Pilot Road 4 tires wearing out quickly | GTAMotorcycle.com

Pilot Road 4 tires wearing out quickly

shanekingsley

shanekingsley

Curry - so nice it burns you twice
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Not sure if this should be in the review section...

Normally these last me anywhere from 15-20k on the rear. This one seems to be really worn at 6,000km on my VStrom 650, loaded with only a top case (no side bags).

I changed it out just before I left for my trip and still have one more day to go, which I will probably have to cut short to be on the safe side. I don't mind spending the money for a good tire, but I was expecting way more life out of this. I've done this same trip, but longer distances on Metzler Tourances and Anakee 3's and still had lots of life on the tires after the trip was done.

Hopefully the Pilot Road 5's last longer or I'll have to go back to the other types for longer trips. It's a shame because the grip on wet and dry is outstanding.

IMG_4939-X5.jpg
 
The evenness of the wear across the tire is impressive. Where are you riding that you can get wear somewhere other than a flat-spot down the middle?
 
I had good experience with the GT version on my FJR. Spirited riding.
 
shanekingsley said:
... It's a shame because the grip on wet and dry is outstanding.
Click to expand...
Bingo! there is your reason it didn't last long, hard rubber wears long and performs poorly, soft rubber wears fast and performs outstanding.
The soft rubber performs way better on gravel roads too.
 
This is my fourth set. Never had less than 15k off a rear before.
Maybe I'll try the GT and see if that provides more life.
 
I just changed mine and they were done at 12 k. They looked fine before my trip but the 4K trip down to the Gap and Nashville finished the rear off. Mine had just reached the wear bars. Looks like lots of power slides out of those tight corners.??

Just installed Dunlop Roadsmart 3.
 
shanekingsley said:
This is my fourth set. Never had less than 15k off a rear before.
Maybe I'll try the GT and see if that provides more life.
Click to expand...
Did you have GTs or regular RP4s? I couldn’t get a GT last change, I went from 15k to 6k on my FJR. I have Metzlers let’s on my DL650... they have 5k left and they are at 15k.
 
When you are shopping for tires you should also be looking for the country of manufacture stamp, the same model tire can sometimes be made in 2 or more different plants and the rubber compounds perform completely different.
 
This set I bought online from Fortnine only because I had a coupon to use up before it expired. So I had no idea in advance where it was manufactured or if Michelin even manufactures them in different countries for sale in Canada. I still have my previous rear tire at home, so I can check the stamps and see if there is a difference.

Usually I like to buy my tires from a local store, so my next set will probably come from Speedworx or Ace Moto Tech.

I've never used the GT's before, but if you went from 15 to 6 on your FJR, that's pretty significant.
 
Trials said:
When you are shopping for tires you should also be looking for the country of manufacture stamp, the same model tire can sometimes be made in 2 or more different plants and the rubber compounds perform completely different.
Click to expand...

This sounds like an old wives tale
 
KWDRZ said:
This sounds like an old wives tale
Click to expand...
First hand experienced, confirmed by several other riders.
They can use the same construction process and use an identical mold, but not all tire rubber is created equal.
 
Put around 8-9k on mine, still lots of tread left. You're not running them underinflated right ? My last set burned out quick because of that reason.
 
Under inflated definitely not.
Hot roads definitely yes. The roads were cooking hot in the Virginia's so that might have had a lot to do with it.
 
yeah the lack of a flatspot is good
but that tire is done
6K is not very impressive for a Michelin

regardless of brand
the rear should go 10
front double that

I'd consider another tire next time
thanks for sharing
 
You are not getting 10k out of a tire at Deals Gap if you are doing it right. We put about 1500 km on in the area this past week. We have one rider on Road 5 tires who put noticeable wear on the edges. I finished wrecking a Q3+ front and mostly trashed a rear.
 
^^
Thanks. I was riding my bike as hard as I could, so I'll chalk it up to that as well. Total mileage was around 7000km, because I rode through PA on my way home today to try and finish them off.
I'm going to try the Michelin Road 5 next.
 
I used them on my Multistrada a few years ago and never got more than 10ish K out of them, surprised to hear you're getting 20k
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