Tire recommendation

[RideCaptain]

OK, I know this is like a "favorite oil" post, but it is a new bike for me...

I love Michelin's PR series and have been using them on my Kawi Concours for almost 150,000 miles.  They have a nice hard compound in the middle, soft on the sidewalls...perfect for South Florida, where there's no hills or twisties. Single-compound tires seem to flatten out in the middle way too fast. Of course I tour, get in the mountains 2-3 times a year, but most of my riding is FL riding...hot, straight, flat, with 90-degree turns. LOL.

So what's the best tire for me? What's most popular in the S1000XR crowd?

Thanks,
Mark

[wessie]

if you just want a tyre that will give decent mileage without the balls out grip of the latest tyre then go one revision behind the latest sports touring version e.g. get Bridgestone T31 instead of T32, or Michelin Road 5 instead of Road 6 (they dropped the Pilot Road name with the 4). Both have dual compound construction. Saves about a third of the price.

[RideCaptain]

I really like the PR5's.  I use the GT on my heavier bike, I think I'll try out the regular one on the XR. It rains here EVERY day in the summer... just for an hour or so, then back to hot, tropical weather.  They have been very good over the years.

[JTL]

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE is my tyre of choice.

[capt cf]

Originally Posted by JTL

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE is my tyre of choice.

Just put a rear SE on my gen 2 yesterday (it came with the non-SE version).  I didn't even order a front thinking I could get a couple thousand more out of the front, but after looking at it closely today I went ahead and ordered a front too.  Some kind of weird wear pattern going on there with flattening on the sides out toward the edges.  Not a big deal, but I know I won't be able to go 2 rears to 1 front for sure.  I have had Road 5's and 6's on my gen 1...like both of them a lot.  I think it'll take me another set of Roadtecs to make up my mind and I wanted to try the SE's.

[smithy]

Originally Posted by RideCaptain

I really like the PR5's.  I use the GT on my heavier bike, I think I'll try out the regular one on the XR. It rains here EVERY day in the summer... just for an hour or so, then back to hot, tropical weather.  They have been very good over the years.

As Wessie mentioned, there's no susch animal as a "PR5" these days, it just Road 5 or Road 6...Michelin dropped the "Pilot" moniker from their tyres after the PR4.

Smithy.

[Antares]

As always

1: Michelin Road 5
2: Conti RoadAttack 4
3: Conti RoadAttack 3
4: Michelin Road 6
5: Bridgestone T32

Though given you riding I'm not sure any of these are suitable for you. You might wanna go 1 step harder with some cruiser tyre like michelin Commander 3 Touring, or hard wearing road oriented ADV tyres like Pirelli Scorpion Trail, that's if you're truly only intending to go in a straight line these tyres are wasted both in performance and life, even with a lot of twisty riding I tend to finish these tyres off in the centre before the edges.

[Mareng1]

Originally Posted by smithy

As Wessie mentioned, there's no susch animal as a "PR5" these days, it just Road 5 or Road 6...Michelin dropped the "Road" moniker from their tyres after the PR4.

Smithy.

They dropped the "Pilot" moniker, actually......................

As for my favourite tyres - Continental Road Attack 3 (or probably 4 now).   After 50 miles I wished I had bought 4 sets.

[Winger]

Not the best of photo's but you get the gist,had a very interesting conversation with the Mich rep at Silverstone on friday.

[smithy]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

They dropped the "Pilot" moniker, actually......................

You're quite right Sir..my bad...not thinking again..

Smithy.