Pilot Road 2 "B" rear tire

[dpspeer]

I'm pretty happy with the Pilot Road 2's I put on my R1200RT last year. While ordering a new set I find they now have a 180/55Z "B" tire specifically for the RT, GT, and the FJR which is considerably more expensive. As if they weren't a bit pricey before, they are now even more so with this new tire.

Anybody have experience with this new "B" tire?

[womanridge]

Is that the tire that has "Blended Rubber", where the center of the tread is harder than the outer edge? I nearly bought one this past Sept. but passed on them due to the cost.
I'm anxious to hear some responses as well.

[Sailorlite]

And I noticed yesterday that SW Moto Tires is offering a "C" model of the Metzeler Z6 for the RT, GT and FJR for an additional $20.

[dpspeer]

The Road 2's are the new dual compound tire.

SW Moto doesn't show "B" tire on their website but they responded by email that they do have the tire right now - about $30 more than the "std" Road 2.

The Michelin site shows the "B" as the recommended tire for the RT but doesn't say how it differs from the std tire. I just wonder why they needed to develop the new tire, why it's so much more expensive, and if it's really neccessary.

[SilverRT]

I get 2,000 miles more out of Pilot Roads vs. the PR2. So I don't plan on going back to the PR2 until they stop making the Pilot Road. The $30 savings for the rear tire is nice too. I'm not an aggressive rider and a lot of the roads here in corn country are flat. Oh, btw the wear indicator for a PR2 are the cords showing! With no center tread and premature wear I had to pick up new tires at Salt Lake ($500 for the set!) this summer.

[dpspeer]

I get 2,000 miles more out of Pilot Roads vs. the PR2. So I don't plan on going back to the PR2 until they stop making the Pilot Road. The $30 savings for the rear tire is nice too. I'm not an aggressive rider and a lot of the roads here in corn country are flat. Oh, btw the wear indicator for a PR2 are the cords showing! With no center tread and premature wear I had to pick up new tires at Salt Lake ($500 for the set!) this summer.

For me, the PR2 has proven to be a much better tire. But if the price differential between the PR and PR2 keeps growing, my opinion may change.

I only use the RT for touring. In the picture, the lower tire is the PR with 10k miles while the upper is the PR2 with 12k. Both tires saw pretty much the same usage - ~100lbs of gear and mix of 50% slab miles & 50% twistys. I don't think I could ever get them to the cords as the "flat" and "cupping" kill the tires long before reaching the wear indicators.

[108625]

Are you sure the "B" isn't referring to load range? The bikes you said it was recommended for are all tourers that tend to be tasked with carrying extra weight.

[hlothery]

Best thing about the Pilot Road 2, IMHO, is that the front tire whine on my RT is now gone. I had always run Pilot Roads in the past, and just put up with the whine. The PR2 is great. :D