Tire Information

[darrell]

Below are the tires I have installed and used on my 2016 RS bike now in the 7th riding season.

Tires - Mileage When Installed, Brand, Model, (Mileage When Removed)

    0000 miles - Metzeler Roadtec Z8 (7735)
    7735 miles - Metzeler Roadtec 01 (3990)
    11725 miles - Michelin PR4 GT (11,063)
    22788 miles - Michelin PR4 GT (6252)
    29040 miles - Michelin PR4 GT (7906)
    36946 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8380)
    45326 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8186)
    53512 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8435)
    61947 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8322)
    70269 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (5940)
    76209 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (6468)
    82677 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (7523)
    90200 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8283)
    98483 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart III (8517)
    107000 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart IV (10245)
    117245 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart IV (10616)
    127861 miles - Dunlop Mutant (7890)
    135751 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart IV (11753)
    147504 miles - Dunlop Roadsmart IV (TBD)

[Grumpy Goat]

Thanks for updating and sharing this list Darrell. I have had a very good experience with the Dunlops so far - good balance of performance and cost - but I have never ridden it in heavy rain yet so I can't say whether it is better than the Michelins overall.

Looking at the prices, the above changes were for both tires. Assuming you made the decision to change based on the wear on the rear tire, what did you do with the used front tires? Did you keep them "just in case? I'd be very reluctant to throw out tires before they are fully worn out.

[darrell]

Thanks for updating and sharing this list Darrell. I have had a very good experience with the Dunlops so far - good balance of performance and cost - but I have never ridden it in heavy rain yet so I can't say whether it is better than the Michelins overall.

Looking at the prices, the above changes were for both tires. Assuming you made the decision to change based on the wear on the rear tire, what did you do with the used front tires? Did you keep them "just in case? I'd be very reluctant to throw out tires before they are fully worn out.

My front tires are wearing out as fast as my rear tires so I need to change them both. I've not had one instant in the 7 sets I used up where the front could have gone another 1000 - 1500 miles. I had the same experience with my K1200RS yet on my 2 R1150GSA bikes I use 2 rears to 1 front. On the R1200RS I believe the heavy use of engine braking has a lot to do with front tire wear.

[Grumpy Goat]

My front tires are wearing out as fast as my rear tires so I need to change them both. I've not had one instant in the 7 sets I used up where the front could have gone another 1000 - 1500 miles. I had the same experience with my K1200RS yet on my 2 R1150GSA bikes I use 2 rears to 1 front. On the R1200RS I believe the heavy use of engine braking has a lot to do with front tire wear.

Hmmm … I also use heavy engine braking and front brake but my front tires wear out slower than my rears. Weird. Since it happened with other bikes for you it must be your style vs mine.

[Duccrazydave]

You guys have convinced me to grab a set of Dunlops for my RS. Your reviews and the $ value have swayed me. I've been a die hard Metzeler guy since my first streetbike, in '86. The Roadtec 01's have lasted marginally better than the Z8's. Only complaints were concerning the front tire : Noisy tread pattern and not quite as stable as the Z8. So it's Roadsmart III's for the RS and (predictably) Metzeler M7RR's for my Ducati :-)

[Grumpy Goat]

You guys have convinced me to grab a set of Dunlops for my RS. Your reviews and the $ value have swayed me. I've been a die hard Metzeler guy since my first streetbike, in '86. The Roadtec 01's have lasted marginally better than the Z8's. Only complaints were concerning the front tire : Noisy tread pattern and not quite as stable as the Z8. So it's Roadsmart III's for the RS and (predictably) Metzeler M7RR's for my Ducati :-)

I was / am a fan of Michelins having several PR4s until the switch to the Dunlop RSIIIs, largely due to Darrell's experience.

So far I am very pleased, although in all fairness to the PR4s I have not tested the RSIIIs in heavy rain yet, whereas I road PR4s on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC and also through Austin TX in heavy rain, and they performed perfectly. For me they are the gold standard. If I ever do get a chance to ride the RSIIIs in heavy rain then I would be able to compare them completely. But so far ... best bang for the buck.

Lets know how you like the RSIIIs when you have broken in a set.

[darrell]

I'm heading out next week on a 24 day ride so come mid August I'll be putting on another set of Roadsmart III tires and will update as well.

---

Also Wayne to comment on your front and rear tire wear difference I believe it could be as much the amount of chip sealed roads you have in TX vs what I generally ride on. On my one extended TX ride with the RS and a couple of longer rides in TX with the GSA bikes I have noticed increased rear tire wear. Also you might accelerate away from a stop or slower speed than I do. You have rode behind me and I believe you found I'm not a big pour the throttle to it when increasing speeds.

[Grumpy Goat]

Also Wayne to comment on your front and rear tire wear difference I believe it could be as much the amount of chip sealed roads you have in TX vs what I generally ride on. On my one extended TX ride with the RS and a couple of longer rides in TX with the GSA bikes I have noticed increased rear tire wear. Also you might accelerate away from a stop or slower speed than I do. You have rode behind me and I believe you found I'm not a big pour the throttle to it when increasing speeds.

I think you may be right on the latter aspects. Most of my riding is not on chip seal surfaces, since most is commuting in Houston, but riding on that horrible surface does make a huge difference especially if riding hard.

