Michelin Pilot Road 3

[EDubya]

I'm not too happy with the understeer during initial turn in of the stock B-stones, I'll be going for the PR3's eventually, can someone confirm what I'm noticing right now is not characteristic of the bike?

I only got about 3500 miles out of the Bridgestone 021 tires anyway. I thought when new, they had pretty decent turn-in and hold, but the shoulders wore away very quickly making the bike feel like it was falling into turns. Not a good feeling. This is what they looked like at 3500 miles, and were replaced with Pilot Road 2 tires. For some reason, I always wear out the right side of the front tire first regardless of brand. Same on the recently deceased PR3s removed at 7300 miles.

Like Tom in CA, my 021's are getting down there at 3K and will be shagged at 3.5K for sure - you can almost watch them wear down :0 The poor performance doesn't really make me want to go buy BT's, know what I mean?

Do you buy the Heavy Duty option, sometimes called GT, or just go with the standard? In the case of the Michelin PR2, they call it "B" •180/55 ZR 17 rear also available in a 'B' version, specifically designed for loaded sport touring or riding two-up." I only ride 2 up 20% of the time and never load the bike to the gills, so am thinking of the standard style?

Eric

 

[jet mechanic]

My PR-3's have not lasted as expected.

Rear went out at around 6500 and the front at around 7500.

Most of my miles are commuting and I think this last set only saw the mountains 3 to 4 times.

I would almost swear that I had better miles on the PR-2's.

Time to invest in a good tire changer and buy cheaper (but good quality) tires.

 

[EDubya]

I would be OK with that mileage considering the weight of the bike and compared to miles run on some of my other bikes. I have never got 10K on a tire on any bike, probably never will. Am trying the BT-023 GT in the front, a little less $$ Than PR2/PR3 - will see how it rides and lasts.

Eric

 

[escapefjrtist]

<snip> Am trying the BT-023 GT in the front, a little less $$

Just took one off at 10K, maybe had another 500 miles left if I pushed it. Matching rear only lasted 8K...

--G

 

[TomInPA]

The B spec tires won't give longer tire wear, it's just an increase in load capacity if you ride 2-up and haul luggage.

For now I have settled on PR2 tires for best wear and ride combination for me. YMMV

 

[03HiYoSilver]

The B spec tires won't give longer tire wear, it's just an increase in load capacity... YMMV

Since the "B" Spec has an Additional Ply... the actual Tread Depth is Shallower than the Normal Spec Tire.

So you can't fairly Compare a Regular PR tire to the "B" Spec tire for mileage.

 

[SkooterG]

I've got 4100 miles on my original OEM 021 and it's fragged. What a complete POS tire. How did they screw this up so badly? I've never gotten less than 10k out of a front, and up to 19k. Usually 12-14k. Can't wait to get the 023 on there. Those are some decent Bridgestones.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Mine took a shit at 6900, and Tom's went right about the same time, leaving both of us needing tires away from home. I get better mileage from Roadsmarts. Don't think I'll go the PR3 route again.

I know someone that got surprised by the PR3 in WI. Had to borrow a take off from the assistance list to get home on a Sunday.

I'm staying away from the threes...I only get 7k out of the PR2 rears as it is. 2s get better mileage than 3s.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Mine took a shit at 6900, and Tom's went right about the same time, leaving both of us needing tires away from home. I get better mileage from Roadsmarts. Don't think I'll go the PR3 route again.

I know someone that got surprised by the PR3 in WI. Had to borrow a take off from the assistance list to get home on a Sunday.

I'm staying away from the threes...I only get 7k out of the PR2 rears as it is. 2s get better mileage than 3s.

Yup, and Bungie just posted about his PR3 taking a crap before he expected. They look good one minute, and the next thing you know, they're past the tread.

I liked the way they handled, but I don't think they stuck any better than the Roadsmarts, and the mileage was not any better. That makes them not worth the extra I paid for them.

Oh well...

 

[Old Michael]

...For now I have settled on PR2 tires for best wear and ride combination for me.

As have I.

(Tom, this must mean that you're right for once.

Never thought THAT'D happen.)

Plus, PR3s look a lot like shit.

 

[TomInPA]

There's a first time for everything Michael. Even you might get lucky someday.

 

[Jim in Phoenix]

Ok...not real happy at all with the mileage on my rear PR3!!!! :angry:

Now I am NOT one of those riders that rides on a tire until the cords are showing. All it takes is getting caught out in one downpour rain storm with a bald tire to start fishtailing it & going down. So I usually change a tire when there is just barely any tread in the center of the tire. My last PR2 rear tire I got 6,800 miles and there was still a little bit of tread.

But I only got 5,900 miles out of this PR3 and the center of the tire is completely bald! Looks like I'm going back to the cheaper and longer lasting PR2 next.

