Never realised how much difference a set of new tyres can make . Left it late to check bike over before a planned weekend ride to Wales, Long story short had a set of michelin p6 fitted, for me they totally change the way the bike handles, most of my riding consists of me and wife and enough luggage for a month away, the old standard tyres were good, and I never had any complaints about them. changed at 7500 miles so lasted well ,but these michelin perform so much better , more grip is noticeable straight away ,in rain and shine, even road noise seemed less. Well let's hope they continue to perform and last longer than thd last set.
Just fitted Michelin road 6 to my tiger 1200, replaced the road 5 which had flattened off. Like you these tyres are a world apart, the road 6 gives you so much confidence. It feels like you are riding a different bike, highly recommended.
Are you comparing Road5 and Road6 and saying that there's a world of difference between the two? Admittedly I haven't tried the Road6 yet, still have a set of 5s on there. However, comparing a worn tyre to a brand new one is always going to give a favourable impression. In my previous experience with the Pilot Road series and more recently the Road5 is that improvements are there but incremental in nature. Looking forward to trying a set.
I agree with @Bumpkin that a new set of tyres always is going to feel so much better, even if the same type. Back in June, I put a set of Michelin Road 6s on my 1200 for the European Multistrada Meeting (EMM) and managed to wear the back tyre nearly down to the wear marks in just under 3,000 miles. I think the hot weather and grippy road surfaces in Spain and Portugal were mainly to blame, along with so little traffic. Maybe a 44 tooth rear sprocket and excessive use of the throttle may have contributed. The good news was that the rear tyre was warn evenly across the width Just fitted a set of Road 6s on my V4. It will be interesting to see how long they last.
From my experience so far, tyres seem to last noticeably longer on the V4 than they did on my 1200DVT.
Leave for Crosica in a couple of weeks with GF on the back and consequentially plenty of luggage. Current Road5s are on about 1,000 miles and looking good. You've now introduced an element of doubt into my mind as to whether they'll last the distance... trip distance is approximately 2,200 miles. Won't be hooning it with her on the back but two up with luggage will probably increase wear a bit. Usually manage about 5,000 miles on a pair solo. Thinking it should be OK, can't really afford to change tyres before the trip yet again.
I would of thought you'd be OK. I've never seen less than 4,000 miles out of a Road 5 rear. In any case you'll be wearing out the edges of the tyres more than the centre when on Corsica
I would have said no BUT having had 2 new rear Road 5's on my V4 in 3,000 miles due to punctures - 1st one at 518m, 2nd at 820m and third at 3,100m) it appears (in my case) that the newer the tyre the greater the probability of a puncture. Once run in for a while they seem as good as any other tyre and are still my tyre of choice.
Only ever had 1 puncture on a 5 and that was at the end of its life. Never had one on a 4. Hopefully the new 6's have none on my 3k mile tour through Spain, next month.
That’s very interesting. New front /rear P6 to my monster. Picked up a small nail which I plugged by the roadside two weeks ago with 400 miles on rear tyre. Whilst waiting to get it fixed from the inside picked up another puncture in the rear , this time a screw. In both cases the puncture was in the thinner area of the tyre. What’s more annoying is my previous rear tyre a P5 was punctured after 650miles when a bit of glass punctured it. Produced a slit in the tyre which could not be fixed.
1300, at a push…. Probably going to try Road 6 on the GS next. The old 2s, 3s, 4s were brilliant. If later on a little prone to punctures ( folklore but also in my exp.) I think the narrow sipes are prone to trapping small sharp stones… Anyway, grip and handling IS fantastic on them. My Conti Road 3s will need removed in a couple of weeks after a Spain trip. Might have another dabble with the Michelins.. btw, my avatar (yes I know, nearly upright) that was on Road 2s I used them on everything for several years, R1, FZ1s, at the time they set the standard.
May not be relevant but , I have just taken a set of PST2 off the V4 after two hot rides caused them to step up badly on the rear, thus was causing a vibration thro the bike . Never had this before but suspect due to the hot roads and a hard ride and the tread design. Gone back to tried and tested CTA3 as they have proved themselves on hot roads with no issues . I’m off to Spain next week so glad I found out before I went as had already fitted a new set of the PST2 on my spare wheels as found them good. The PR5 I had fitted to the Gs 1250 did not last at all in Spain and shorted the trip. Great tyre in the sense of grip but again the wet sipes caused faster wear . This is why I won’t fit the em to bikes now as they are a wet tyre , not really durable for a hard tour. IMHO
