Michelin Pilot Road II vs III

[leesrt]

According to a video report on rider magazine the factory rep says the only difference between the 2 and the 3 are the sipes for better wet handling.

[Jim Rogers]

The soft rubber compound area on the outsides of the front tire are 5% wider on each side as well.

[SteveAikens]

According to a video report on rider magazine the factory rep says the only difference between the 2 and the 3 are the sipes for better wet handling.

The "factory rep" referred to knows nothing about the motorcycle line of his company's products.

Michelin has continued to develop the compounds used in the PR2 to increase durability and road holding ability. The PR3 is not just a change of sipe design. However, IMO, sipe design is also one of the reasons we're seeing better wear characteristics.

I pulled the front tire [and replaced the PR2 rear I had to mount during the IBR to go back to the PR3] when I was in Tucson. It had right at 12,000 miles on it and I was able to detect only a very small amount of the cupping that was so evident in the PR2 and though you could see wear, it was actually negligible. So negligible in fact, that the tech changing the tire asked if I was sure I wanted it replaced and was surprised when I told him how many miles were on the tire. He then asked if I wanted to keep it.

I talked to Dean in Seattle before he had to swap his PR3 rear out. This was before I had any miles on the PR3. He told me how many miles were on his tire and that the wear was almost undetectable. I walked over to check that statement out, not because I didn't believe him - because I just had to see with my own eyes a rear tire with that many miles on it, that didn't show the wear. We spent some time talking about it while looking at a PR3 with significant miles that still looked very near what it looked like on the tire rack at the dealership. Minor disclaimer needed here: Dean is a very conservative rider - I'm at the other end of the scale. He's definately going to get better tire mileage than I am....

I can't imagine anyone thinking that a simple [not the correct word, but you know what I mean] change in sipe design alone would change the road holding capability in dry weather handling, wet weather handling, longer wear, neutral handling, et al. Side by side, even the feel of the PR2 v. the PR3 tells you they aren't the same compounds.

If you hit the link to their site, they tell you that:
http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/in...ent=pilotroad3

Note the words: Unbeatable tread life thanks to Michelin's latest-generation 2CT dual-compound technology.

Compare that to the PR2:
http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/in...ent=pilotroad2

Lastly, try to keep in mind that I have absolutely no interest in Michelin or what tire you choose. I'm merely honoring the request to post a "long term" [albeit compressed into an 11 day ride] report on my opinion of the PR3. I've done that. If you chose to dissect the information I posted looking for inaccuracies, you're certainly welcome to do so. I know one thing that's a certainty - unless a new tire comes along that improves on the PR3, the PR3 is the tire I'll trust my life to on my motorcycles. Bear in mind I'm committed to that statement to the end that I removed a 3 [riding] day old PR2 with less than 2,000 miles on it to replace it with a PR3.

Want a PR2 rear? I have one with under 2,000 miles on it sitting in my shed in Tucson that I'll sell you for $100. Let me know and you can pick it up from my wife at the house....

[leesrt]

The "factory rep" referred to knows nothing about the motorcycle line of his company's products.

Michelin has continued to develop the compounds used in the PR2 to increase durability and road holding ability. The PR3 is not just a change of sipe design. However, IMO, sipe design is also one of the reasons we're seeing better wear characteristics.

I pulled the front tire [and replaced the PR2 rear I had to mount during the IBR to go back to the PR3] when I was in Tucson. It had right at 12,000 miles on it and I was able to detect only a very small amount of the cupping that was so evident in the PR2 and though you could see wear, it was actually negligible. So negligible in fact, that the tech changing the tire asked if I was sure I wanted it replaced and was surprised when I told him how many miles were on the tire. He then asked if I wanted to keepolked to Dean in Seattle before he had to swap his PR3 rear out. This was before I had any miles on the PR3. He told me how many miles were on his tire and that the wear was almost undetectable. I walked over to check that statement out, not because I didn't believe him - because I just had to see with my own eyes a rear tire with that many miles on it, that didn't show the wear. We spent some time talking about it while looking at a PR3 with significant miles that still looked very near what it looked like on the tire rack at the dealership. Minor disclaimer needed here: Dean is a very conservative rider - I'm at the other end of the scale. He's definately going to get better tire mileage than I am....

I can't imagine anyone thinking that a simple [not the correct word, but you know what I mean] change in sipe design alone would change the road holding capability in dry weather handling, wet weather handling, longer wear, neutral handling, et al. Side by side, even the feel of the PR2 v. the PR3 tells you they aren't the same compounds.

