Which tyres?

[basingstokesteve]

Guys - I am sure this has been asked many times on here before but I am looking for my first new set of tyres on my 2013 air cooled RT 1200.
it came fitted with Metzler's which I have had no issues with got 7,500 miles out of them, the rear squared off at around 6,500.
I ran Michelin Road Pilots on my Honda Pan St 1300 for 7 years before this and have recommended them to many.

Your experiences, opinions and advise would be appreciated and what sort of price you would expect to pay for ride in ride out fitting

 

[Martyn H]

Guys - I am sure this has been asked many times on here before but I am looking for my first new set of tyres on my 2013 air cooled RT 1200.
it came fitted with Metzler's fitted which i have had no issues got 7,500 miles out of then the rear squared off at around 6,500.
I ran Michelin Road Pilots on my Honda Pan St 1300 for 7 years before this and recommended them to many.
Your experiences, opinions and advise would be appreciated and what sort of price you would expect to pay for ride in ride out fitting

Over the last few years I have used Dunlop Roadsmart 1 & 2, Conti Road Attack 1, 2, & 2 Evo, & have just fitted Pilot Road 4. I haven't a bad word to say about any of these, & only tried the Michelin as the reviews were so good. They feel great, but too soon to comment on mileage. Cost me £235 fitted, & the Dunlops & Conti's pretty much the same.

 

[busy builder]

I'm on my second set of PR3's, great tyres.

 

[basingstokesteve]

Busy builder what sort of miles do you get from PR3's

 

[Puggy]

Michelins for me. Brilliant tyres. Even changed the crappy Bridgestones from new to Michelins.

 

[basingstokesteve]

I Think I already knew the answer Michelin it is then PR3 or PR4 price may dictate

 

[Our Gee]

Original Roadsmart are still available and do the job for me. On my 3rd set now and don't see any reason to change other than maybe back to good old Conti Road Attack 2 if there is a deal to be had.

 

[busy builder]

Pr3, lasted about 7500 miles

 

[Our Gee]

It's always interesting to hear others rider's tyre experiences and just how many miles they manage to eek out of a set. In my own experience tyre changes have been brought about by a degredation in handling, ride quality and the increasing risk of punctures long before the legal limit or wear indicators have been reached. With an RT I have found that about four and a half thousand miles is the norm before there are real changes in the above characteristics. Then about a thousand miles later, which usually happens just before a big trip to France I have them changed. The feeling of brand new rubber is lovely but it soon goes off. For what it's worth my worst experience has been with Pilot Road, both 1 and 2 versions. The fronts cupped so badly and howled like a banshee at any angle off the vertical. Never been back to Michelin since.

 

[stanley]

My PR4s are now in poor shape after 6,000 miles. They have raised and sharp edges next to every sipe. They still feel fairly secure, but it's hard to hold a line through a corner.
IME, the mileage is no better than previous sets of PR3's. Both PR3's and 4's were noisy. Angel GT's lasted longer, were quieter, but never felt as good on wet roads.
I've not decided on replacements, but I'm not rushing out to buy another set of PR4's; they haven't lived up to their hype for me.

 

[basingstokesteve]

Got the Pilot Road 4's feel really good

 

[Karlread]

PR4's the Canines Gonads.......

 

[steadysteve]

Had Bridgestone T30's on my RT. They have done 6300 miles, no problems with squaring off but then I do try and keep off the motorways. The front one seemed to be hard wearing in the middle but then had a severe step where the compound changed on the sides which made the last 1000 miles a bit scary at times when entering corners. It may may sound strange but it wasn't the middle that squared off, more a case of the sides that scuffed off faster than the middle. I suspect it would have been good for long distance touring were the bike is upright more of the time.

Currently on Z8 on the front which feels a lot more secure than the T30, the rear to be changed any day so can't say what mileage they are good for.
Some good deals on a pair of Maxxis on ebay at the moment- £140 delivered IIRC

 

[Puggy]

it wasn't the middle that squared off, more a case of the sides that scuffed off faster than the middle. I suspect it would have been good for long distance touring were the bike is upright more of the time.

I can only dream of being able to wear a set of tyres round round the edges and not in the middle! The A34 and M40 have a Michelins PS4 shaped furrow down them.

Next time they wear out do you want to swap? I can wear down your middles and you can rip out my edges...

Puggy

 

[Pansmiker]

If you are running Michelin PR4s on an RT is it the GT version and if so what is your opinion. Personally I think they have taken any suspension contribution out of the tyre and make for a rather giggly ride on all but the smoothest surface. The road holding and wet weather grip is excelent.

 

[batman1]

PR4's the Canines Gonads.......

I'll second that .. definately the Canines Gonads...and so are the PR4 Trails on my GS, simply superb

 

[stanley]

If you are running Michelin PR4s on an RT is it the GT version and if so what is your opinion. Personally I think they have taken any suspension contribution out of the tyre and make for a rather giggly ride on all but the smoothest surface. The road holding and wet weather grip is excelent.

I put the non-GT version on, as I find the RT quite harsh on bumps anyway (I weigh < 12st for reference). I reckoned that the extra flex in the construction would make it more comfortable. I still think it's fairly harsh, and I can detect no flex in the rear tyre at all. The front needs 36psi or the flex in the tyre causes the bike to fall into low speed corners. (about 41-42 psi in the back btw).

 

[Our Gee]

If you are running Michelin PR4s on an RT is it the GT version and if so what is your opinion. Personally I think they have taken any suspension contribution out of the tyre and make for a rather giggly ride on all but the smoothest surface. The road holding and wet weather grip is excelent.

Interesting point you make there Pansmiker (Suspension Contribution), and not a phrase which crops up often, but IMHO an important one. With the shocking state of UK roads I am surprised that "suspension contribution" or "comfy ride effect" is generally not mentioned by the various journo's when testing tyres. I have always found that BMW suspension is not the most compliant out there, and opetates best on smooth surfaces which as we all know are not generally found this side of the channel, so any contribution from the tyre is most welcome.

 

[Pansmiker]

Stanley I am circa 20st so well able to make the suspension work!

I had a look at the Michelin site to see what they recommended and it is either the PR4 GT for "Grand Touring" or the PR3 for "Touring". What is the difference between GT and T (and no the second isn't the non alcoholic version!)

I think I will go back to the Pilot Road 3s when these 4 GTs are ready to change.

 

[stanley]

Maybe "Grand Touring" is faster

I think I will go back to the Pilot Road 3s when these 4 GTs are ready to change.

Yeah, I don't agree with the rave reviews of these tyres; not significantly (if any) better than PR3s in my experience.


Wonder if you'd be better off with a stronger tyre run at lower pressures? Try the GT with a few pounds less? You might get a bit of compliance from it but the sidewall will still give enough support? As before, I don't detect ANY sidewall flex from the rear non GT version; even with the SO and camping kit on the back.