Michelin Road 6GT

[McRide]

MICHELIN Road 6GT ,1st I've seen of these.... Ride Report anyone?
Here

​

 

[Auburn]

more details here

 

[escapefjrtist]

Let's hope these offer improved life verses the last iteration...

~G

 

[RossKean]

Claim 15% improvement in wet traction - however they measure that. Just 10% improvement in tread wear so I wouldn't count on it being a game changer.

PR2 was their best tire for a lot of years. IMO, the PR3 sucked and the PR4 was better. Never tried the Road5 after looking at the price and unfavorable mileage reports. Doesn't look like the Road6 is going to be that much better. Not likely to try unless local dealers do a deep discount.

 

[Archer]

more details here

Rubber News, the above referenced website, wants $4 large for membership to jump paywall for the Michelin article.
so here's from Mechelin: https://www.michelinman.com/motorcycle/tires/michelin-road-6-gt

I'm taking my 4 dollar savings and sticking it into my new Road 6GT piggybank.

 

[blufjr]

I liked the road 5, but bought PR2's if available for Summer use and my favorite overall was the PR3s. I always got more miles out of the 3s vs. te 4s. Usual miles on the 3s was 7-9K and only 6-7K on the 4s. I like the idea of the sipping on the 3s and 4s and preferred them for fall, winter and spring. In the end, I have never got anymore miles out of a tire than I did with the PR1s. See tire wear below

Tire Summary(04-05) plus (05-05) FJR 1300 ABS​	​	Rear tire ​	​	Frt tire ​
OEM: Set standard of acceptance for mileage​	ME4 ​	7,800 ​	ME4 ​	10,921 ​
this Avon could not be balanced:​	AvonAzaro ​	Dftv1595 ​	AvonAzaro ​	10,802 ​
​	AvonAzaro ​	8,446 ​	​	​
170/60R​	ME880 ​	12,667 ​	ME880 ​	8,785 ​
170/60R​	ME880 ​	11,580 ​	MEZ6 ​	11,578 ​
170/60R​	ME880 ​	10,512 ​	ME880 ​	10,514 ​
​	Pilot Rd 1 ​	7,600 ​	Pilot RD 1 ​	10,697 ​
​	PR1 ​	7,100 ​	​	​
cords​	MEZ6 ​	8,315 ​	PR1 ​	10,569 ​
​	AvonStorm ​	6,662 ​	AvonStorm ​	9,400 ​
​	Pilot Rd 2 ​	6,959 ​	PR2 ​	9,350 ​
​	AvonAzaro ​	7,259 ​	AvonAzaro ​	9,752 ​
​	AvonAzaro ​	6,373 ​	AvonAzaro ​	9,159 ​
could have gone another 800m​	PR1 ​	6,875 ​	PR1 ​	9,990 ​
cords​	MEZ6 ​	7,154 ​	​	​
came with bike, don't know real mileage​	05 MEZ6 ​	5,655 ​	ME Z6 ​	5,655 ​
​	PR2 ​	6,715 ​	PR2 ​	8,232 ​
​	PR2 ​	6,690 ​	​	​
take off, still good for 1200 miles​	05 BT023 ​	6,331 ​	BT 023 ​	12,279 ​
​	PR1 ​	9,503 ​	​	​
​	05Storm2 ​	6,858 ​	Storm2 ​	9,616 ​
cords​	Angel ST ​	5,223 ​	Angel ST ​	8,105 ​
​	PR2 ​	8,932 ​	​	​
beyond cords​	Angel ST ​	5,534 ​	Angel ST-INUSE ​	8,571 ​
​	Pilot Rd 3 ​	9,127 ​	PR-3 ​	9,680 ​
​	05 PR1 ​	6,974 ​	PR1 ​	6,974 ​
​	05 PR3 ​	8,789 ​	PR3 ​	8,789 ​
​	05PR4 ​	6,010 ​	PR-4 ​	6,010 ​
Early take off​	05 PR3 ​	6,000 ​	PR-3 ​	9,196 ​
​	PR4gt ​	6,601 ​	PR-4​	12,500​
​	PR3 ​	8,418 ​	PR-3​	9,714 ​
​	PR4 ​	6,580 ​	PR-4​	out wkg​
average with 31 rears/25fronts​	​	7,376 ​	​	9,474 ​
​	​	242,618 ​	​	236,838 ​

 

[SkooterG]

Front looks like a cupping nightmare. Again.

