Ride Report - Michelin Pilot Road 2 (Dual Compound)

[rider coach]

Well the time has come for the new tires. I will have 15,000 miles on my original equip. Bridgestones after my trip to Deland tomorrow. I will go with the Michelin Pilot Road 2 and I am really looking forward to it. Living here in Florida I do ride in a lot of heavy rain going back and forth to Orlando. This has been a good thread on the pro's and con's by different riders. Thanks a million, Rob :biker:

 

[stoc445]

I just don't get it, how are you guys getting this kind of mileage out of your tires? I've been keeping a very close eye on the pressure because I've been going through them way faster than I want too. Relatively mild temps this summer, I ride 1 up. My weight is about 2 fiddy.

To date -
EOM tires, replaced at 7800 miles (BT020's I think)
Avon Rear - 4500 mi. replaced both with PR2's
1st rear of PR2 - 4500 miles but this was very frisky riding in Arkansas.

1st PR2 front - 7000 miles w/2mm in center and 3mm on mid sidewall. Still on the bike, but scalloped.

2nd PR2 rear - 7mm new, 2600 miles currently w/4mm in center, 6mm on mid sidewall. When does the wear bars pop, 1mm?

Just finished a 1600 mile trip, chewed up 1mm in center. Didnt measure side before I left.

My riding is frisky in twisties and 10 over on the slab with CC set. I don't weigh the bike down with excessive stuff, no top box, etc. I dunno.

 

[100MPG]

To date -
EOM tires, replaced at 7800 miles (BT020's I think)
Avon Rear - 4500 mi. replaced both with PR2's
1st rear of PR2 - 4500 miles but this was very frisky riding in Arkansas.

1st PR2 front - 7000 miles w/2mm in center and 3mm on mid sidewall. Still on the bike, but scalloped.

2nd PR2 rear - 7mm new, 2600 miles currently w/4mm in center, 6mm on mid sidewall. When does the wear bars pop, 1mm?

The type of roads you ride has a huge effect on the tire wear. I rode 150 miles through the Utah mountains and wore out the tires like they were made of butter! Are the roads rough? Do you have a heavy right hand? If my memory is correct confused I believe I got 16,000 out of the originals and 12,000 out of the second set, but of all things I have lost, I miss my memory the most...
In any event, Just put on PR2's at 28,000, which is my 3rd set of tires. I am hoping for 40,00 before I change them.
(unless I get a wing...)

 

[indypup]

I just ordered a set of PR2's from SWmoto for $307.90. I hope they are as good as everyone says.

 

[rider coach]

Well I guess I fibbed when I thought I was getting new tires. Now at 17000 miles I really need to do it or start driving the cage. I was comming back from Deland today on hwy 42 between Alltoona and Weirsdale and some of the S turns got a little squirrley on the rough pavement. Just gotta take the time and do it. Rob :biker:

 

[uptoblackwood]

Tomorrow's RTE will be the last miles on my current rear PR2. What a great tire it's been. 16,000 miler. No problems good stick all the way to the end.

 

[indypup]

I'm going to go ride in the rain now. Leaves on the rode with lite drizzle, should be a good test of the tires.

I just put a set of PR2's on about 1K ago. No noise or cupping yet. I'm very happy so far with the tires. I guess we'll see how the next 10K go.

Anyone notice that the front tire tread looks like it runs backwards? It looks like it would channel water to the center of the tire...

 

[maxified]

I have only run one set of the PR's and was pretty much satisfied with them. I check my tire pressure before each ride if I am going more than 100 miles and at least weekly, keeping 42 f/r. I rode them a bit over 9K miles and found them to be decent in the rain. The rear became a bit squirrely when I opted to ride ~900 miles with the wear bars showing. :nuts1:

I would use them again, but I am trying out a set of Avons which I also like. Just waiting to see how the miles add up before replacing them with one or the other.

 

[ak85lp]

I just added a front one yesterday and I love it much more than the BT021 I had. I can't find it in the rear size of 160/70 17 though for my 2001 ST1100. I have 37 lbs presure in it, I see some here saying 40 + lbs?

