Tyres Opinions Please: PR3 vs PR4

[a3316534]

I need to change the tyres on my CBR and I'm looking at either of the PR3 or PR4 due to positive reviews. What does the PR4 bring that the PR3 doesn't have? I'm happy to pay the extra if it's worth it, otherwise if it's just a different tread pattern then maybe I should save the pennies.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Read the gumf. Different construction and more sipes if I remember rightly. PR3 is a good tyre. PR4 is better.
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[stonesie]

The 2 main bits are they've improved the front tyres stability and they last longer, out of the 2 I would go for the 4.

But I'm getting a pair of MetzelerZ8 fitted to mine to try over winter, they were rated above the pr3 so should be good.

[chickenstrip]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^When you can't find any PR2s (excellent tyre) go straight for the PR4s.

The manufacturer claims improved mileage and the change in tread pattern supposedly eliminates the odd wear patterns some riders were getting with the PR3s.

3 versions of the PR4.

Pilot Road 4 for all-around sport touring use
Pilot Road 4 GT has a stiffer casing with a patented new technology for motorcycle tires that delivers the stability you need for heavier GT-class bikes while riding solo, two-up or with luggage.
Pilot Road 4 Trail for adventure touring bikes ridden exclusively on the road
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[bugeye_bob]

Ok stupid question but how do you know what version 2/3/4 the tyre is ?

[a3316534]

Aside from the tread pattern read the tyre, it will state on there which one it is.

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&cart_id=87574292.110.7325&Breite=180&Quer=55&Felge=17&Speed=&kategorie=&profil=&Marke=Michelin&ranzahl=1&S_Z=ZR&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&F_F=&Herst=Michelin&m_s=1&rsmFahrzeugart=MO&filter_preis_bis=&filter_preis_von=&details=Ordern&typ=D-116523

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=110&cart_id=87574292.110.7325&Breite=180&Quer=55&Felge=17&Speed=&kategorie=&profil=&Marke=Michelin&ranzahl=1&S_Z=ZR&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&F_F=&Herst=Michelin&m_s=1&weiter=10&rsmFahrzeugart=MO&filter_preis_bis=&filter_preis_von=&details=Ordern&typ=R-254005

[bugeye_bob]

[a3316534]

With no numbers it would just be 'Pilot Road'. Comparing the treads is just to confirm what you suspect.

[mentalboy]

As stated on an earlier post this week, I've got PR2 on the rear and PR3 on the front - both phenomenal tyres but the PR3 has about 500 miles less on it than the rear and is almost down to it's legal limits whilst the PR2 is still a good shape and has bags of tread left on it.

Other than performance I'm not too impressed with the PR3 as I'd expect a front to last twice as long as a rear (albeit suffering half it's life with a bit of scalloping)
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[Serendipity]

It depends a bit on the bike and riding style. Some bikes will wear the front faster than others while others will munch the rear in no time.

I had PR2’s on my FireBlade and loved them. My CBF1000 came with PR2’s and I’m now on my 3rd set of PR3’s. I change the tyres in pairs because they seem to wear out front and rear at the same times for me, but that’s on a heavy bike doing lots of motorway. It could be different for fast A road riding with lots of heavy braking.

My tyre shop tells me that the PR4’s last longer, but at the expense of some of the seemingly endless wet grip of the PR3’s. The 4’s are also a little more expensive.

I value the wet grip for peace of mind with year round filtering so I’ll probably stick with the 3’s for now.
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[defblade]

I had PR2s and then 3s on the bandit, couldn't tell the difference except the 3s squidged more when lent and wore out a bit quicker, so I went back to 2s.

Then my k1200 came with 2s fitted and they coped just as well with 163 brake as they did under the bandit, no wonder I couldn't see the 3s as any better.

The Shiver has turned up on Metz M3s, and they're blinking 'orrid; several rear lock-ups when it's damp, and spun it up tonight accelerating onto a DC. Never had that sort of trouble, even with the hyper BMW, with PR2s, so I will be taking still-legal and unpunctured tyres off a bike for the first time ever soon, and replacing with PR2s.


I haven't tried 4s, but don't think I'll bother when the 2s cope with all I throw at them.
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[MarkJ]

I've had PR3 and PR4 on my bike (Sprint ST 1050).

I replaced the PR3s after about 9k miles and they still had 2mm tread left, the current PR4s have been on for about 3k miles.

I personally preferred the 3 in the dry and the 4 in the wet. The 4 can feel a little vague in the dry when you push it, I found the 3 gave better feedback although I have eventually accustomed myself to pushing the 4 in the dry. However in the wet the 4 is even better than the 3 - and the 3 was bloody amazing in the wet . I think Michelin quoted 10% better mileage on the 4 over the 3 so I should get over 10k out of these.

When I bought the 4s they were about £30 more expensive than the 3s, this was about April time. I had PR2s years ago and liked them but the PR3s were much better IMO.

[parkmoy]

Fitted PR4's to my CBF1000. Never had any of the PR marque before, I was running on Bridgestone BT023's.

The PR4's are a revelation, the bike turns in much quicker and the grip just feels so much better even though I'm no Mark Marquez

[Aff]

[iooi]

I personally do not like PR3's. Been on for 9K now. There is just something about how they ride that just does not give me the same level of confidence that I have had in other tyres.
PR2's
Avon Storms
Avon Distenza's

One thing that is odd is that the 4's came out so soon after the 3's. Odd that a manufacture would find such a improvement in such a short time frame. Or did they realise a issue with the 3's and correct it....
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[MarkJ]

I think they brought the 4s out so the competition couldn't catch up, Michelin wanted to keep a step ahead of the other manufacturers.

There were some problems with the early 3s delaminating but that was rectified pretty quick I think.

[defblade]

The sipes extending to the edges of the 3s makes them a bit squirmier then normal when lent over, the 4 doesn't have these quite so much.
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[garth]

I did a thread about the 3's here. Used for touring, on the track, commuting etc.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3600938#3600938

After that I tried PR2's and they're better in the dry, not as good in the wet.

I liked the 2's more.
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[willis1337]

Completely agree with MarkJ, on my K13s I have had both the PR3's and the PR4's. The 4's are great in the wet, really, really confidence inspiring, in the dry they are good but I have had a couple of moments where they move just a tiny bit when tipped over putting the power on coming out of a corner. The 3's are best in the dry, totally sticky, in the wet they are alright but do not let you forget it's wet like the 4's do.

At new tyre time I'll be getting the 3's as I prefer to ride for fun in the dry, if I am riding in the wet I'm not having fun regardless of what tyre I'm on.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

I have PR3 on at the moment.

Nice tyres, I wouldn't pay more for the PR4.


That said, pair of PR2 for £150...

https://www.bikespeeduk.com/tyres/michelin-tyres/pilot-road-2/pairs/120/70-zr17-180/55-zr17-michelin-pilot-road-2-tyre-pair/prod_2642.html

[MarkJ]

Bump.

Anyone using Pilot Road 4s this winter? Since the temperatures dropped into single figures around November/December time I've had zero confidence in the tyres, there's absolutely zero feedback coming from them in the cold temperatures. They were bad enough in summer but they feel like they're made of wood in winter.

I used PR3s through last winter in colder temperatures and had no issues. I've messed with the PR4 pressures and it doesn't seem to have made a difference.

[chris-red]

I would have bought PR4's but they don't do the front in 18" (only the GT version) I have gone for 3's they seem to get the best reviews at the moment.
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