If you hit the link to their site, they tell you that:
http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/in...ent=pilotroad3

Note the words: Unbeatable tread life thanks to Michelin's latest-generation 2CT dual-compound technology.

Compare that to the PR2:
http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/in...ent=pilotroad2

Lastly, try to keep in mind that I have absolutely no interest in Michelin or what tire you choose. I'm merely honoring the request to post a "long term" [albeit compressed into an 11 day ride] report on my opinion of the PR3. I've done that. If you chose to dissect the information I posted looking for inaccuracies, you're certainly welcome to do so. I know one thing that's a certainty - unless a new tire comes along that improves on the PR3, the PR3 is the tire I'll trust my life to on my motorcycles. Bear in mind I'm committed to that statement to the end that I removed a 3 [riding] day old PR2 with less than 2,000 miles on it to replace it with a PR3.

Want a PR2 rear? I have one with under 2,000 miles on it sitting in my shed in Tucson that I'll sell you for $100. Let me know and you can pick it up from my wife at the house....

Umm, that factory rep was one of the designers of the pr3. I just said factory rep because I didn't expect to have to answer to such a high authority as yourself, I bow down in your presence.

Just because they advertise a new design doesn't mean its entirely true. They wouldn't sell many tires if they said it was the same old tire, with some extra cuts in the tred.

I've been on my 3's for 3000 miles now.

[SteveAikens]

I just said factory rep because I didn't expect to have to answer to such a high authority as yourself, I bow down in your presence.

Generally speaking, genuflecting isn't required. However, it is appreciated....

Certainly no offense was meant.

[D-Mac]

This is starting to sound like an oil thread.

We're lucky that there are many good options for tires out there. Pilot Road 3s are the best I've ridden on, but YMMV. PR2s would be a solid second in my book.

The only tires I've ridden on in the past 5 years that I didn't like were Z6s (uneven wear by 6K and the rear slipped a few times under power in the wet), although I know lots of people who love them.

[irish]

Thanks for the excellent information. I was going to post a similar thread soon because my PR2s will likely be due for replacement after a trip to MI this weekend and I was wondering if I should upgrade to PR3s. Sounds like "yes."

A word about "truth" in advertising: I took a psychology course in college that touched on advertising language. Notice how pain-killer commercials frequently say, "No other brand lasts longer!!" According to the TA that's because they all last the same amount of time. No other brands lasts less long either. Maybe this is similar to the "Unbeatable tread life" Michelin mentions? In any case, I've been thrilled with the mileage on my PR2s (12k so far) vs my Z6s (half that) and I'm glad to hear that I may get even more with the PR3s.

[r11rs94]

I have 4000 miles on my set of RP-3's (04-R-1150-RT) and they are showing little wear. Hit some pretty heavy rain up by Thunder Bay on my way to the RA Rally and they seemed to work pretty good. Haven't had much chance to test them on the twisties yet, but I'm betting that they will be at least as good as my PR-2's.

[2bikemike]

I can't imagine a factory rep from Michelin not knowing his product line.

[alanrd]

I can't imagine a factory rep from Michelin not knowing his product line.

I have a dealership ( not motorcycles) I have no problem imagining that.

[SteveAikens]

I could give you some examples that would make you wonder how that person still works for the company.

The fact that they 'have the job' is not an indicator they have any knowledge of the product....

[2bikemike]

If that is true, it doesn't speak well for Michelin. I personally know a manufacturers rep. The amount of info that he has leaves me amazed. I guess I assumed all reps were that way.

[SteveAikens]

If that is true, it doesn't speak well for Michelin.

It's not just Michelin. Ever called a tech support line? At the lowest level, those are factory reps. Every company has their losers and dead weight they need to remove.

[Jogitu]

This is starting to sound like an oil thread.

We're lucky that there are many good options for tires out there. Pilot Road 3s are the best I've ridden on, but YMMV. PR2s would be a solid second in my book.

The only tires I've ridden on in the past 5 years that I didn't like were Z6s (uneven wear by 6K and the rear slipped a few times under power in the wet), although I know lots of people who love them.

Please, tell me of this oil thread you speak of....I need to know more.

[SteveAikens]

Please, tell me of this oil thread you speak of....I need to know more.

Sorry, oil threads aren't scheduled until winter.

Tire threads are summer threads.....