On the road up to last year's Forum Scotland trip, I killed off my rear Michelin RS. Great tyre, but only lasted 1500 miles Big V-twins are not kind to tyre's, especially when, like me, you use the grunt when accelerating Strathearn tyres are a good bunch, middle of Scotland, and massive stock of tyre's. They stuck me a rear PR5 on, as I couldn't live with £170 per tyre for 1500 miles. Had PR2 on the SV650, and I hated them, the squidgy feeling, left me I'll at ease on the bike. So was a little hesitant to fit the PR5, but glad I did. Have been really impressed with them over the last year, and haven't noticed any drop in grip compared to the softer 'sports' RS. Been great in wet and dry. They even coped with running home from last year's GMU, nearly 300 motorway miles over the weekend. Managed to get 4250 miles out of the rear, so am reasonably pleased with that, and have got a pair on order to be fitted next week. £260 fitted for the pair
I've been running sports tourers on mine for years MrO. For us mortals they are more than sufficient, give good feedback, grip and as you say last so much longer
I've got PR5's on my tiger roadie, they are brilliant tyres, i'll be buying the same again when the time comes.
I had a pair of Michelin PR5s fitted to my 2017 Speed Triple before I set off on my recent NC500 Scottish road trip. I had no issues with the stock Pirelli Supercorsas which were fantastic but worn out after 4K miles so I wanted something a little more road orientated. I’ve got to say I think these are the best tyres I’ve ever had on a bike. Ten days hard riding in all weathers and they felt completely safe and sure-footed all the time. The dual compound construction seems to work well providing better wear in the centre of the tyre and more grip at greater lean angles. After the 1800 miles round trip there’s very little signs of wear and no obvious squaring off even with the motorway stints required from Manchester and back. Michelin have a promotion on at the minute so I got them for £250 for the pair fitted & balanced. Gled.
I had the trail version on my 1200GS and thought they were probably the best tyres I've ever used. Having said that I'm liking the Diablo Rosso IIIs that are on the Speed Twin.
I fitted a pair of PR5s to the Exploder just before my trip to the Ardennes in August. I'm impressed with their wet weather handling and how quiet they are compaired to any other tyres I've had in the past. On a thundery deluge of torrential rain and entering a bend that looked to be opening out and then got much tighter, they stuck and went round with no issue at a speed I wouldn't normally attempt in the dry! Same last night on my 80 mile round trip up to Croft (monthy HTOC meet), about 2/3rds in the wet. My only complaint is a mildly vague feeling at motorway speeds. 2000 miles on them so far and still no signs of wear.
I love them, but I actually had a wee front end slide the other night !!! Squeeky bum time tbh, wasn't much, but still not nice. Was on a tight bit of dry tarmac, and I was pushing it a fair bit. Tempted to go back to using an RS on the front and PR5 on the back, I REALLY liked that combo.
I've got PR4's on mine and they've done 13,000 kms (roughly 8125 mls) and there's still a 1000 mls or more left in them.
I've ridden in the wet a fair bit lately, and find the PR5's very confidence inspiring. Bike feels really planted.
Looking at getting a set of pr5’s for the new RS and sticking the Pirelli’s on the 2009 before I sell it as the pr4’s its currently got, got a bloomin’ puncture.
Only done a 100 miles on the Pirelli’s and they seemed great, not sure how much confidence I’ll have in them as the weather worsens, definitely better getting tyres I’ll have confidence in.
If you like Pirelli's, have a look at the Angel GT's. I loved the previous version, good wet and dry.
I've struggled to get a rear tyre to match the front, Pirelli Road Angel St... Apparently the size for the front is available, but not the rear. So off to Mitchell's in Inverness on Friday for a set of Michelin road 5 gts... Course, gales and howling rain forecast for the day. Should be 200miles of fun! Mitchell's have been very helpful so far, that's for sure.