Good day,
I have a dilemma. My front tire appears to be cupping and I’m in search of a new one. The current tires (front and back) are Michelin Road 4 GT. The front is a 120/70 zr18. I cannot find this exact size in a GT anywhere and one distributor says they’re not made anymore. My question is which tire would be more suitable (keeping the rear Michelin Road 4 GT in mind) would be best? The rear tire has plenty of tread life.
Road 6 GT 120/70 R17
Road 6 non GT 120/70 ZR18
Thx
Jamie
I had the same issue. Last year I went Road 6GT rear, not knowing they didn't make the front in GT.
Totally loved the GT 6 rear, but I was starting to drift curves due to no tread on the sides.
I've never worn out the center of a tire before loosing the sidewalls first.
Found a shop locally that had a Road 6 in stock and took the wheel in.
The first thing I noticed was how light the handling was.
I had to learn how to steer all over again, as the lighter 6 required much less pressure to counter steer turns, and low speed handling felt like one of my dirt bikes.
I was pretty apprehensive at first, but quickly became acclimated to the much sportier characteristics.
The GT4 was worn in a triangle, which caused any grooves on the road to make the bike want to wander, and caused high speed wobble when I corrected.
I just got back from a 130 mile break in.
I marveled at the responsiveness, the only resistance was the gyroscopic centripetal force, with the front tire feeling impervious to all the road snakes, crakes, and grooves. Even those heinous elevation changes in the middle of the lanes.
From what I understand, Michelin is still making them in 17", they are just backordered.
Obviously not sure how well they will wear, but in truth, our ST's are relatively light on the heavy bike scale.
The Hogs, and Goldwings weigh in as 1/2 a ton or more, and need the heavy carcass.
When I started riding they didn't even make GT's.
I'm sold on the performance aspect already.
I'm even getting better mileage, but only a couple MPG's.
I'd go all Road 6 forever now.
I'm comfortable with only the rear in GT, as I believe once I'm on it with bags, top box, and backpack strapped onto the back seat, that's where most of the weight is.
Be careful changing it yourself.
I have a HF changer with a full compliment of spoons and accessories, and tore a non GT tire when mounting it myself.
I can do the rear myself, all my dirt bikes, enduros, and even my road track only racer with non-DOT slicks or rains, but the carcass is so much less than the GT that a spoon tore the first Raod 6 front tire. It was about 90° outside, so that may have exacerbated the very warm rubber. That was a $250 lesson.
Hope this helps.