 

[Carl_T]

Just a FWIW
I'm finding things bit less grippy on the rear after 2/3-3/4 wear through, even though they aren't flat spotted. The front isn't worn as much and still grips the same. Both wet and dry.

 

[billo]

Anyone notice that the front tire tread looks like it runs backwards? It looks like it would channel water to the center of the tire...

Indypup

The water gets compressed between the tire and the ground. The path of least resistance is out the groove away from the center, no matter the orientation of the groove. Probably.

Bill

 

[Wimpy]

Anyone notice that the front tire tread looks like it runs backwards? It looks like it would channel water to the center of the tire...

When you put on the brakes the "reverse" forces channel the water to the outside of the tire.

Wimpy

 

[LoSTBrit]

I just added a front one yesterday and I love it much more than the BT021 I had. I can't find it in the rear size of 160/70 17 though for my 2001 ST1100. I have 37 lbs presure in it, I see some here saying 40 + lbs?

They don't make it in the stock size for the ST. I am ( and I assume everyone else is ) using 170/60-17 @ 40-42lb. This is about 3% smaller circumference which means your speedo will be even more inaccurate, and cruising rpm will be higher.

It's a shame they don't make the stock size, or even a 170/70 ( a little bigger than stock ) which would be great for LD cruising.

On a side note, is anyone running larger than stock tires, if so how big?

-- Mark

 

[docw1]

They don't make it in the stock size for the ST. I am ( and I assume everyone else is ) using 170/60-17 @ 40-42lb. This is about 3% smaller circumference which means your speedo will be even more inaccurate, and cruising rpm will be higher.

It's a shame they don't make the stock size, or even a 170/70 ( a little bigger than stock ) which would be great for LD cruising.

On a side note, is anyone running larger than stock tires, if so how big?

-- Mark

I don't think the different size will have an effect on the speedometer, as it takes it's info from the front wheel. The rear will spin a little faster at any given speed, however. I'm currently running 160/60 on my rear and notice a slightly higher RPM for the speed and a slightly lower speed for the RPM (about 3 MPH less at 4000 RPM in 5th gear). I also notice a slightly greater tendency to touch the side of my boot on turns. Does the 170/60 fit as well?

Bill

 

[100MPG]

I don't think the different size will have an effect on the speedometer, as it takes it's info from the front wheel.
Bill

 

[ksievers]

wrong size?

OK... what am I missing here... I am about to get a PR2 put on the rear of my '08 ST tomorrow. The size shown on the tables of Michelin is the same as the OE tire (Bridgestone) no???

are you-all saying the PR2 is smaller than what the bike calls for?

thanks for any help -

 

[Fred D]

Re: wrong size?

OK... what am I missing here... I am about to get a PR2 put on the rear of my '08 ST tomorrow. The size shown on the tables of Michelin is the same as the OE tire (Bridgestone) no???

are you-all saying the PR2 is smaller than what the bike calls for?

thanks for any help -

Yer cool, I think they're talking ST1100.

 

[ksievers]

thanks Fred... paranoid in Norman (and I don't mean about football, that's another story)...

BTW I'm getting the tire at Shawnee - seems that their claim of $10 over "cost" is pretty much true. They are quoting me $160 for the rear tire and $48 to put it on. All hopefully while I wait (not too long) and try to not buy too much else...

thanks again -

 

[st11ray]

thanks Fred... paranoid in Norman (and I don't mean about football, that's another story)...

BTW I'm getting the tire at Shawnee - seems that their claim of $10 over "cost" is pretty much true. They are quoting me $160 for the rear tire and $48 to put it on. All hopefully while I wait (not too long) and try to not buy too much else...

thanks again -

Make sure they use Honda Moly 60 paste on your rear splines when they do the change.

 

[docw1]

Maybe it's different on the 1300, but the speedometer on the 1100 comes off the front wheel, so if a smaller or larger rear wheel is put on, it makes no difference in the speedometer reading. If you would have a smaller or larger diameter front tire, then that wouls make a difference.