Sorry another tyre question

[mpgscott]

I am going to swap over from the Metzeler Tourance EXP on the back of the R1200GS to a Michelin Pilot Road 4, now the question is do i need to go for the Trail one or should since im going to be doing all road riding should i go for the road version??

I have checked and the Trail one has a softer centre compound its marked as a 2 same as the side walls, where as the Road one has a 3 for centre compound so harder wearing, has anyone got any experience for this??

I dont want to ditch the trail one if the GS actually needs it, but since its not likely to see any off-roading this year then i would prefer the longevity that this harder compound will give.

As normal comments much appreciated.

Cheers
Mark

 

[(RIP) Miff]

If you're not going off tarmac, then get the road tyre.

Unless the trail tyres have a deeper tread, then they may last longer then the road tyre (as happens with the Conti Trail attack and Road attack).

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

You must put on the trail tyre. It is a road only tyre, but has a strengthened tyre wall for the heavier GS type bikes.
I had them fitted recently, the dealer tried to tell me the non trail was ok, I wasn't convinced so he called Michelin they confirmed the Trail tyre
should be fitted to the GS.

Fantastic tyres too

 

[mpgscott]

Cheers, swapped the order for a Trail one.

 

[Bendy toy]

I have a trail type on the front and a non trail type on the back. I could not get a 19" road style front to match the back and the front was only 1/2 worn.

Ive had no handling problems and no tyre wear problems. I reasoned the GS is the same weight as my old Yamaha 900 road bike so who cares about the side wall strength.

 

[JJH]

You must put on the trail tyre. It is a road only tyre, but has a strengthened tyre wall for the heavier GS type bikes.
I had them fitted recently, the dealer tried to tell me the non trail was ok, I wasn't convinced so he called Michelin they confirmed the Trail tyre
should be fitted to the GS.

Fantastic tyres too

Really I thought most road type touring bikes were heavier than the gs I'm struggling to think of a lighter one. Rt pan gtr fjr ect. JJH

 

[Bendy toy]

Heavy side wall tyres would make sense if the bike is used on stony trails but I never deliberately venture off road so dont need the "benefit". Mine feels securely planted at the rear. I'll see if the front improves to the same extent when I find a 19" road tyre.

 

[Old Wobbly]

I have the PR4 Trail - Michelin say the Trail is for larger adventure bikes and I figure they know what they're talking about. Done around 3k on them now and highly recommended - super grip and no worries or wobbles!!!

 

[alanb2]

I have the PR4 Trail - Michelin say the Trail is for larger adventure bikes and I figure they know what they're talking about. Done around 3k on them now and highly recommended - super grip and no worries or wobbles!!!

Pleased to hear that, my Battlewings will need replacing soon, and I was thinking about the PR4 - and you've now convinced me! Alan

 

[mpgscott]

I have the PR4 Trail - Michelin say the Trail is for larger adventure bikes and I figure they know what they're talking about. Done around 3k on them now and highly recommended - super grip and no worries or wobbles!!!

Out of interest Old Wobbly what tyre pressures are you running the PR4's on??

I seem to recall sometimes that Michelin recommend running at lower pressures on their tyres and just wanted to see if this was the case with these/

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Really I thought most road type touring bikes were heavier than the gs I'm struggling to think of a lighter one. Rt pan gtr fjr ect. JJH

Good point, maybe something to do with different size of tyres/ wheels and the bikes they go on.RT , pan etc have wider tyres

36 / 42 psi on mine

 

[Beemerman59]

I am going to swap over from the Metzeler Tourance EXP on the back of the R1200GS to a Michelin Pilot Road 4, now the question is do i need to go for the Trail one or should since im going to be doing all road riding should i go for the road version??

I have checked and the Trail one has a softer centre compound its marked as a 2 same as the side walls, where as the Road one has a 3 for centre compound so harder wearing, has anyone got any experience for this??

I dont want to ditch the trail one if the GS actually needs it, but since its not likely to see any off-roading this year then i would prefer the longevity that this harder compound will give.

As normal comments much appreciated.

Cheers
Mark

I have PR3's and certainly with those, both the Trail and Road version has a harder compound in the centre and softer on the edges. Are you sure you have got this the right way round on the PR4's? Also, the main difference is with the rear tyre where the Trail has 80% of the centre part of the tyre as harder compound, leaving 10% for each edge. The road version IIRC is 40% hard in the centre leaving softer compound on 30% of each edge. The idea is to give a better mileage for long distance touring on a big heavy bike loaded to the gunnels and better cornering grip for sportier type bikes - is this not the same philosophy with the PR4's?

 

[Bendy toy]

This is not an advert for another brand just pointing out my experiences with dual compound road tyres.

The Yamaha Diversion 900 at 240kg plus fuel and farkles, rubbed the centreline of Maxxis SuperMax (sport touring tyre) really smooth, and marbled the shoulders. They gave good tread life and were the only tyres that bike did not square off badly. I suspect the hard/soft tread areas were similar to the PR3 road versions. I never tried PR3s (if they even existed back then).

I certainly liked the way they gripped and lasted. The Maxxis trail tyres (on GSA) never felt as good probably because the soft sides were just too far around and I cant travel fast enough to use that much lean angle. I currently have a SuperMax on the rear which isnt marbling but is lasting well. I would like something its equal on the front, because the trail tyre is not as well planted as the back.

 

[Old Wobbly]

Pressures in line with the TPS.

Front: 32 - 36 psi
Rear: 36 - 42 psi

I tend to run at the higher end of the range - as said before all good with these tyres whatever the speed/weather/load.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Ive got a fairly new Metzeler Tourance EXP on the rear, but now my front needs renewing. Would I be better sticking with Metzeler Tourance EXP all round rather than putting say a PR4 on the front?

 

[Bounce]

My new boots aren't due until spring 15, and it's a toss up between PR4's and Conti Road Attack 2 Evo's.......

Just thought I'd share n all.....

 

[mpgscott]

PR4 is now fitted will report on how the mileage goes when i do some...

Dont think it would be a problem mixing, thats what i have done except other way around EXP on front PR4 on rear..

 

[Bendy toy]

Mix em up the bike won't notice