 

[RossKean]

Front looks like a cupping nightmare. Again.

I have never had a Michelin front tire that I liked after about half life...

 

[Torchsport]

I'll give these a try next time.

 

[grnarrowe]

My 16 came with the BT023's, absolute garbage in my opinion. They were tossed in the dumpster at 8700 miles.

I put on PR3's for our trip our out west in 2017 and they were a huge improvement. I had the PR3's on my 05 as well and loved the way they handled and wore. I got 8 to 16k with them. Yes 16k, see.

These were the tires I put on in July/August 2017 before we went west on a 16 day 5800 mile trip. This was after 16,287 miles in August of 2018.

I tried the PR4's once, i did not like the lack of grip as the tires wore. There is a left/right section of road on the way to work and with the 3's the bike held its line even as the tread wore away. With the 4's the bike would slide through the corner as the tread wore. Went back to the 3's there after.

Then they quit making the 3's and started the Road 5's. I had these on the 16, they were not meant for the bike according to the Michelin rep I talked to but they were incredible! I have never felt a bike stick in a corner like that. I had 2 set's of Road 5's before the Road 5 GT was available and that is what is in the bike now. I had Road 5's on the bike in 2018 and 2019. The 5's lasted 8 to 9k, but both times but I got a flat rear and changed them out before I could get more miles on them.

The first set of Road 5's I put on had 8 miles on them when we went to the Back of the Dragon and the Dragon. The feeling of riding the Dragon faster then I ever had was intoxicating. These tires stuck in the corners and did not falter they were that good on the 16.

The second set of 5's also had 8 miles on them before we left for Tennessee. Rode back from the dealer to home then left for vacation both times.

In August of 2021 I put on a set of the Road 5 GT's before we went back to The Back of the Dragon and the Dragon. I had 1k miles on them before we went and at this time I have 5k on them. They're not as sticky as the 5's but they still look new. They are good in the dry and in the wet, coming home last year from Tennessee we got caught in the rain just before entering Kentucky and they felt solid underneath the bike. Even after I passed an18 wheeler and was engulfed in the spray he kicked up from a puddle as I passed him. Then he passed us and once again I disappeared in a wall of water he kicked up as he passed us. The bike didn't squirm or twitch.

I think the GT's will wear better than the 5's. I'll know more by September when I have to change them out before we go out west again. We'll be going to Boise for the Tour of Honor then I'll be going to Colorado for 5 days, should be interesting.

 

[redneckj]

Road 3’s highest mileage of any tire I’ve ever used.

Never tried 4’s

Ran a set of 5’s non GT. Ran a set to try out for a local rep. The stickiest tire I’ve ever had on the FJR. COMPLETELY toast after 2500 miles. I had to rebalance the front at about 1000 miles because how bad the front deformed. Non GT isn’t made for the heavy FJR but is DAMN sticky.

 

[sloppy]

I have a PR2 on the rear and a Road 5 on the front. I loved the PR2 and ran them on my previous bike the FZ-1. I always had great grip and high mileage, I have had 3s on the FZ and 4s on the FJ and never cared for them as much as the 2s because they cupped out bad due to siping. So far the 5 has performed well and I don't see unusual wear but frankly I have only about 2500 or so miles on it. I like the 5, The tread pattern doesnt look so choppy with sipes like the 3s and 4s. The 6s look good but ther price is so high. I miss the PR2. It was phenomenal.

 

[hppants]

Honestly, for that price, I'll pass. Even with the occasional rebate, the pr4Gts are pricey. And like others, the front starts to cup at about 1/2 life.

The best value for the mileage and price is the dunlop Roadsmart 3, especially when dunlop offers a rebate (typically $40 discount for 2). The wet traction is just a smidge below the PR4GT, but it holds its traction properties until you get past the wear bars. Furthermore, with proper inflation (40/42), that tire will hold its shape until (and beyond) the bitter end.

 

[RossKean]

Honestly, for that price, I'll pass. Even with the occasional rebate, the pr4Gts are pricey. And like others, the front starts to cup at about 1/2 life.

