Michelin Pilot Road 4 - Press Release

Eunuch

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Seems the PR4 is breaking ground. It’s referenced on the Michelin bike site which has been there a while but only with a cryptic small video about a new trye.

The good news is it looks to cover the new GS front fitment in Trail form which has a corresponding rear though I suspect much like the PR3 we'll see the compound mix won’t be the same as it is on the 17” wheel options. Still, good news and I’ll be one of the first in the queue to try them. Might even put them on my Christmas list :).

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Michelin-Pilot-Road-4-Press-Release
 
Do we think this will be more road orientated than the Anakees?

Going on the PR1's, 2's and 3's, they will be totally road orientated. The reference to "Trail" if its like the PR3's will refer to the ratio of hard/softer compound on the rear tyre not the tread pattern.
 
Going on the PR1's, 2's and 3's, they will be totally road orientated. The reference to "Trail" if its like the PR3's will refer to the ratio of hard/softer compound on the rear tyre not the tread pattern.

How does a tread compound ratio lead to a description of "trail"? I am confused.
 
Do we think this will be more road orientated than the Anakees?

I expect so. I'm on Anakees and would prefer to be back on 100% road orientated tyres too. I have the PR2's on the Trumpet and had PR2's/Roadsmarts (that I gather will come out for the LC shortly too) on the old GS and for me both were pretty much spot on for all year round riding.
 
How does a tread compound ratio lead to a description of "trail"? I am confused.

On the PR3's the harder compound crosses 80% of the rear tyres width on the Trail version as opposed to I think 40% on the standard. The idea is that with big adventure "Trail" type bikes which are doing long distance, heavily loaded work, you get more mileage from them. Its nothing to do with the tread pattern, its about mileage.
 
How does a tread compound ratio lead to a description of "trail"? I am confused.

I think it just means they are catering for trail-type bikes that don't have standrad size 17" wheels and the tread compound is adjusted a tad. Going by experiences I hear from those that have had PR3's on GS's in the past it makes very little difference in reality. Still a cracking road tyre for British weather. They are bringing out the PR4 in most popular 17" sizes, the PR4 GT for the more ample loaded bike which I imagine will have stiffer side walls and the PR4 Trail for us 'adventure' types. Personally I'd love to have 17" wheels front and rear on the GS to put this all behind me, but that's covered on another thread. Either way, I'm looking forward to giving these hoops a try.
 
That's good news.

I put a Roadsmart II on the rear at the end of the season, as I had been told by Dunlop the 19" front would be out the end of the year.

I had an update from them November saying slightly delayed and would be early Spring.
 
For the PR4, you could always consider the Trail version on the front and the Standard or GT version for the back.

Apparently the new 1200RT will come with GT's
 
I don't get the thinking behind fitting road rubber to a GS. Part of the attraction for me when I got my first one 9 years ago was that it was fitted with chunkier tyres which might just be a bit more puncture resistant on the remote roads that I like to frequent. I once fitted new tyres to my VFR and rode to an out of the way place on the Isle of Mull, only to find a flint through the rear tyre when we came back from exploring a deserted beach.

Also, tyres designed for the GS and other large trailies have got so good, that I don't know what would be gained from fitting road rubber. I've dragged the pegs on Tourance EXP's which were also great in the wet, done track days on the bad old Deathwings and from my limited miles so far on the new WC, the new Anakee 3 is simply stunning in the wet. :nenau
 
I don't get the thinking behind fitting road rubber to a GS. Part of the attraction for me when I got my first one 9 years ago was that it was fitted with chunkier tyres which might just be a bit more puncture resistant on the remote roads that I like to frequent. I once fitted new tyres to my VFR and rode to an out of the way place on the Isle of Mull, only to find a flint through the rear tyre when we came back from exploring a deserted beach.

Also, tyres designed for the GS and other large trailies have got so good, that I don't know what would be gained from fitting road rubber. I've dragged the pegs on Tourance EXP's which were also great in the wet, done track days on the bad old Deathwings and from my limited miles so far on the new WC, the new Anakee 3 is simply stunning in the wet. :nenau

I fitted Roadsmarts on my prev hexhead they're Ok but the carcass is much stiffer than the tyres you mention and on our potholed roads made for an unpleasant ride at times, when they wore out I went back to some Tourance tyres. It may be just me but the bike handled imho a lot better & more forgiving on poor surfaces. I for one won't be making that mistake again.
 
For the PR4, you could always consider the Trail version on the front and the Standard or GT version for the back.

I did a similar idea with Maxxis so see no reason to not try it with other brands. I was impressed with the SuperMax grip and tread life on another bike so put one on the GS rear but they only come in 17" so used the Maxxis Detour trail style on front. They worked fine together.
 
For the PR4, you could always consider the Trail version on the front and the Standard or GT version for the back.

Apparently the new 1200RT will come with GT's

Did just that with the PR3's last summer. Fantastic tyres, rear was worn out, on the sides not the centre, in 4,000 miles. Same as the previous Bridgestones, the roads here are hard on tyres and have lots of bends!

John
 


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