PR4 Tire question

TomZ

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Mar 24, 2014
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Pacific Northwest
I've just finished my 3rd Michelin Pilot Road 4 rear tire on a 2012 S10 and am looking for a way to improve the tire mileage. The rears, which are regular PR4s, consistently wear out in 7500 to 8000 mi. The fronts, which are PR4 Trails chosen to match the tire size to the original Battlewings, last more than double that. Wear patterns appear normal for the type of riding done. I've tried different tire pressures ranging from the recommended 36 psi to 42 psi, but the tire life is about the same. I originally did not choose the Trail version for the rears because they supposedly use a softer compound in the center than the regular PR4s (hence faster wear) and cost more. The question is would Trails last longer on the rears and be worth the price difference?
 

wessie

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Feb 21, 2012
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Abergavenny, South Wales
the only way to tell is try it yourself - nobody else will ride the same roads as you or ride in the same way

I would be happy with those miles on a rear tyre on a S10, for my type of riding. I used the Trail compound on both PR3 & PR4 when I had my S10 and found a front lasted 2 rears but mileage could vary from 6000 to 8000 miles, all depending on how many motorway miles were done on a particular tyre. It would usually be a deterioration in handling that would make me change a tyre rather than actually getting to the wear bars as I put grip and stability before anything else.
 

jaeger22

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Orlando, FL
This is interesting. I am on my 2nd RP4 and just bought another. Love them for road work. I am using the regular in the rear not the trail. As most know, the rear trails have a SOFTER compound in the center. ::) But I do have a trail on the front because only the trails come in our front tire size. I got more miles out of these tires than any others I have tried by far. The most I got with Battle wings or Torrance was around 8K. I got over 10K miles on the first RP4 rear and I have over 7K on the second so far and it is still looking good. I expect it will also go 10K miles unless I have to replace it before my next long trip just to make sure I don't have to change it on the road. I am still on the first front tire and it looks like it will last through this and another rear. But I have ALWAYS had the fronts last through two or three rears.
As for using trails in the rear, I just don't get them at all. Why would it make any sense to run a softer compound in the center if you are after good mileage? ??? I have read the advertizing hype but still have not seen any logical explanation. I would love to hear from any that have tried them long enough to wear one out and hear how the softer trail rear held up. I have no proof but I would bet long odds that the regular RP4's outlast the trails by a wide margin.
I have 51K miles on the S10 now and before that I put 93K miles on a STROM (used the same size tires) so I have been able to experiment with a lot of different tires and this is my favorite so far for the road. ::008::
 

frez

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Jan 25, 2014
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Dorset, UK
I've run both standard and trails on the rear of my bike. The standard gets 25% more mileage. I use the bike on long daily commutes so the tyres were used on the same roads with the same load, the only variable was the tyre.
 

scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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Jupiter, Florida
frez said:
I've run both standard and trails on the rear of my bike. The standard gets 25% more mileage. I use the bike on long daily commutes so the tyres were used on the same roads with the same load, the only variable was the tyre.
That sounds believable. The Trail version has a medium compound for straight up riding and the standard has a hard compound. I am going to try a 170 (GT with the stiffer side walls) on the rear and see how it works. It looks like I will have to move my brake torque arm outboard of its standard attachment points to get clearance, but then fitament should be no problem.
 

TomZ

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Mar 24, 2014
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Location
Pacific Northwest
Thanks to all who answered. Like jaeger22, I don't see the point of using trails on the rear when the regular PR4s use a harder center compound and cost significantly less. Compared to the Vstrom and Tiger 800 I've had previously, the S10 seems a lot harder on rear tires. I was surprised when the OEM Battlewing rears wore out by 7500 mi. On the other bikes, the same tire was usually good for 10-12K miles. I suppose the difference comes from the extra weight of the S10. I do like the way the bike handles twisty paved roads with the PR4s and plan to keep using them.
 

jimmy z

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Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Messages
274
Location
south east wisconsin
Tom i share your opinon the tenere is hard on rear tires compared to other bikes i have owened.Like you i run pr4 roads used to run pr3 roads.The only high mileage street tire i have found for the tenere is metzler marathon bias ply.This tire is very slipery in the wet.The newer harley baggers are getting 20K plus out of dunlop rear ,reports are its also good in wet go figure.Jim
 
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