Thoughts about Michelin Pilot Road 4?

[ilikefood]

I need new tires for my '09 Multistrada 1100S. It's my daily commuter, so I'm leaning more towards the sport-touring end of the tire spectrum, and dual compound so highway miles don't square off the tires so quickly. I've read good reviews of the Michelin PR4, but wanted to hear people's experiences as well. How much grip am I giving up with the PR4 vs. something more sporty? Would it be crazy to do a track day on those tires?

And are there any other tires I should consider?

 

[DTM74]

Great tires...especially if it's your daily commuter. Pirelli Angel GTs seem to be a good choice too.

 

[GAJ]

No experience though I love my PR3's.

Found this chart which might help you research other choices.

http://mototirereviews.com/sport-touring-motorcycle-tire-reviews/

 

[crick]

i luv my PR4 GT's (think u can suffice with just the regular PR4's)

i've ridden dunlop roadsmarts... they are meh

i've riddin the metz, they were kinda meh.

i've riddin the bridgey's bt's... hated em.

the tires are more ST tires, with its piping... i would save em for commute and have different tires for track.

 

[sckego]

I need new tires for my '09 Multistrada 1100S. It's my daily commuter, so I'm leaning more towards the sport-touring end of the tire spectrum, and dual compound so highway miles don't square off the tires so quickly. I've read good reviews of the Michelin PR4, but wanted to hear people's experiences as well. How much grip am I giving up with the PR4 vs. something more sporty? Would it be crazy to do a track day on those tires?

And are there any other tires I should consider?

On PR4s at Sonoma earlier this year, mid-B+ pace... ran out of ground clearance well before getting anywhere near the limits of traction!

I've got about 3,500 miles on them so far and the rear is just at the wear bars, but I've been kind of heavy-handed with the throttle, too...

 

[Surj]

I ran through a bunch of sets of PR3s. Loved them. Most of the way through a set of PR4s. Love 'em too. I haven't done a back to back test so I don't have a direct comparison of 3 vs. 4, but the only thing I've noticed is that the with the 4, you can feel grooved pavement in the front, whereas on the 3 there was nothing. It's just the difference in tread patterns. Both awesome.

 

[GAJ]

I ran through a bunch of sets of PR3s. Loved them. Most of the way through a set of PR4s. Love 'em too. I haven't done a back to back test so I don't have a direct comparison of 3 vs. 4, but the only thing I've noticed is that the with the 4, you can feel grooved pavement in the front, whereas on the 3 there was nothing. It's just the difference in tread patterns. Both awesome.

My understanding, (I've only owned PR3's) is that the main distinction between the 4's and 3's is superior performance in the wet.

Have you found that to be the case?

 

[Hoho]

I've got about 8K on my PR4 rear on my Street Triple now, still plenty of tread left. Hooli had PR4s on his Multi for > 10k I think...

Great tires in wet or dry.

 

[fast4d]

tried them all. BT023, angels, angels GT, PR2, and now PR4

mich PR series last longer handled consistently THROUGH OUT its life and resists squaring off the longest. worth the extra 33% you pay compare to bridgestones, pirelli, etc.

I passed on the recent rebate on bridgestone T30.

 

[Surj]

My understanding, (I've only owned PR3's) is that the main distinction between the 4's and 3's is superior performance in the wet.

Have you found that to be the case?

Like I said, I haven't done a back to back comparison so it's really hard to say. I thought the PR3s were bitchin' in the rain, and the PR4s are too. :dunno

 

[Aj510]

I've had both angel gt's and the Bridgestone bt30. The angel gt's would slip on me and squared off so bad. The bt30 was good for traction but also squared off but not as bad as the angel gt. Both lasted about 8k-10k miles. Recently went with shinko 011 tires and they have been the best yet. Although the center is now done they didn't square off, they are not loud and give good feedback. Haven't had any traction issues even with the center of the rear gone, I am at about 7.5k miles with them. I commute 45 mins highway 5 days a week and ride pretty hard in the twisties and you can get a set for about 200$. Oh and they did great in the rain, although I ride like a granny in the rain. I will be ordering a new set Friday

 

[ilikefood]

Cool, thank you all for the advice. Looks like I'll be ordering a set of PR4s. I'm sure anything would be an improvement over the 6 year old OEM Pirelli Scorpions I'm on now. I got the bike with less than 3K miles, so it seemed like a waste to not ride out those to the end, but I'll be glad to see them go :laughing

 

[GAJ]

Cool, thank you all for the advice. Looks like I'll be ordering a set of PR4s. I'm sure anything would be an improvement over the 6 year old OEM Pirelli Scorpions I'm on now. I got the bike with less than 3K miles, so it seemed like a waste to not ride out those to the end, but I'll be glad to see them go :laughing

:laughing

It'll be like riding a different bike. :thumbup

 

[flying_hun]

Cool, thank you all for the advice. Looks like I'll be ordering a set of PR4s. I'm sure anything would be an improvement over the 6 year old OEM Pirelli Scorpions I'm on now. I got the bike with less than 3K miles, so it seemed like a waste to not ride out those to the end, but I'll be glad to see them go :laughing

The Scorpion Trail that replaced the Scorpion Sync is a dual compound tire, FWIW. I like the Scorpions, and prefer them to PR2's and PR3's. I've never run the PR4's. The reason I prefer them is that by comparison the Michelins feel sluggish on turn-in. Others might think the Pirellis are twitchy. I find them responsive. YMMV. I've also found the Scorpions to be consistent from beginning to end of life. Actually, the best tire I've ever run in that regard. Roadsmarts were among the worst.

Currently running a set of Angel GT's on my Aprilia, and they grip just fine. Ask anyone who rode to Kernville with me. :teeth Just about to replace a set of PR3's on my Euro Versys, and will take whatever the shop gives me a deal on. My local Versys has a set of Shinko 011's. It's my third set of those, and they make a fine commute tire. Okay in the rain - not great. Okay-to-pretty-good tire life. Kind of numb. Not a track day tire, but good enough for some brisk work in the twisties. Unlike the other poster, I found them to be quite noisy in the first half of their life. However, I don't think it's the tire you're looking for.

 

[PorradaVFR]

I personally did not much like the rounded profile of the PR3s but have enjoyed the Angel STs that are currently on the VFR. If the PR4s are more like the original PRs (i.e. more pointed than rounded) I may go back to Michelin after all.

 

[Lionel Cosgrove]

On PR4s at Sonoma earlier this year, mid-B+ pace... ran out of ground clearance well before getting anywhere near the limits of traction!

what air pressures were you running?

 

[sckego]

what air pressures were you running?

30F/29R. Wear was nice and even, just a bit of feathering on the very outside edges of the contact patch (actually still had about ~4-6mm of unused surface before the edge of the tire)

 

[flying_hun]

What? Not 50 psi?! :wtf

 

[sckego]

What? Not 50 psi?! :wtf

Are you kidding me? I might have crashed and then been stuck there with no way to get my bike home. :wow

 

[motoproponent]

I just went from Angel GTs to PR4s and I'll say the wet weather performance is on par. For whatever reason I felt the Pirellis tracked a bit truer on fire roads, but the lifespan I've gotten from the PR4s seals the deal.

PR4 is hands down, IMHO, the better tire.