Boris
Well-Known Member
It was meant in the same light that I assumed Chris had posted.
Good road tyres
- Thread starter Thrasherg
- Start date
Kurgan
Well-Known Member
I'm 280 geared up and ride 98% pavement, some of it torn up with frost heaves and holes. When I was living in the mountains / twisties where you're riding 7/10 pace daily and occasionally a little higher, the front tire will start to cup since the deeper tread blocks on adventure style tires will move around under faster corner speeds and heavier braking. I've had that happen with Trailwings, Battlewings and Anakees.
I spoke with both Michelin and Bridgestone, sent pics of my front tire wear and they both recommended that I try higher pressure: 36-37 front and 39-40 rear. I've been running 37/40 the majority of the time and have been well pleased with no tire cupping and better mileage. Ride quality, I've been able to tune that with a click or two less compression damping compared to where I had it.
What I will do is lower it to 34/38 when the temps are consistently below 40 degrees F, since it's just easy rides/commutes at those temps - no pushing of anything!
Thrasherg
Active Member
Thanks guys, the tyres arrived, I was a bit surprised that they are marked Michelin pro trail 5 not pro race 5 as I ordered!! Not sure if it’s a mistake but the tread pattern exactly matches the pictures of the pro race 5 pictures..
I weigh less than 180 lbs all kitted up so tend to run slightly lower pressures in the tyres, but did see minor cupping, so will try going up a couple of PSI on the front. Hope to fit the tyres this weekend and try them next week!!
Gary
I weigh less than 180 lbs all kitted up so tend to run slightly lower pressures in the tyres, but did see minor cupping, so will try going up a couple of PSI on the front. Hope to fit the tyres this weekend and try them next week!!
Gary
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
Thrasherg
Active Member
Have to say, I went for a ride at the weekend and was very impressed with the Michelin's, I loved the standard Battle wings, but the Michelin's felt even more inspiring, got some serious angle of dangle in the corners and no unpleasantness.. Interested to see how they last, but so far very happy with the Pro Trail 5.
Gary
Gary
Thrasherg
Active Member
Well after a week riding in the Ozarks, I can totally recommend the Michelin’s, my wife and I rode all over the place, the tyres performed superbly, not a single slide and I can see I rode of the edges on both sides of the tyre. Don’t know what mileage I will get from them, but grip and handling is absolutely superb (on tarmac). I rode on some dirt for 3 miles and hated it because I forgot to turn traction control off and this gave some awful throttle response, but I was too lazy to stop and turn it off. The tyre did fine in the dirt. If I get more than 6000 miles out of the rear I will be amazed as they have to be soft to offer so much grip, but they sure are fun..
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
FWIW, the Road 5 and Road 5 Trail tires have the same tread pattern. The front size is only available in Road 5 Trail, not the standard Road 5. I didn't look all over, but have not seen the 'race' applied to Pilot Road tires in our sizes. I did see that the rear size is available in both PR 5 and PR5 Trail.
I have a Trailsmart on the rear and am well happy with it. They have updated it to the MAX now. Conti Trail Attack 3 get good reviews aswell.
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
I’ve just done a 1350 miles trip in some pretty awful weather on a wide range of roads and mry Michelin PR5 Road Trail were brilliant!
MonkeyBut
Fuel Whore
Just a question for you riders that 'push' a little harder than I might tend to do. By 'push' I mean lower lean angles in turns and harder acceleration, but mostly lean angles. On a typical, dry, sunny, 65+ degrees day, with a clean, curvy, twisty road, there should be no reason in my mind that the tires will 'give' or 'break loose' under normal riding style that i have? I'm running the Michelin Pilot 5 as well and have about 3000 miles on them. Why do I have Trust issues with tires? Lol. I've never gone down because of a tire giving out but, is there no need to worry and it's all in my head? Or quite simply, can my tires out perform me? Sorry for the ramble and to take this thread a little off the rails. Thank you in advance.
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
MonkeyBut, given the conditions that you describe, your tyres will out perform you, indeed, they will out perform just about any of us on this forum. If you introduce variables such as moisture, gravel, oil spills, etc then it all changes, but, and I say this with respect, it seems you have confidence issues. Modern tyres give grip levels in dry, cold or wet conditions that even racers could not have dreamed about 20 years ago.
MonkeyBut
Fuel Whore
Thank you Longdog. This information is greatly appreciated. I will learn to trust the tires more and add confidence to my riding. I've understood the oil, diesel, gravel, why is that spot darker than the rest of the road variables that come with riding. The reading of the road. I was just asking purely on normal nice road conditions and you answered. Thank you again. Enjoy the ride everyone.
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
One of the best ways to really get a true understanding of what your tires will do is to take a track day class or advanced training class. Most riders that don't have any track experience will learn in a safe and controlled manner just how much more traction they have, and what it feels like when you approach loss of traction or lose traction. Losing traction is not going down. With experience it's simply something to adjust to when it occurs. Learning how to adjust to it and recover is a good thing and avoids a panic moment if it happens unexpectedly due to surface contamination, sand, etc.
navynuke
Well-Known Member
Running Conti Road Attacks right now, they stick like a canyon tire, but 5k miles and they are shot.
Picked them up when i was supposed to control ride/instruct at a track day with a bunch of other brand big adv. Bikes.... but alas work had me out of state and missed the opportunity.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Picked them up when i was supposed to control ride/instruct at a track day with a bunch of other brand big adv. Bikes.... but alas work had me out of state and missed the opportunity.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Lux
Member
Michelin Road 5 Trail on mine. Great road tire.
MonkeyBut
Fuel Whore
You guys Rock!! Thank you for the advise. I actually took Longdogs advise abput tire grip today on my ride. It was unusually warm, 86 degrees and I went on some amazing familiar roads. I didn't push harder than I normally do but also didn't think or worry about grip like i normally would have. Does that make sense? Lol. It was a fantastic riding day and I hope others got a chance to go out as well. Every time out, I will try and make myself be better.
I've really enjoyed my Road 5s. I have the 'Trail' version up front and a normal version on the rear. Rear tire has just over 8,500 miles on it and will be replaced this week as I have a 2-up trip to Arkansas in a couple weeks. I'd push it further locally and would expect to easily get 9,000 miles from it but I'm not going to press my luck on a longer trip w/ the wife...
Current shots:
Middle has flattened out down to the wear indicators but it still feels good. Speaking of feeling good, last year I abused them in Arkansas on a solo trip... when they get really warmed up they really do stick!
Front tire has over 9,500 miles on it and looks great. I'm not planning to replace it any time soon.
I have a pair of Dunlop RS3 to replace these R5 waiting in the garage only because I couldn't resist the rebate Dunlop had going on last month.... we'll see how they compare.
trey
B
ballisticexchris
Guest
Boy those Michelin Pilots have come a long way since just about 10 short years ago when I was running them on my Ninja.