RE: Pilot 5 / Metzeler - 2

Replaced the original Road 4's with 5"s recently.
Immediately felt much better turn in, thanks to the steeper front profile.

As for the performance/longevity question,
I treat my bike tyres like my car tyres:. Always go for the top brand with the best wet performance.
On the road, wet weather is when you really need your tyres to work.
If they have marginally less ultimate dry grip at racetrack speeds, then I shouldn't be going that fast/hard on the road anyway.
If they have marginally shorter lifespan, then that is a price I am willing to pay for the safety they provide when you need it most; bad weather, or maybe just that one corner that has been in shadow all day and didn't dry like the rest of the road.

I got 12,000kms out of the road 4's.

My only real complaint was that, as observed by some reviewers, the weight and torque of the 1250 could slightly overwhelm the case construction of the rear, making it a bit squirmy at times when pressed hard.
Easy fix:. Fitted the GT version.
My test roads showed this to be a good choice. Less squirm, and no noticable difference in ride.

Note to self:
Be very very careful whenever I go on an older bike....
The traction control in the RS is very good, and having settled into the bike now, I find that, in reviewing rides in the Connected app, it is really easy to drive out of corners with throttle that would otherwise light up the rear.

My 2016 1200RS came with Michelin PR4s and I've stayed with them as I'm happy with their performance although, my last set of PR5s only lasted 3,000 miles before they were almost to the wear bars.

I seem to remember getting 7 or 8,000 miles from tires just a few decades ago or, am I crazy?

I was very happy with the front that came on the bike. A pilot road 4 and I got 11,000 miles out of it. The back, there's no way to tell. A nail took out two back tires during the 11,000 miles.

Wessie, I concur.
Reports back from local tyre shops and from the BMW riders group show Road 5 having the same lifespan as Road 4

I had my local dealer install a pair of road 5s on the rims yesterday. I put the wheels and tires back on the bike last night. It was a 20 mile ride into work this morning. No slipping or sliding to report but I took it pretty easy. We'll see how I like them after I get them scuffed in.

I want to thank all of you who posted on the topic of removing the wheels. The owners manual is pretty good but tips and tricks from others who've done it never hurt. I'm happy to say wheel removal and replacement went very well.

At the very end of 2019 at an ODO reading of 17165 miles, I replaced a set of PR4's with PR5's. The PR5's had a great feel and ride. At ODO 22995-miles, the PR5 front was at the wear bars, outboard of the center compound zone. It was replaced with a PR5 GT in hopes of getting better mileage. At ODO 26775-miles, the PR5 rear was replaced with another PR5. The PR5GT front appears to be at 50% after ~3800. Hopefully, it makes it to my 30,000-mile service.

So, in my experience........PR5 Rears are great on the R1200RS, lasting 9600-miles. PR5GT Fronts may last for 7000-miles

[quote=Mr. 36654|So, in my experience........PR5 Rears are great on the R1200RS, lasting 9600-miles. PR5GT Fronts may last for 7000-miles[/quote]

Mirrors my experience with the Road 5. The front is at the wear bars 6500+ miles while the rear looks to have a couple thousand miles left in it. I've been changing both when the front is gone.
Trying to get the very last mile out of a tire can get you in trouble.

Frank

Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #24

---

[quote=Mr. 36654|So, in my experience........PR5 Rears are great on the R1200RS, lasting 9600-miles. PR5GT Fronts may last for 7000-miles

---

One of the patterns I saw on my 4 VFRs and Interceptors was the front tires were shot long before the rear. I always assumed it had something to do with the bikes geometry. Since two rear tires on the RS were killed by nails I don't have that data point. I was pleasantly surprised to get 11,000 miles out of the front. Only time will tell.

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #26

---

One of the patterns I saw on my 4 VFRs and Interceptors was the front tires were shot long before the rear. I always assumed it had something to do with the bike's geometry. Since two rear tires on the RS were killed by nails I don't have that data point. I was pleasantly surprised to get 11,000 miles out of the front. Only time will tell.

---

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #27

---

The centers of the PR5's wear quite well. It's the region outboard of the harder(longer wearing) compound that ends my front tire life.

---

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #27

---

The centers of the PR5's wear quite well. It's the region outboard of the harder(longer wearing) compound that ends my front tire life.

---

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #29

---

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #27

---

The centers of the PR5's wear quite well. It's the region outboard of the harder(longer wearing) compound that ends my front tire life.

---

I always thought those were the signs of a tire well enjoyed.

After riding back and forth to work a couple days like Grandma, putting about 90 miles on the tires, I went out for a little more spirited ride today. My opinion is these inspire more confidence than Pilot Road 4s. I'm sure a lot has to do with them being new and round instead of squared off. The don't see tar snakes and they aren't bothered at all by seams in the road direction. The 4s always locked on those imperfections and it would startle you as it adjusted your track like it had a mind of its own. I also don't find them to be any louder than the 4s. I can hear them if I listen for it but it's never bothersome. Overall I'm pleased with them. We'll see how long they last.

---