[Duccrazydave]

So I spooned the Dunlops on this past weekend. Put about 30 (curvy) miles on them yesterday. Initial impressions - compared to the new Roadtec 01's, the steering is slightly lighter, probably due to the different profile shape and the straight line stability much better. The front Metzeler (especially when new) was "squirmy". Stable, but you could feel the smaller tread blocks moving around. No such sensation from the Dunlops. They're quiet as well. Looking forward to some break in time closer to the NC/VA border!
Cheers, David

[Spinner]

My front tires are wearing out as fast as my rear tires so I need to change them both. I've not had one instant in the 7 sets I used up where the front could have gone another 1000 - 1500 miles. I had the same experience with my K1200RS yet on my 2 R1150GSA bikes I use 2 rears to 1 front. On the R1200RS I believe the heavy use of engine braking has a lot to do with front tire wear.

Hmmm … I also use heavy engine braking and front brake but my front tires wear out slower than my rears. Weird. Since it happened with other bikes for you it must be your style vs mine.

---

Let me add a Pirelli Angel review. The rear is good for 5500 to 6,000 miles. I actually went through 2 fronts to one rear. Last front I got 4500 miles. Kept front pressure at 36.2 and eased off the twisty roads. Great dry performance but my RS just eats Angel front tires.
Went through 2 sets of Metzelers new Z01. Very good all round tire but poor wear up front with lots of feathering g and cupping. No such issues like that with the Pirelli.
Just got a pair of Road 5s and initially all I can say is they feel really nice. Turn in feels light and almost like the Roadsmart III.

[Grumpy Goat]

---

Let me add a Pirelli Angel review. The rear is good for 5500 to 6,000 miles. I actually went through 2 fronts to one rear. Last front I got 4500 miles. Kept front pressure at 36.2 and eased off the twisty roads. Great dry performance but my RS just eats Angel front tires.
Went through 2 sets of Metzelers new Z01. Very good all round tire but poor wear up front with lots of feathering g and cupping. No such issues like that with the Pirelli.
Just got a pair of Road 5s and initially all I can say is they feel really nice. Turn in feels light and almost like the Roadsmart III.

Thanks for the comments on the Pirelli Angels. I had wondered about that given that they are targeting the same motorcycles. I would not want a tire that eats up front tires faster than my rears like that, when the rears are only good for 5500 to 6,000 miles. Even considering different riding styles etc that seems to be too low.

As for the Metzelers … I have heard about wear issues up front also, so it is likely that I will be giving those a pass. So far for me are the Michelin PR4 and R5 and the Dunlop RS IIIs.

[darrell]

I updated the information I put in post #1 of this thread as installed a new set of Dunlop Roadsmart III a couple of days ago.

[Grumpy Goat]

I updated the information I put in post #1 of this thread as installed a new set of Dunlop Roadsmart III a couple of days ago.

PR4s are still the champs but the RSIIIs give a consistent 8000+ pretty good too. Thanks for updating the list of tires.

[darrell]

I updated the information I put in post #1 of this thread as installed a new set of Dunlop Roadsmart III a couple of days ago.

PR4s are still the champs but the RSIIIs give a consistent 8000+ pretty good too. Thanks for updating the list of tires.

Actually each Roadsmart III had another 1000 - 1500 miles before the wear bars but leaving on trips I don't want to mess around finding tires and spending a half day at a dealer getting them changed on the road. I have a chance of running the set just installed to the wear bars based on my travel plans. I still view the RS III as 10,000 mile tires based on my riding style and skills.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

So I've been waiting for a long time for the original Metz tires to wear out. A couple of weeks ago I went for a 300 mile ride and at the end decided that I was done waiting. Put on the Bridgestone T31 tires that have been in the garage all summer just waiting.

As a side note, the T31 rear was about as hard to get on as anything I've ever done. There is very little dish to the rear rim, and it was a rough stretch to get the second bead on there.

Anyway, after the change I'm putting the old tire outside and look what I see:


That's the most I've ever worn out a tire. Got 9000 miles out of them, so that's good. The front was all cupped up and handled like crap. Nice to have new rubber on there and that new feeling again.

[Grumpy Goat]

So I've been waiting for a long time for the original Metz tires to wear out.

That's the most I've ever worn out a tire. Got 9000 miles out of them, so that's good. The front was all cupped up and handled like crap. Nice to have new rubber on there and that new feeling again.

You sure got your money's worth out of those. Down to the canvas. Be interesting to hear your comments on the Bridgestones ... not a popular choice for RS owners.

[darrell]

Surprised to see the cords when not far left or right of the those cords showing appears to be a small amount of thread depth remaining. Bet you are glad you changed those before another 300 mile ride. New tires are always fun to ride on.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Be interesting to hear your comments on the Bridgestones ... not a popular choice for RS owners.

I had the T30 on my FJ-09 and they were just fine. A lot like the pr4 but a slightly different turn in which you don't notice after a half hour. Had a ride up to Stratton Mountain today. The tires are fine. Very smooth turn in. Good bump absorption. I have a trip down to Shenandoa at the end of the month where I'll give them more of a test.

I've never had a Metzler tire that I liked other then Tourance on the GS. These tires with no tread grooves in the center are really had to tell as to wear, particularly if you do a lot of slab.

[darrell]

I updated the tire information in my initial post (post 1) after attaining 70,000 miles on the bike.

[Lee]

Surprised to see the cords when not far left or right of the those cords showing appears to be a small amount of thread depth remaining.

That's getting to be a common problem for touring or sport touring riders with today's tires.