These tires look more like my previous PR2s than my current PR3s. My PR3s have "holes" to check tire wear in addition to wear bars. No "holes" in these tires.

 

[TomInPA]

The "holes" are the first thing to go.

 

[crumpadump]

I got mine from Revzilla I felt they had the best price when you take into account that they give you $5.00back per $100.00 you spend on your next purchase.

 

[frankenfeejeer]

Thought I'd add to this thread.

Decided to pull the trigger on a set of PR3s for my 03. With prices in hand I went into the local dealer (Power Motorsports) and asked how much they would charge for a set of these. Warren the parts pro gives me a price of $275 for the rear, $245 for the front, $20 install per axle. Tires in stock. After choking on my gum, I asked how much to install a set if I bring them in. He quotes about $100. So I quickly surmise that buying the tires for $304 online and having them installed at the dealership is the most cost effective option.

He then proceeds to ask what price I can get them for elsewhere? I tell him and he then knocks the price for the set to $325, so installed $365. Works for me!!

While they were installing the tires, the tech notices that the rear brakes are below 5% and informs me they can replace the pads for $50. I say "Deal".

So kudos to Power Motorsports in Sublimity, Or. They installed the tires I wanted and did the brakes for just about the same price I could have had the tires delivered and installed for. (I know I could have installed the tires myself, but I really didn't want to )

I am pretty conservative in my riding style, so I'm really hoping to see more than 6k or 7k out of these. I got almost 20k out of a cheap pair on Shinkos on my Suzuki, so lets hope! I ride 600-700 miles a week so I will know pretty quick.

 

[Top_Speed1]

@Brian

Good deal, your happy, the dealer is happy... win-win. I think sometimes dealers price themselves so far out on stuff but it's nice to hear about one coming back down to Earth.

Happy PR3 riding!

 

[wabill]

Howdy,

 

Riding season's already started slowing for me a bit . Since my last post in this thread, I've logged 2,000 more miles. Had some opportunities to find more curves than usual during a bit of touring.

 

At this point I have 10,000 miles on the tires, both installed same time. Most of my riding is solo, commuting. Most of my mileage is logged on the highway commuting ~40 miles/leg. Tire pressures are 40F/42R.

 

 

Let me toss this out to you all.

JT is riding in Michigan getting great mileage on his tires. I doubt that Michigan uses volcanic rock in there paving mix. On the other hand, states in the west have cheap and easy access to this junk and use it for paving on our roads, especially repaving. This stuff is very hard on tires and most of us complaining of low mileage out of our tires ride here in the west. What do you think? :huh:

 

[FJR Flyer]

I just mounted up the PR3s on monday and have been riding to work each day this week. Initial impressions are very positive. Granted, I'm coming off shagged out Storm IIs, but the PR3s are smooth and stable, with nice turn in. And compared to the PR2s, they feel orders of magnitude better just going straight down the road. The PR2s always felt like I was riding on marbles when riding upright. They felt fine leaned over. I'm just hoping I can get get the same mileage out of the PR3s that I got out of the PR2s.

 

[Top_Speed1]

I just mounted up the PR3s on monday and have been riding to work each day this week. Initial impressions are very positive. Granted, I'm coming off shagged out Storm IIs, but the PR3s are smooth and stable, with nice turn in. And compared to the PR2s, they feel orders of magnitude better just going straight down the road. The PR2s always felt like I was riding on marbles when riding upright. They felt fine leaned over. I'm just hoping I can get get the same mileage out of the PR3s that I got out of the PR2s.

As reported by many you won't get the mileage that you got from your PR2's but your happy and that's what counts. If I lived in a rainy area like the upper west I would have the 3's as well. So you sacrifice some miles but you have the additional grippage through the siping.

 

[Bungie]

AJ mentioned my experience with the PR3's. Before EOM I gave them a good inspection and thought for sure they'd last into next season easily. 500 miles later in Southern Ohio I gave them another good looking at. Same judgment. I was really happy with the 3's as by this point I had about 10K on them (don't recall the exact numbers, could've been higher, but not lower).

We road backroads at a spirited pace all the way to North Carolina except for maybe a 100 miles of slab.

By the time I rolled into Hendersonville my rear tire was all but pooched. It went south fast. In less than 500 miles it went from being perfectly acceptable to not getting me home.

Ya, I still got 10K+ out of it, but I typically get 15K+ out of a set of PR2's and their wear is linear except for the last couple of hundred miles.

I like the 3's, road well, turned well, rain grip was dangerously good. But when they go away that fast + the price of them, I doubt I'll buy another set by choice. I'll stick with the 2's.

Currently running a set of Conti Road Attack 2 GT's that they had the deal on at EOM. I like them a lot, they turn like Avon's, feel like Roadsmarts (harsher than the 2's or the 3's). Only miles will tell how they wear. If I were to guess though, I'd say 10 - 12K judging by the first 4-5K.