PR4 GT's

[ChucksKLRST]

Ordered two tires from Jake Wilson on Monday Morning. A Shinko 705 for my Wee which I received today. And a PR4GT front for my ST1300 which was on back order for one day. My PR4GT shipped today and I will receive it on Thursday.

 

[the Ferret]

Just turned 11,000 on the PR4 GTs this morning

Front is measuring 3/32 tread left



Rear is measuring between 3/32 and 4/32 in sipes just to left and right of center



I'm thinking they will go another couple of thousand

 

[nokesy]

I just put PR4gt on this week, no problem in Canada they were in stock. I loved my PR2 and got much better millage than the Roadsmarts, never tried the PR3 though

Now I have done 17,000 km on them and they look as good as the pictures above

 

[the Ferret]

Next day or two I will turn 12,000. I'm about 100 miles away. Will post new pics then. They have now officially passed the mileage I got out of my PR3s or Pr2s and way more than the stock Bridgestone.

 

[970mike]

Next day or two I will turn 12,000. I'm about 100 miles away. Will post new pics then. They have now officially passed the mileage I got out of my PR3s or Pr2s and way more than the stock Bridgestone.

That is not bad at all.

 

[the Ferret]

Got in 348 miles today so here they are at 12,250 miles

front


rear


didn't measure them but I think the rear has a thou miles or two left.

 

[drrod]

Here is my PR4GT's at 12,000 kms (7450 miles).
I have to ask....how are you guys getting the mileage you are? Very gentle acceleration? Relatively slow corning speeds? No heavy braking? No exceeding speed limits? Light loads? Curious minds would like to know. Sure, I ride aggressively but not crazy. If I could get 10,000 miles out of a rear tire I would be real happy. Thought the PR4 was going to be it, but it is not any better (mileage wise) than the PR2, PR3, BS020 that I have run previously. I am going to give it another try since it was very hot, and 20% 2 up, for most of the life of this tire but if it doesn't do better than this one, I think I will revert back to a less expensive PR3.
BTW - no complaints on the handling.

Rod

 

[silverbub]

Thanks, ferret,... your pictures have convinced me on what will be my next tires!

 

[the Ferret]

Drrod...I don't know, I just ride. I weigh 204 dressed to ride. I'm usually speed limit plus 5 or so, ride a lot of curvy (not technical) back roads. Hard braking? When someone pulls out in front of me. Hard accelerating? Always leave traffic way behind after the light changes, but don't leave any rubber drag marks on the road. Run 42/42 checked every other day or so. I wouldn't say I'm gentle or aggressive, I just ride. The vast majority of the mileage on this set of tires is solo riding, but on the previous 4 tires were mostly 2 up ( my wife has basically quit riding after recent hip and knee replacement surgeries)

I got 11,200 and 11,200 out of my last two PR3s, 8300 out a PR2, and 8100 out of the original Bridgestone

If it makes you feel any better at 8500 miles. Both front and rear Dunlops on my CB 1100 look due for replacement

 

[nokesy]

Here is my PR4GT's at 12,000 kms (7450 miles).
I have to ask....how are you guys getting the mileage you are? Very gentle acceleration? Relatively slow corning speeds? No heavy braking? No exceeding speed limits? Light loads? Curious minds would like to know. Sure, I ride aggressively but not crazy. If I could get 10,000 miles out of a rear tire I would be real happy. Thought the PR4 was going to be it, but it is not any better (mileage wise) than the PR2, PR3, BS020 that I have run previously. I am going to give it another try since it was very hot, and 20% 2 up, for most of the life of this tire but if it doesn't do better than this one, I think I will revert back to a less expensive PR3.
BTW - no complaints on the handling.

Rod

What tire preasure are you riding. I do 42 in both, 95% of my riding is fully loaded never two up but I am a big guy

 

[drrod]

I run 42 psi, or as close as I can. May be guilty of not checking daily but often enough to not think that is the issue. Rider + luggage probably 270 - 290.
My brake pads last about 40, 000 miles front and back so i dont particularly brake hard. Accelerate briskly but not what I would say as hard. I like to corner fast but rarely slide or spin up the rear on exit. In other words, I ride like a lot of others but the tires just seem to melt off.
I'll give them another try. Hope to make 10k miles with this one. I would be happy with that.

Rod

 

[the Ferret]

Well you get more mileage out of your brake pads than I do if that's any consolation. One of the inboard pads lasts about 17,000 miles the other pads are good for around 25,000. Love to get 40,000 miles out of a set.

