I love my Michelin PR3s...

[BigTed]

Hi folks, Earlier this year I reset the rubber on Little Miss STealthy due to the upcoming ride from Perth to the OzSToc National Rally in Middleton. The original Bridgestones were VERY done at 24,650km (front) and 26,739km (rear). From what I'd been reading, I was pretty happy - some hadn't made 20. Advice sought from this group and the shops had me grabbing a pair of PR3s off the self.

Attached are two photos taken this morning: front at 21,800km, and rear at 19,700km. It's a bit hard to judge, and I know it's like falling off a cliff when they get to the end of their life, but I reckon these are going to outlast the original Bridgies, possibly quite easily.

I'm very happy with them - both ride, handling, noise, and longevity.

Cheers, Rob.
PS. you can still see the flat spot on the front from the rally ride!

Front @ 21,800km:


Rear @ 19,700km:


edit: corrected figures (more accurate - based on ODO readings at fuel fillings).

[jwm]

Bloody hell, I know the PR3's are a long wearing tyre but you must carry your bike everywhere on your shoulders to get that sort of mileage out of them. Your obviously a very conservative rider.

[saaz]

Diesel is the only other one I know who gets that sort of distance out of tyres. I would have push the bike a lot to get more than 15,000kms out of a set.

[BigTed]

I'm on the good side of 50, but I do ride like my grandma used to drive. ;-)

[Skip]

  What IS amazing, is the milage you got out of the Bridgies. That would have to be a record without doubt.
The all important question. "What pressures are you running?"

[Sicman]

 

[BigTed]

What IS amazing, is the milage you got out of the Bridgies. That would have to be a record without doubt.
The all important question. "What pressures are you running?"

Indeed. I run the PR3s (and previously the BTs) on 42psi (real - after calibration). Interestingly, I only changed the tyre at the front after I collected the bike from its 24,000km service and the guy said it was dangerous. I had Middleton coming up, so I though - ok, time to change it anyway. I would have waited until the week before Middleton and changed it with the rear (+3,000km) otherwise. The rear still had a few thousand left of it (me thinks) when changed, but it wouldn't have got me to SA.

I never noticed any degradation in handling at all - quite likely due to my nanna-like riding style.

Cheers, Rob.

[Diesel]

I've just pulled the trigger on my next set of PR3s on the 13. Haven't used anything else (cept PR2s).

Mileage: Current rear PR2 21,000km   :   Current front  29,000km

But I am pedantic about air pressures. I always get over 21,000km for my tyres - must have saved a fortune over the last 85,000 clicks.

For the neysayers, or people who are trying to make up their mind about which hoop to throw on - check this review on the PR3 ....


http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/35277/pr/michelin-pilot-road-3-rear-tire


I'm also throwing in this balancing/ anti puncture compound this time round too....


http://www.lsmtechnologies.com.au/index.cfm?go=ride-on


Hope this helps.


Cheers, Diesel

[Biggles]

You fans will be rapt to know the latest PRs are coming...



The new Michelin Pilot Road 4: three different versions available from January 2014.

The Michelin Pilot Road 4 for sport touring, trail and GT bikes will be available in early 2014.
The new BMW R 1200 RT will be factory-fitted with the Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT.
Michelin has once again pushed the limits of braking. On wet surfaces, the new tyre’s braking distance is shorter than that of its main competitors.

In 2014 Michelin will bring to market an all-new range of motorcycle tyres, available in three versions: the Michelin Pilot Road 4, Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT and Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail.

Intended for road use only, these tyres cover most categories of road motorcycles of more than 600cc.They were designed to deliver maximum safety in the most common conditions of use, especially on wet roads and in particular when braking.

Michelin will also be the tyre supplier for the new BMW R 1200 RT with the GT version of its new tyre. The fact that BMW has selected the Pilot Road 4 for this bike – the bestselling bike in its category – reflects the level of performance it provides.

In short, the Michelin Pilot Road 4 delivers enhanced safety in all situations and extended tyre life. They are a tangible illustration of Michelin’s Total Performance strategy of constantly and simultaneously improving tyre performance characteristics across the board.

With the Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyres, the aim is to enable as many motorcyclists as possible to experience safe riding in nearly all conditions.

Size availability

Michelin Pilot Road 4 Standard
120/60 ZR 17
120/70 ZR 17
150/70 ZR 17
160/60 ZR 17
180/55 ZR 17
190/50 ZR 17
190/55 ZR 17

Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT
120/70 ZR 17
120/70 ZR 18
170/60 ZR 17
180/55 ZR 17
190/50 ZR 17
190/55 ZR 17

Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail
110/80 R 19
120/70 R 19
150/70 R 17
170/60 R 17

[Icor]

What sort of cost might they be any ideas


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Biggles]

What sort of cost might they be any ideas

None at all.  Probably the dealers won't know until they are released.  The PR2s and PR3s were around $420 a set where I buy them.  I'd be hoping the PR4s aren't too much dearer.  With a few manufacturers producing this line now it's competitive enough to prevent price gouging.

