evo. If so on what bike and what did you think of them.

 

[Martyn H]

Have you experience of the Conti Road Attack 2 Evo. If so on what bike and what did you think of them.

I have the Evo 2 on both my 1200RT TC, & my R1200R. However, it's winter & I've only done about 1,500 miles on bothy pairs of these tyres. I have used the "ordinary" RA 2, & like them, hence my purchase of the Evo version. Cambrian Tyres say I should get better mileage, but in all honesty, it's too soon to give a fully informed opinion. So far, so good, though. Roadsmart 2's are a proven quantity, & I like them for both handling & mileage. I just thought I'd try something new.

 

[BMPete]

My 1200RT LC came with Conti Road Attack 2 GTs. Changed them at 6600 miles could have gone to 7000 miles, with Z8. Like the Contis and was very tempted with the Evo version. However they are not a recommended tyre for the RT, which made me doubt how long they would last compared to the GT version. Will be interested to see how many miles you get out of them.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-Motorrad-Touring-Motorcycle-Tyre-Test.htm

 

[Martyn H]

My 1200RT LC came with Conti Road Attack 2 GTs. Changed them at 6600 miles could have gone to 7000 miles, with Z8. Like the Contis and was very tempted with the Evo version. However they are not a recommended tyre for the RT, which made me doubt how long they would last compared to the GT version. Will be interested to see how many miles you get out of them.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2014-Motorrad-Touring-Motorcycle-Tyre-Test.htm

The Evo was recommended for my 1200RT by Cambrian Tyres, the Conti importer. I've got it in writing !

 

[BMPete]

The Evo was recommended for my 1200RT by Cambrian Tyres, the Conti importer. I've got it in writing !

Thanks. I think their fitment guide is a little out of date. I did email them and was told to stick with the GT version. However I would still like to fit them if you find you get reasonable mileage. Cheers for the update.

 

[Martyn H]

Thanks. I think their fitment guide is a little out of date. I did email them and was told to stick with the GT version. However I would still like to fit them if you find you get reasonable mileage. Cheers for the update.

The website fitment guide is bizarre. If you look for a tyre for a classic air-head, like a R100/7, it only suggests one tyre, the Contigo. No mention of the classic rib front/studded rear RB2/K112, let alone the new Conti ClassicAttack, a radial specifically made for these older bikes. Likewise, I can't find a BMW that the on-line guide suggests the Evo for, but I think that's a website issue, not a reflection on the suitability of the tyre.

 

[BMPete]

Agree. Their website is just not up to date. Before I got my RT had a FJR1300. Doc from the owners club highly recommends the Evo for the FJR. As the FJR is something like 30 kgs heavier than the RT I would think the Evo are more than suitable. Doc tested the Evo for Continental, his test can be found here http://www.cambriantyres.co.uk/racing-on-sport-touring-tyres-in-the-algarve/

 

[Martyn H]

Out of curiosity, I’ve listed below the mileages from the tyres on my R1200RT's (a 2007, then a 2014 TC)

Michelin PR1 10,264 (seemed to last for ever !)
Michelin PR2 7,890
Roadsmart 1 5,079
Road Attack2 3,619
Road Attack1 5,851
Roadsmart 1 6,304
New bike.
Bridgestone 021 4,820 (at which point they were only half worn, but I couldn’t stand them any more!)
Roadsmart 2 4,444 (rear puncture, so replaced as a pair, a little early)
Road Attack2 Evo 2,354

For mileage the original Pilot Road was outstanding.
The first batch of Conti RA2’s did wear very quickly, which is why I reverted to Road Attack1 & got a better mileage.
Conti said they were aware of the problem, hence the GT then the Evo.
I have double checked, & thus far I’ve done 2,354 on the Evo, more than my memory led me to believe.
Hence the need to keep records !