Pilot Road 2's Rear Tire Wear

[Fontanaman]

I changed my rear Pilot Road 2 today, decided to learn something and share what I learned. The rear tire had nearly 11,000 miles. 2,000 miles before I changed it, it had 1/16 inch of tread left above the wear bar.

After changing it today I wanted to know how much tire was left so I cut the center with a saw until I saw cord. I measured the results.

Here is a photo of the wear bar. Not show in this photo is a wear bar nearer the center of the tire. That wear bar was mostly wore down.

Here is the old tire and new tire stacked in the same tread orientation for comparison purposes. I cut the tire to the cord and measured the depth at the cut. There was about 3/32 of an inch left. Perhaps this tire had an addition 1,000 miles left. Now I am not advocating running a tire to the bitter end or until cord shows, but it might be good to know how far you can push it in a pinch.

 

[JamesK]

Very good, and scientific info Fontanaman, thanks. I've practically tested this theory a few times, albeit unintentionally and it was about what you figure, sticking to 70-75mph and not hammering it off the starts.

 

[puppychow]

11K miles!! How do you guys do it?

 

[JamesK]

11K miles!! How do you guys do it?

Mine was more like 4-5k miles, but the same principle still applied in terms of life left after the wear bars.

 

[escapefjrtist]

You did OK with that rear tire Fontanaman. The mileage you've listed is pretty typical up in these parts...though it would have run another 1000 miles!

Glad we got it changed today.

Adding as a note: The new PR2 had small yellow rectangular marks on both sides of the sidewall. We checked the bare rim for balance and then lined up the yellow marks on the heavy spot. Took right at 1 ounce of weight to balance. Wondering out-loud if Michelin is putting balance marks on their tires now?

--G

 

[Fontanaman]

11K miles!! How do you guys do it?

I guess I don't ride hard. My style is mostly off freeway on State or County roads at 5+ the speed limit. I don't accelerate hard rarely breaking 7k rpm - hell you are at most speed limits in 2nd gear hard acceleration. I keep the tires properly inflated checking them before each ride - sometimes the bike sits for 2 weeks between rides. That is my style.

Also I ran this tire down further than any other so maybe I have been changing them out too soon before now. I will run them down like this in the future - meaning the center wear bar will be mostly gone.

Lastly this post applies to a Pilot Road 2 tire. Other tires will differ in tread life.

 

[CAJW]

11K miles!! How do you guys do it?

Sam,

I'm scratching my head on this too. My last PR2 B spec got 8900, Friday I had another PR2 B spec show cord (on the side no less) at 5400 miles. :huh:

 

[Fontanaman]

11K miles!! How do you guys do it?

Sam,

I'm scratching my head on this too. My last PR2 B spec got 8900, Friday I had another PR2 B spec show cord (on the side no less) at 5400 miles. :huh:

PS the tire I just replaced was a "B" series PR2. I am told by others on the forum, with more tech knowledge than I, they last no longer than a non "B" series tire. I found the "B" series tire offered a rougher road aka I felt the road more and it even altered the handling of the bike a bit - it could be my suspension is wearing out at 26k miles too. I shall soon find out for I installed a non "B" series PR 2 tire this time.

Although a bit off topic here is a very good review of the PR'3s and it includes a comparison to the PR2's. This is very interesting for I like the PR2 for it's ability to drop in to a turn without much counter steer effort. I will certainly never mix a PR2 and PR3 - what a mess that would be.....

 

[JamesK]

I don't care what any reviews or other "unbiased" opinions say. I tried PR3 on my FJR, and I will never get another set of PR3 for this bike again! I'll stick to PR2 for as long as they are available and have to consider switching to Metzeler Z8 or others.

The PR3 wear quicker, behave much worse and "go off" faster, at least that been my experience with these design "flops" on the FJR with good after market suspension and the nice twisty roads similar to the kind you find in GA/NC, etc. with spirited riding.

 

[Patriot]

18k but definitely waited too long

I guess I only make the rare turn !

 

[Fontanaman]

Sheet Patriot that makes my old tire look like new! Too bad I cut it - $50 shipped would have got you 6k miles!

 

[SkooterG]

Pfffft! A 'real' man would have been even more helpful and would have cut the brand new tire for comparison.

Just removed a PR2 rear at 16,300. It was just starting to hit the center wear bars. I would have kept it on there a thousand or two more miles but I had a trip coming up. My first one I got 18,000. Still, these things handle like crap the last 15-20% of their life.

 

[JamesK]

Pfffft! A 'real' man would have been even more helpful and would have cut the brand new tire for comparison.

Just removed a PR2 rear at 16,300. It was just starting to hit the center wear bars. I would have kept it on there a thousand or two more miles but I had a trip coming up. My first one I got 18,000. Still, these things handle like crap the last 15-20% of their life.

True that, whether this comes after 15k+ miles or 4-5k miles, but if you really want to experience "sun-set" crap handling just give the PR3's a shot the front, especially becomes down right f%^@king dangerous.

 

[SkooterG]

Pfffft! A 'real' man would have been even more helpful and would have cut the brand new tire for comparison.

Just removed a PR2 rear at 16,300. It was just starting to hit the center wear bars. I would have kept it on there a thousand or two more miles but I had a trip coming up. My first one I got 18,000. Still, these things handle like crap the last 15-20% of their life.

True that, whether this comes after 15k+ miles or 4-5k miles, but if you really want to experience "sun-set" crap handling just give the PR3's a shot the front, especially becomes down right f%^@king dangerous.

Good to know. Makes it easy not to spend the premium associated with the PR3s.

 

[JamesK]

18k but definitely waited too long

I guess I only make the rare turn !

Here's the correct way to wear out a PR2 if you're not exiled in the flatlands

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

I changed my rear Pilot Road 2 today, decided to learn something and share what I learned. The rear tire had nearly 11,000 miles. 2,000 miles before I changed it, it had 1/16 inch of tread left above the wear bar.

I just changed my PR2 this weekend. It looked worse than yours and only had 6,400 miles on it.

Good to know. Makes it easy not to spend the premium associated with the PR3s.

My local dealer just priced-matched Amazon.com for me on a new PR3 rear tire and gave it to me for $169.00 and installed it for $32.00 (I just rode the bike in & didn't take the wheel off myself).

Not too sure that's paying a "premium".

-----------------------------

So what can you learn from this boys & girls? Nothing! Tire wear is completely individual and all over the board. And one tire a guys says is "dangerous" another guy loves and will buy another set in a heartbeat.

Just another information overload session here on fjrforum.com that leaves one scratching your head...thanks for tuning in though!

 

[carlson_mn]

I have 2500 miles on my PR2 and it is 50% wore down. Going to Arkansas for 4 days of twisites so at least I'll be using the sides more... a little nervous still.

 

[JamesK]

I have 2500 miles on my PR2 and it is 50% wore down. Going to Arkansas for 4 days of twisites so at least I'll be using the sides more... a little nervous still.

Some great roads up in AR, that's where we did the TwistyButt rides, but the roads are chip-seal and really eat tires (good grip though), so you might find yourself looking for new rubber if you plan to have fun up there.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

I have 2500 miles on my PR2 and it is 50% wore down. Going to Arkansas for 4 days of twisites so at least I'll be using the sides more... a little nervous still.

Matt, as you know, I made that trip 2 weeks ago. My tires (PR2)were new last fall, and looked pretty good when I left, with no more than 1,000 miles on them, probably closer to 500 to 600. We put on 2,350 miles in 5 days, and my front is destroyed. Rear has a few more rides in it, but not many. I'll be ordering a new pair this week.

By the way, you WILL have fun.