On the other hand the last 2 Honda Civics I sold had 200,000 miles on them when I got rid of them, both on original rear pads. Fronts had been replaced once at 120,000.

I wonder if road surface has anything to do with it. I noticed when I rode out west this year a lot of roads had a very abrasive looking surface, where back home it is mostly smooth asphalt and blacktop.

 

[drrod]

I wonder if road surface has anything to do with it. I noticed when I rode out west this year a lot of roads had a very abrasive looking surface, where back home it is mostly smooth asphalt and blacktop.

I am beginning to think that this is the major culprit. Most of my last PR4 tire was worn off from Calgary to southern California and back via mainly twisty back roads. The surface of the roads (particularly in CA) seem very abrasive chip seal but supplied great grip. I ride mainly in western Canada and the Pacific NW so maybe the road surfaces are more abrasive. Interested to hear other locals take on this.
Rod

 

[the Ferret]

Well, my rear tire is about done at just over 13,000..front still has tread but will get replaced as a pair

here they are at 13,000

front



rear



Michelin advertised they would go 20% more than the PR3's. I got 11,100 out of one PR3 and 11,200 out of another. These at 13,000 K are just a couple hundred miles short of that which would be in the neighborhood of 13,250 and will probably have that by the time they are actually replaced.

Must say for the last 1000-1500 miles the handling has suffered a bit, nothing scary, just felt like the tires were very used (which they were)

Totally happy with these tires and will replace with same another set of 4GT's

 

[CYYJ]

I've put 6,000 miles on a set of PR4GTs since November 3. Visual inspection this morning shows no detectable wear on the front, and only the faintest evidence of flattening on the rear. Riding has been almost entirely interstate, Toronto to Alabama to California and back (so far) to Dallas.

I hope to be home Saturday (another 2,000 miles), I'll post before and after tread measurements once I get home.

So far, I have been very pleased with the handling from these tires, especially on grooved pavement and within ruts that run parallel to the bike's travel path. Pressure is 42 PSI each - I monitor that with the Garmin TPMS.

Michael

 

[CYYJ]

As promised, here's the pictures and measurements. 7,000 miles of riding (in 4 weeks), almost all of that on Interstate highways. Trip was Toronto - Alabama - California and back via same route. Speed averaged 75 MPH (70 in the east, 80 in the west). One rider of 180 pounds, 50 pounds in the saddlebags.

I'm very happy with how these tires handle. I didn't have much of a chance to try them out on the twisties, but they certainly handle very well on the superslab, especially on poorly maintained roads, scarified pavement, etc. It looks like I am going to get much more mileage out of these PR4 GTs on my ST 1300 than I usually get from Metzeler Roadtec Z6s on my 1100. For sure, the PR4 GTs handle at least as well (if not better) than the Metzeler Roadtec Z6s on the highway.

What is interesting about the "before and after" comparison is that although both tires have worn by the same amount (2 mm over 7,000 miles), the 'flat spot' is barely visible on the front tire, but normally visible on the rear tire. In other words, going by visual inspection only (no measurement), it appears as if the front tire has hardly worn at all.

Michael

PR4 GT Tread Depth Measurements - new




PR4 GT Tread Depth Measurements - after 7,000 miles
Front - only the faintest evidence of a center flat spot, detectable by feel but not visually


Rear - a flat spot has developed in the middle, but it is not so big as to make a handling difference

 

[the Ferret]

Love the Michelin gauge..where did you get it?

If I 'm lucky I will have a new set mounted up Wednesday

 

[CYYJ]

Love the Michelin gauge..where did you get it?

A gift from my Honda dealer in Z?rich. They give them out upon request. I think it is a promotional item from Michelin.

The big reference to 1.6mm on the measurement scale refers to the minimum tread depth permitted on an automobile in Germany. Honda sets out more restrictive minimum tread depths for the ST 1300, which are 1.5mm for the front tire and 2.0mm for the rear tire (source: Service Manual).

Michael

 

[the Ferret]

well, here are the last pictures of my last set of PR4GT's at mileage 13,243 sitting out front of Sporttour in Cincinnati.. (Put on at 38,956 and replaced at 52,189)

front



rear



and this is how my BRAND NEW ones look ...woohoo

front



rear



Should be good now to about 65,000 miles

 

[970mike]

well, here are the last pictures of my last set of PR4GT's at mileage 13,243 sitting out front of Sporttour in Cincinnati.. (Put on at 38,956 and replaced at 52,189)

Should be good now to about 65,000 miles

Wow you must be easy on the throttle on that ST. That is some great mileage on those tires.