Michelin Pilot Road 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs other? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Michelin Pilot Road 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs other?

eljay

Well-known member
So the last time I bought new tires the PR3 were brand spanking new and I got a deal on PR2s and I was very happy with them for many many kilometers more than 10,000 for sure. Great all round for commuting and being stuck in the rain and all that. Sold the bike with those still looking good and new bike had stuck Dunlop somethings and the are pretty much done at 12,000km.

So I have to get new ones. I lean to the PR line but I'm open to others. My parameters are being able to stack a lot of kms smoothly and hit the DVP ramps in the rain without fear. PR2 did that. I assume PR3 the PR4 are even better. Is it worth the extra money? Are there competitive models from Dunlop or Metzeler or other (I'm ignoring Shinko, been there done that lol)? Leaning to PR3 now because its better than what I had and cheaper than the bleeding edge.

Discuss! Haven't seen a tire brand rage thread for a while.
 
Had PR4 on my VFR, putting PR4 GT on the ZX loved em that much. My buddy had PR3 on his GSXR750 and they lasted 30,000kms of very abusive riding.
 
PR2 and PR3s are pretty similar - the main difference was the greatly increased, uh, siping? So PR3s were even better in the wet (think there was a tiny tweak to the compound as well). As a result of those two changes I think PR3s are supposed to last fractionally less longer than PR2s. Early PR3s had a rare tendency of spitting out blocks of tread.

PR4s are even more betterer in the wet and supposedly last longerer. The front also has a "sportier profile", never used it so I can't speak to how effective that is. You probably want the PR4s.

I had a set of PR2s once. They were generally great, but if I get nitpicky I would say they felt weird on turn-in. Once you got off the centre of the tire they felt good/normal so it wasn't a spooky confidence eroding issue, but I still didn't like it
 
SO they must last, do well in ramps and also do well in rain?


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I always point friends to Pirelli Angels
 
LOL love that gif.
It's more must last, do well in rain in normal conditions, and not make me afraid to go on a ramp when it's raining. PR2s did all that. The all-round commuter unicorn tire.

Pirelli Unicorns anyone? I'm a marketing genius.

SO they must last, do well in ramps and also do well in rain?


giphy.gif
 
SO they must last, do well in ramps and also do well in rain?
giphy.gif

Don't forget going over bumps
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I've gone from TrailWings to the Pilot Road 4 on the back and the Pilot Road 4 Trail on the back.
I haven't had them very long, and haven't seen any rain yet.
They definitely feel more planted than the used up Trailwings, and the back rubber almost feels like it shifts and plants when I lean into a turn.
It might be from moving to the softer, stickier rubber on the sides, or it might be something else, I'm still exploring it.
 
I'm STRONGLY leaning towards PR4s for my CBR650F when the stock tires are done for. Originally I was thinking a more sport-orientated tire, but really, I spend more time commuting or travelling to the twisties than in the twisties, so I'd rather have a good tire that can handle that and not square off or need replacing after 2000-5000km (what some have told me they get out of their Pilot Powers).
 
I am currently using PR3 on the both the front and back of my Gsxr600. I'm a big 6'3 dude (overweight, whatever) and the rear tire that is currently at 11,500 is showing mild signs of flattening. The front which has 7000 km is still looking new. Just like conundrum... I like me some twisties but 75% of my riding is commuting to and from these places... I will not hesitate to buy another set (PR4's likely when I wring the life out of these tires).
 
I'm STRONGLY leaning towards PR4s for my CBR650F when the stock tires are done for. Originally I was thinking a more sport-orientated tire, but really, I spend more time commuting or travelling to the twisties than in the twisties, so I'd rather have a good tire that can handle that and not square off or need replacing after 2000-5000km (what some have told me they get out of their Pilot Powers).

The Pilot Power hit the market in 2004 - non-touring sport tires have improved since then
 
I loved the pr2's, disliked the pr3's.
Dunlop road smart II's are really good.
Have the new Angel GT tires and really loving them, no word oh how long they will last as of yet but they grip like no tmro in both dry and wet.
 
PR4 and PR3 are the best tires I have had on my bikes so far. Long lasting, stable, predictable, great in wet. No other tire came even close to giving me the kind of mileage and the combination of VFR800 and myself is close to 800lbs.

For sport touring bikes they are by far number one choice. I have even done some polls myself before, here and on VFR forum and they dominated.
 
I"ve used the pr2/pr3/angel gt/angel st/bt0023

I think the pr3 and angel gt are equal at the top because they can handle the crappier elements a lot better + it's a bit easier to ride gravel on them.
 
More expensive than PR4s according to the prices of Pete's. For my bike anyway. Are gooderer?
Last time I checked for my bike the Angels were cheaper. I need tires soon & my next set between the two would be based on price.

I"ve used the pr2/pr3/angel gt/angel st/bt0023

I think the pr3 and angel gt are equal at the top because they can handle the crappier elements a lot better + it's a bit easier to ride gravel on them.

I can testify about the bad elements. I have ridden in 10*C weather in rain with those tires. They have never failed me. Almost no warmup time needed for those tires
 
The major difference between pr 3 and pr 4 is the contact surface of the tire. The 4 has more grip at the ends than the 3 ..which is why if you look at them, you will see on the 3 the pattern for the water to filter through runs through the whole side as opposed to the middle and little out on the 4. I have both atm. 3's on my cbr and 4's on my ninja. They also say 4's should last 20% longer than 3's.
 
The Pilot Power hit the market in 2004 - non-touring sport tires have improved since then

I meant the current gen Pilot Powers vs the current gen Pilot Roads...obviously a 10+ year old design isn't going to last as long as a more modern one.
 
So the last time I bought new tires the PR3 were brand spanking new and I got a deal on PR2s and I was very happy with them for many many kilometers more than 10,000 for sure. Great all round for commuting and being stuck in the rain and all that. Sold the bike with those still looking good and new bike had stuck Dunlop somethings and the are pretty much done at 12,000km.

My buddy had PR3 on his GSXR750 and they lasted 30,000kms of very abusive riding.

LOL, I must have been doing it wrong all these years, cause I could never get any set of tires to last more than ~6000 kms on the street on GSXR750s or GSXR1000s and I've ran Dunlop GPAs, Qualifiers, Metzelers, Michelin Pilots.

I run 30 psi pressure on both front and rear, balance both rims, and I don't do burnouts. Tire wear is usually even all around not just the center wearing, what am I doing wrong and what are you guys doing right to make these tires last forever? :p
 
LOL, I must have been doing it wrong all these years, cause I could never get any set of tires to last more than ~6000 kms on the street on GSXR750s or GSXR1000s and I've ran Dunlop GPAs, Qualifiers, Metzelers, Michelin Pilots.

I run 30 psi pressure on both front and rear, balance both rims, and I don't do burnouts. Tire wear is usually even all around not just the center wearing, what am I doing wrong and what are you guys doing right to make these tires last forever? :p

We can probably solve this with one question:

Do you know what the difference is between a Pilot Power and a Pilot Road?
 
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