The best value for the mileage and price is the dunlop Roadsmart 3, especially when dunlop offers a rebate (typically $40 discount for 2). The wet traction is just a smidge below the PR4GT, but it holds its traction properties until you get past the wear bars. Furthermore, with proper inflation (40/42), that tire will hold its shape until (and beyond) the bitter end.

I want to try the Roadsmart 4 that came out recently. Price was a bit high last year but I will keep an eye on them.
I will also watch for some real world reviews (and decent sales) on the Michelin Road 6 but I am unlikely to be an early adopter.

 

[ElectricFJR]

I put a set of Road 5's on my '16 just before a 5,400 mile trip to Montana last September. At about 6,000 miles the front was completely down to the wear bars and replaced with another Road 5, but the rear still looked like it would go another 2,000 miles. I've always replaced my rears to fronts 2:1, so I don't know what happened this time. I've been happy with the Road series over the years and will probably try the Road 6's when needed.

 

[roger dodger]

And like others, the front starts to cup at about 1/2 life.

I was impressed w/ PR2s. Loved my PR3s (sipes in the rain). Mostly have used PR4s for years now... and never had bad cupping like some mentioned. My thought is Michelins run soft on the sidewall, and benefit from a higher pressure. I know the manual says 36/40 for tire pressure... but I always keep them @ 40/42 or even 42/42 when doing a road trip.

Also... so often folks agree with me ... but their TP gauges don't. I use a dial gauge like this and check them a lot.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

The 4GT’s are my all around favorite, and generally last the longest, for me.

The 5GT front has a unique profile. I prefer it over all other tires for riding on the mountains. The 5GT rear doesn’t do anything special for me, so I can’t really justify the additional expense.

 

[hppants]

I want to try the Roadsmart 4 that came out recently. Price was a bit high last year but I will keep an eye on them.
I will also watch for some real world reviews (and decent sales) on the Michelin Road 6 but I am unlikely to be an early adopter.

I wouldn't mind trying the RS4, but like you, not at the current price.

 

[Bandit Greg]

I had too many negative experiences with the PR4's - mostly cupping in front of course, but also general handling issues.
I'm now a big Dunlop Roadsmart fan - I used a few sets of the old RS 2's which were quite decent (a good candidate for burning-down on a long distance run). That got my attention and I've been using the 3's a lot - maybe been through four or five sets on my bikes - LOVE THEM - excellent life (maybe 8K on my Bandit, more on my SV) and really primo stickiness, almost like a full Sport tire. I can trust them in a fast corner.
I contacted Dunlop engineers to ask a tire-wear question (mis-matching front to rear).. I told him that I liked the 3's, so he was kindly and sent me a $100 rebate for the new 4's. Psyched! They'll probably go on my Bandit 12, as it is more Sporty-intent than the FJR. Meanwhile I also have an extra set of the 3's that will go on the FJR after the current Metzeler Z6's [ugh!] go south

Original PR4 front on the FJR when I bought it last Spring:


PS - stay away from Continental Contimotions-

 

[fastpappy]

I had too many negative experiences with the PR4's - mostly cupping in front of course, but also general handling issues.
I'm now a big Dunlop Roadsmart fan - I used a few sets of the old RS 2's which were quite decent (a good candidate for burning-down on a long distance run). That got my attention and I've been using the 3's a lot - maybe been through four or five sets on my bikes - LOVE THEM - excellent life (maybe 8K on my Bandit, more on my SV) and really primo stickiness, almost like a full Sport tire. I can trust them in a fast corner.
I contacted Dunlop engineers to ask a tire-wear question (mis-matching front to rear).. I told him that I liked the 3's, so he was kindly and sent me a $100 rebate for the new 4's. Psyched! They'll probably go on my Bandit 12, as it is more Sporty-intent than the FJR. Meanwhile I also have an extra set of the 3's that will go on the FJR after the current Metzeler Z6's [ugh!] go south

Original PR4 front on the FJR when I bought it last Spring:
View attachment 1005

PS - stay away from Continental Contimotions-

View attachment 1007

Not liking the Z6s? Could you elaborate? I had no problem with mine but went to the Z8s when they were done which I liked better. Trying the 01s now though got barely any miles in before the winter. So would love to know your impressions.