Michelin PR4 - Awful

Upthepalace

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Morning all, collected my 2018 R12OORT from Bahnstormers a couple pf months ago, new PR4 on the front, newish on the rear. Before I go any further, I've been riding for over 40 years, formerly trained to Police (Standard) level, former fast group track rider and a very confident wet weather rider, in fact I really enjoy riding in challenging conditions. However, this is my first RT and I absolutely love it but these PR4s are possibly the worst tyre I've ever ridden on. Really bad tramlining over uneven surfaces and the front slips at even a hint of moisture at slow speeds. So far I've tried TPs at 38/42, apparently recommended by Michelin to avoid cupping, but not according to Michelin who I've had direct contact with and they say definitely NO, 36/42 as per BMW so that's eliminated. I'm super careful with TPs and carry out a pre ride check every time and have used 2 different compressor/gauges to double check. I took the bike back to BS and they checked everything carefully, including suspension function and can find nothing wrong. The tyres have loads of life left in them but I've seriously lost confidence in them so ordering a pair of with my previously favourite Metzelers, or Conti RA3s. Could it be that there's just some aspect of the bikes' handling that I'm not used to yet or has anyone else suffered the same symptoms as me with PR4s?
 
Upthepalace said:
Morning all, collected my 2018 R12OORT from Bahnstormers a couple pf months ago, new PR4 on the front, newish on the rear. Before I go any further, I've been riding for over 40 years, formerly trained to Police (Standard) level, former fast group track rider and a very confident wet weather rider, in fact I really enjoy riding in challenging conditions. However, this is my first RT and I absolutely love it but these PR4s are possibly the worst tyre I've ever ridden on. Really bad tramlining over uneven surfaces and the front slips at even a hint of moisture at slow speeds. So far I've tried TPs at 38/42, apparently recommended by Michelin to avoid cupping, but not according to Michelin who I've had direct contact with and they say definitely NO, 36/42 as per BMW so that's eliminated. I'm super careful with TPs and carry out a pre ride check every time and have used 2 different compressor/gauges to double check. I took the bike back to BS and they checked everything carefully, including suspension function and can find nothing wrong. The tyres have loads of life left in them but I've seriously lost confidence in them so ordering a pair of with my previously favourite Metzelers, or Conti RA3s. Could it be that there's just some aspect of the bikes' handling that I'm not used to yet or has anyone else suffered the same symptoms as me with PR4s?
Click to expand...
Had PR4s on my R1100S. Liked them and didn't notice any issues in the wet. Front did start to tramline and handing felt off but the tyre had 6500+ miles on it by then. Changed after 7100 for a PR5.
 
Upthepalace said:
Morning all, collected my 2018 R12OORT from Bahnstormers a couple pf months ago, new PR4 on the front, newish on the rear. Before I go any further, I've been riding for over 40 years, formerly trained to Police (Standard) level, former fast group track rider and a very confident wet weather rider, in fact I really enjoy riding in challenging conditions. However, this is my first RT and I absolutely love it but these PR4s are possibly the worst tyre I've ever ridden on. Really bad tramlining over uneven surfaces and the front slips at even a hint of moisture at slow speeds. So far I've tried TPs at 38/42, apparently recommended by Michelin to avoid cupping, but not according to Michelin who I've had direct contact with and they say definitely NO, 36/42 as per BMW so that's eliminated. I'm super careful with TPs and carry out a pre ride check every time and have used 2 different compressor/gauges to double check. I took the bike back to BS and they checked everything carefully, including suspension function and can find nothing wrong. The tyres have loads of life left in them but I've seriously lost confidence in them so ordering a pair of with my previously favourite Metzelers, or Conti RA3s. Could it be that there's just some aspect of the bikes' handling that I'm not used to yet or has anyone else suffered the same symptoms as me with PR4s?
Click to expand...

what age are the tyres?
 
The PR4 was introduced 10 years ago, so has long since been superseded. There are several negatives, that you may have already noted in various reviews.

Currently I run the Michelin Road 6, introduced in 2022, on my R1250RS & love them.

Life is too short - if you're not enjoying them move on. If Bahnstormers fitted that new old stock PR4 on the front (check the date code) I would be having a 'word' with them.
 
leadfarmer said:
That’s what I was thinking ???

