PR4 GT's

[VFR]

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

No Kidding!!! I don't think either one of us could even come anywhere near that. I think I got over 11K on a front tire once, but it depends on the bike.

I had a guy at the Long Beach IMS pushing me to try a set of those. Told him I was way less than excited over Michelin tires but he swore these were different. May try them but I have a couple sets of other tires to use first.

 

[CYYJ]

Wow you must be easy on the throttle on that ST...

...No Kidding!!! I don't think either one of us could even come anywhere near that. I

Based on my limited experience with these tires (see photos above in post #88), I don't think that Ferret's experience is unique. I used exactly half the available tread wear (started with 6 mm, ended with 4 mm, 2 mm is the lower limit) during a 7,000 mile tour last month. Granted, this was all intercity transit on Interstates (I don't think I even wore the nubs off the sides of the tires), but it was all at relatively high speeds, which tends to accelerate tire wear. I expect to get around 14,000 miles from the two tires if they continue to wear at this rate.

If I get the bike into the twisties sometime in the next 7,000 miles, I might even get more mileage out of them, because I'll be using up some of the yet untouched rubber on the sides of the tires.

Michael

 

[the Ferret]

5500 of mine was an interstate trip from Ohio to the Pacific Ocean and back ..493 miles a day for 11 straight days. Wasn't any grass growing under my tires, especially out west where the speed limits are a bit higher, and a week long trip to the twisties of s/e West Virginia/Va, probably close to 2000 miles there. The rest local riding which is mainly curvy country roads. Those who have been to OH-Stoc know the kind of roads I'm talking about. I ride roads like that every day.

Like I opinioned before, our roads are much smoother than the roads I rode out west, which looked rather abrasive. I can't imagine tires lasting too long out there.

 

[playinatwork]

Here's my PR4GT after 10704 miles. No more miles than my PR3's. I replaced it with a Bridgestone T30.

 

[the Ferret]

I had mentioned how my handling had suffered in the last 1000-1500 miles. It felt like it wanted to stand up straight going thru a curve and front end had a little shimmy in the bars... total fixed with the new tires. No shimmy now and also able lay it over and rail thru the curves now, it transitions great and holds it's line with no effort.

what a difference new tires make..

 

[STimpa]

I have run Z6's front and back for most of my miles on the 1300. I got a set of PR3's 2 seasons ago and was very pleased with handling, although mileage suffered a bit. Last year I tried to order the PR4GT's and like many, could not get a front tire in the spring. I finally went back to the Z6's as I had a long vacation ride coming up. I have 11,500 on them and am very happy, as I have always liked the way they handle. I picked up a pair of PR4GT's in the fall and they are in the garage waiting to go on sometime this winter. I probly won't put any miles on till at least mid-Feb as we will have ice on the road till about then, but I am looking forward to riding them this next season.
Some great reports on here, especially helpful are the photos and info re: riding style and surfaces. I am a firm believer in air pressure as the primary determiner of wear. I keep mine at 42/42 consistently. The more anal I have become, the more mileage I have gotten out of a set. I also acknowledge the challenge of "chip seal" roads in the western states. We have alot of them in WA state, especially in the northern half as the weather is hard on the roads, and the hiway depts tend to chip seal every few years to maintain the road surfaces.
Thanks to all for your reports, as I have been eager to get the "low down."

 

[jonjonboo]

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

dude--those tires look as square as the pine 2x4's I saw at Lowe's today---how can anyone own a SPORTtouring bike and go that easy on the tires.

 

[dc112675]

I'm anxious to get a new set of pr4's on my 04 and see how many miles I can get on them. My other bike is a 94 Magna 750 and I got 28k on the rear and 32k on the front with my Meltzer 880's! I do tend to start slow, stop slow, and coast a lot before coming to a stop. I'm guessing the added weight and power of the 1300 will reduce the longevity of the tires.

 

[wihardy]

It's good to see nice mileage numbers out of these tires. I'm on my second set of 4s the first set caught something on the road and the rear's sidewall got a slash in it. I think there was only about 7K miles on it.

 

[yosso]

5,014 miles.

Installed at 46,900
Removed at 51,914

Mostly commuting. Some gravel.

 

[dc112675]

5,914 miles.

Installed at 46,900
Removed at 51,914

Mostly commuting. Some gravel.

I hate to say this but your math is a bit off...looks like you got 5,014 miles off them (unless you had a typo and installed them at 46,000).

 

[SteveST1300]

I would love to know how you get that kind of mileage as well. I haven't run the PR4's yet but on my Bridgestone T30's I get about 5500 out of a rear and I can probably get double that from a front.

 

[JQL]

Sounds like a problem with the right hand to me...

 

[yosso]

I hate to say this but your math is a bit off...looks like you got 5,014 miles off them (unless you had a typo and installed them at 46,000).

Definitely a typo.

Thanks for the catch.

 

[970mike]

I would love to know how you get that kind of mileage as well. I haven't run the PR4's yet but on my Bridgestone T30's I get about 5500 out of a rear and I can probably get double that from a front.

Sounds like a problem with the right hand to me...

You just need to drive like the little old lady from Pasadena and you will get better mileage out of your tires also!!

 

[flyfisher]

Yeah, not many here probably religiously run 55 in 5th gear, I believe we're a subset of society that considers speed limits an advisement..............it's all good as long we enjoy it..........ff

 

[yosso]

The Michelins are one of the most expensive tires for the ST. I'd be very disappointed if my mileage/tire wear was like yours.

I'm definitely disappointed.

I'm going to attempt to exercise throttle moderation on this rear tire.

The front tire was replaced at the same time, so I was attempting to keep the same tire brand/type on the rear.

 

[ChucksKLRST]

The Michelins are one of the most expensive tires for the ST. I'd be very disappointed if my mileage/tire wear was like yours.

I was getting 9k to 10k out of my PR4 GT's on my ST1300. How ever gravel and chip-seal will eat up any tire and New Mexico has a lot of both.

 

[adamk]

I'm going to attempt to exercise throttle moderation on this rear tire.

That never works for me! About 5 minutes into a nice twisty road and it's all forgotten!!

My best mileage has been 9,318, worst 7,421 & average 8,500

 

[the Ferret]

The Michelins are one of the most expensive tires for the ST. I'd be very disappointed if my mileage/tire wear was like yours.

If one person gets 13,000 out of a tire and another person only gets 5,000 out of the same tire, is it the tire or the rider?

If Yosso wants to get more mileage, he is going to have to do what he knows he must do if he wants his tires to last longer, exercise a little throttle moderation. If he doesn't, it won't matter which brand of tire he uses. Michelin PR4GT is a premium tire, which has been proven to go many thousands of miles with reasonable care and use. Can't blame the tire. The other option is ride hard, have fun and don't worry about how many miles you get out of a tire.