Michelin Road Pilot 3 - First Impressions Not Good!

[gsbiker]

Change both tyres yesterday. Been using the factory std Metzeler tyres since new. I decided to try Road Pilots because they were recommended and had dual compound. Well they definitely change the bike's ride and I'm not sure I like it! The steering it sharper - much sharper. When cornering the bike leans more - scary! Metzelers seem to provide a more neutral ride and felt "normal" and easy to ride, but these Road Pilots 3's require relearning the bike all over again!

Just wondering if there's anyone else out there who felt the same?

 

[C-J]

I bet its just new tyre syndrome.. Your old ones will have squared off... I have road 3's on my RC8, and they arent as pointy as the previous sporty rubber.. done 4000 miles on them so far and rwckon i'll do the same again before they need replacing..

 

[mcinlb]

I thought the same when I fitted new tyres from the EXPs, first corner thought whoaa, what's happening here? Now love the way it falls into corners...... stick in there....

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

PR3s aren't particularly fast steering compared to some out there, you'll soon get used to it and learn to love it - fast steering is a good thing

I've just gone from squared off knobblies to Avon Azaro's, to say the difference was quite noticeable would be an understatement!

Andres

 

[APE]

Like he says your old tyres are squared off and I suspect the new tyres are actually providing the neutral handling - you'll get used to it after a few more miles.

 

[Yonkyo]

If the PR3's give improved turn-in and quicker steering, then i'm gonna deffo give then a try on my next tyre change.

Thats exactly what i want from a bike tyre...

 

[Stonker]

I've got PR3s on my 650 Versys and they're awesome. Apparently they're incredible in the wet if you feel brave

 

[trebor]

I agree with the others, your tyres were probably squared off, I noticed the same when I went from the standard EXPs to Dunlop TR91s.

Bob

 

[sherpatensing]

I've used 'road' tyres since the original Annakees were replaced. Conti Road Attack and Dunlop Roadsmart.
Just fitted Pilot 3's and found them very scary until they were 'scrubbed in'. After about 10 miles they were much better, now done about 250 and the GS is back to its old self. Brilliant.

 

[Rasher]

I've used 'road' tyres since the original Annakees were replaced. Conti Road Attack and Dunlop Roadsmart.

Be very interested in how they compare to Roadsmarts, especially wear rates as I seem to be getting through the rears in about 4k (The fronts seem good for about double that though)

 

[bergboxer]

I was reluctant to to change from tourance & exp, which i have done many hard miles on. I wanted a tyre that was more road oriented as i have no interest in riding the tank off road, so the pilot road 3 fit the bill, had them fitted when i laid the bike up in november, low and behold summer has come early in cumbria, been out a lot over the weekend on the roads i know pretty well.
Hartside pass much more response from front end on hairpin bend,s drops in much sweeter, trail the back brake and it tuck,s in even more, tyre shape is also more rounded.
A roads and dual carriageways the tyres are much quieter and feel as if they are rolling smoother, the grip on acceleratiion and braking is equal if not better than exp, too early to say how many miles they will do ? but so far im very pleased with them. tyre pressures fr 38/r40.

 

[Schtum]

I agree with the others, your tyres were probably squared off, I noticed the same when I went from the standard EXPs to Dunlop TR91s.

Bob

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that, Bob.

 

[Giles]

The steering it sharper - much sharper. When cornering the bike leans more - scary! Metzelers seem to provide a more neutral ride and felt "normal" and easy to ride, but these Road Pilots 3's require relearning the bike all over again!

Apart from the fact that your old tyres were probably pretty squared off, these tyres may well have a different profile that you're not used to.

Next time yer in a tyre shop, have a look at something like a Dunlop Qualifier; the tyres foot print upright, is almost half what it is when it's in a corner. So its very pointy profile can make it i/ quite susceptible to little quirks on the road surface .. overbanding etc, (making it have little shimmies here and there..) and ii/ fall into a corner very quickly compared to a much more neutral tyre that is specifically shaped for say touring. once in the corner though - huge amounts of grip with all that extra rubber whilst leant over.

Your PR 3's are a great tyre, it's just getting used to a tyre that turns more quickly than you're used to.

 

[Giles]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that, Bob.

I now have a second wheel set so will be ditching my TR91's for a pure road tyre when they're shot. (TKC's on 'tother wheel set).

I was (am) really impressed with the TR91's. Very neutral handling, and loads of grip. Superb in the wet. My back is getting a tad squared off now (not enough to change it but it's heading that way) and I've done about 3k I guess. Probably good for 4k on the rear which is pretty average for me.

Since having the GS(A) I've played with EXP's (nice and grippy but wear just too quickly..), Trail attacks and these TR91's.

I'd definitely have them again. Best of the bunch that i've tried for an adventure tyre ..

 

[Schtum]

I now have a second wheel set so will be ditching my TR91's for a pure road tyre when they're shot. (TKC's on 'tother wheel set).

I was (am) really impressed with the TR91's. Very neutral handling, and loads of grip. Superb in the wet. My back is getting a tad squared off now (not enough to change it but it's heading that way) and I've done about 3k I guess. Probably good for 4k on the rear which is pretty average for me.

Since having the GS(A) I've played with EXP's (nice and grippy but wear just too quickly..), Trail attacks and these TR91's.

I'd definitely have them again. Best of the bunch that i've tried for an adventure tyre ..

Thanks for that, Giles. That's pretty much what I'd have expected, having had the previous iteration of Dunlop "dual sport" tyres, the D607, a couple of GSes ago. They seemed like the perfect shit-to-a-blanket GS tyre. They were particularly good under braking; especially the sort of rapid fire braking that riding with two fingers resting on the front brake lever enables....

I've always resisted fitting straight road tyres to a GS, in the belief, mistaken or otherwise, that dual sport tyres are probably more resistant to the ravages of rough, rural roads and being punctured from sharp flints.

 

[Giles]

(Although i don't need rapid fire braking 'cos I've got good acceleration sense ... )

 

[trebor]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that, Bob.

Giles has summed them up pretty well. I've ridden on them through the winter and they hold really well in both the cold and wet. I was tempted to go for pure road tyres but so many people were saying good things about the TR91s I thought I'd give them a shot.
I would fit them again. I've done about 2500 on them so far and reckon I'll get about 5000.

Bob

 

[Schtum]

Thanks Bob.....

 

[neiljitsu]

I got a set of these on Monday. I love them!! They speed up the handling and make bike just drop into bends. I had exp's and battlewings on before, the pr3 are miles better!