[saaz]

I would expect that they will replace the PR3s.  The Bridgestone T30s will hopefully be right up there performance wise to keep a lid on prices.

[BigTed]

Here's an update... still quite a bit left too.   
And the new PR4s on order are meant to last up to 20% longer. 

Front @ 30,000km:


Rear @ 27,900km:


If you look at the rear - right in the middle just above centre - you'll see a little piece of metal adjacent to one of the finer grooves.... dunno what that is. The tyre's not losing pressure, so I'm not touching it until I have to (a new PR4 is on the way, and repair kit & pump is in left pannier).

I'll leave the mods to create a poll for my new name. I'll start with a few suggestions...

* Miss Daisey
* Hoke (Miss Daisey's driver)
* Captain Slow (as in James May)
* ...
Go on - have your fun!

[John Meara]

I just returned from 1,000 km ride via highways and many twisties, including Thunderbolts Way, Putty Road, Bylong Valley, Waterfall Way (but wet).  Ready for a service and checked rear tyre to find uneven wear.  Front is fine and should do (a usual) 2 rears for same distance).  Here is a photo (taken this evening) of the rear PilotRoad 3: 



Left side top & bottom of photo are of the left side.  Right side a lot worse.

Suggestion or comments?   I reckon its the road camber.   Just checked my records.... These tyres (front & back) have done an amazing 17,500 kilometres!   Cannot complain, so I think another one just the same to replace it.

[HunterTodd]

Hi John,

 That picture in the middle shows an identical wear pattern to the rear of a set of Pirelli Angels I had at 15000.

 I thought I would get one last 700 kay ride out of them but they died completely on the trip.

Dr Google was ambivalent with any number of vague causes but nothing definitive.  I asked an number of "experts" about it but no one could give a reason.

Or maybe they were too polite to suggest crap riding!

[Diesel]

I am also devastated to report an identical wear pattern on my PR3s. For some reason, mine are totally shot at 11,000km this time round.     

All this on the back of previous bloating about 18-24 thousand km distances from my rear PR3s. I'll have to examine this more closely, but somehow have a niggling idea that I just did a lap of the Oxley Hwy with a slightly under pressured rear tyre which rapes 1,000s of kays off your mileage.

I have NEVER had uneven wear - but my current rear tyre, very much resembles John's tyre...     

Open to suggestions about the reasons for this if any members have experienced the same... Lost 10,000 kms from this tyre.     

[John Meara]

Apart from the camber of our Australian roads, the only other thought might be uneven weighting on the bike (not being centred), although I doubt this.

Possible evidence of significant camber effect is when I have the cruise control set and I take my hands off the grips and handlebar, I find I have to sit with a little more weight (shifted) to left in order to keep the bike running straight down a road.  I assumed this was to counter the camber, i.e. keep the bike leaned slightly over to the right (counter-balancing my weight to the left) would cause it to turn slightly to the road centre.

[Biggles]

Any PRs you buy now will be PR4s, unless they're old PR3 stock.

How was your tyre pressure during your 1000 kays, John?

[John Meara]

Tyre pressure on rear was 42.   The wear pattern was somewhat evident before the trip, but this finished it off.

[John Meara]

I had the ST serviced today, plus fitted 2 new PR4 GT's. Check the difference in the pic: Rear PR3 worn, rear PR4GT new, front PR3 with a few thousand Ks still in it, front PR4GT new:



On close inspection of the front when I arrived at Pro Honda to drop it off, the tread wear was not as it seemed to me in the subdued light of the shed without my glasses on!  It wasn't far off the wear lines.  This confirms what I used to get - about 20,000 km from a front (twice the rears). I paid $207 for the front and $290 for the rear (fitted). They feel very nice initially, so let's see how they go over the long haul.

[Brian]

I think I used to get around 11K out of mine 

[Biggles]

I think I used to get around 11K out of mine 

I've ridden behind you and I can tell you why you got 11K while I get 22K.     

[Carsten]

My previous PR3 rear wore badly on the right.  My bike mechanic puts it down to road camber and under inflation.  The current PR3 have similar right side wear and at not quite 11000 km, 7000 or which Tas to Alice Springs (return two up).  Tyre pressure checked, probably not as regimental as I should and found to be 4 psi low.  I have tyre checkers that indicated pressure was OK.  Gets ridden with gusto around Tassie roads.

[johnnyYTED]

 
as many saw at Ballarat,I also had a similar wear pattern on my PR3 as shown here. 10,189 k's with mayB 4,000 towing.

I'd put it down to my pillion sitting off centre to lQQk over my shoulder.  but seeing other tyres with the same unusual wear on the right side mayB they made a few bad ones.
 I now have a PR4 on the rear, and I hope I can get double the K's.. my front will need replacing soon its a PR2 with apx 16,000K's..and PR4 will B next 

[Couch]

Well, don't keep it all to yourself

I think I used to get around 11K out of mine 

I've ridden behind you and I can tell you why you got 11K while I get 22K.     

Well, let's all in on it

[/quote]

I've ridden behind you and I can tell you why you got 11K while I get 22K.     
[/quote]