PR4s were good tires in the wet and dry, although a little prone to punctures, but they are rather old as others have said
Click to expand...
I used to run PR4s on my Griso and they were great, maybe its a faulty tyre
 
My RT came on PR4's, already squaring off with 3k on the clock. I changed them at 5k as although there was loads of tread left, the rear was so square it was unrideable in the wet.
I've used mainly Metzler Z6's since, only get 4k from a rear but useable to the very end. And cheap to buy.....
 
It does sound like an off tyre poss due to age but I've usually found Michelin road tyres to be slow to mid steering speed... Extra effort to turn in and hold lines... And the carcass is light and more puncture prone especially on dirtier parts of the road, filtering etc... tyre tech has changed dramatically but I still remember riding like a twat wet or dry 30 years ago so there's always a fair bit of marketing hype in tyre selling....
 
I had PR4GT’s on my previous ST1300 Pan, very good for the time but now outdated.
My current 2018 RT came with PR4’s fitted and they were horrible, I got them changed within a week to PR5GT, and now 6GT’s which are excellent.
 
Didn't know you could still get them.
I have always gone with the newest version when they release them and have been on the 6 since they came out.
Seems pretty good to me.
 
Several observations.
I am not Police trained..but have had somewhere between 25 and 30 motorcycles. Track days, ridden with advanced riders (of many varying skill levels!).
More to the point, used all of the Michelin Road versions over the years. Get to the edges of the tyres on all my bikes, including various GS , Multistrada as well as sports. Only issues was punctures on rears with Pilot road 4.
Got to think the tyres are old or duff.
Either way, they are not working for you and the simple solution is to change them for new stock, current versions.
Respectfully suggest Road 6, Conti Road Attack3/4. Job sorted. The Michelin is maybe quicker steering, the Road Attack just super stable and for me grips to end of usable tread as a bonus. Maybe gets a bit greasy if pushed on hot tarmac (euro trips)
One of the better, very experienced (ex racer, very quick and safe too) I used to ride with in the UK ran an RT, the Michelin was his first choice..
 
leadfarmer said:
That’s what I was thinking ???

PR4s were good tires in the wet and dry, although a little prone to punctures, but they are rather old as others have said
Click to expand...
Odd that. That’s my experience too. You would think that whatever sharp object was picking on you wouldn’t have a tyre preference. I was running 3 repairs on one back once. JJH
 
I left PR’s to go back to my favourites, Conti RA’s (TA’s). I found on my 1200 that PR’s just didn’t give me a confident feel, where the Conti’s have felt good on everything I’ve used them on, especially on wet roads.
 
Tried them on my K1600GT and thought they were over-hyped sh1t. When they started to square-off, the handling was unbelievably awful, in fact, unrideable.

Wouldn't have Michelins again after that.
 
So I've now been able to check the dates of manufacture. Fr = 1523 so15th week of 2023 and Rr = 2319 so 23rd week of 2019 so the rear is just over 5 years old since being made and the front is all good, both made in Spain, not Thailand. They just seem rubbish. Anyway, pair of new Conti RA3s on asp and I'll just have to bin the PR4s. Thanks all for contributing.
 
JJH said:
Odd that. That’s my experience too. You would think that whatever sharp object was picking on you wouldn’t have a tyre preference. I was running 3 repairs on one back once. JJH
Click to expand...
I've had a couple of repairs at once, more than once but Michelin carcasses feel so thin they are hard to repair and more prone to unrepairable punctures. I bought an R1150RT with PR's a few years ago and running on the well gritted winter roads of Shetland saw 3 punctures in a month. Binned the tyre and went onto something else...
 
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Probably just more wood for the fire with al the comments above, but I've had RP4s on a couple of bikes and they were fine. I've currently got an RT and have the RP5s on it - they are also very good, and will be replaced with the RP6s when they reach the end of their useful life.

It could just be the combination of older tires losing their luster and the abominable condition our roads are in, I was out in the week and some of the rough corners felt terrible, but the tires were not to blame and never slipped, but did do a bit of skipping now and again :unsure:
 
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