After much deliberation and penny counting I decided it was time to replace the Bridgstones with a set of PR3s, the OEM tyres weren't knackered but I've never been a fan of 'em really.
So off I went this afternoon down to the local tyre fitter whoe has fitted tyres to my bikes for many years, and got myself a set of PR3s
Now, I've not tried them before, but I felt confident that they would do thee job, and this was based on the positive feedback from members on here plus the fact that I had some PR2s fitted to a GTR in 2009, and they transformed the bike.
The fitter did his usual superb job avoiding TP sensors and fitting and balancing the wheels superbly.
I had to get a few miles on the new 'boots' so I took a run to Devils Bridge a for a brew.
I can now add my opinion about the PR3s, even though I've only put just over 50 miles on them, and in lovely sunny dry conditions....they are outstanding, and the difference is already noticeable with the bike feeling more planted, and compliant, it just feels better all round, and definitely turns in better...I'm well pleased, and hope that they are as good in the wet as everyone says they are
Pretty well scrubbed in now and ready for a blast this weekend :clap:
(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n326/oldeconey/004-1.jpg)
I think PR3s are the best tyres I've ever used, especially in the wet. The wear rate on our GTR was horrifying but they last much longer on our FJR (5k on the rear so far and loads of tread left). I'm sure you'll be happy with them.
Kevin
Had mine for only 200 miles approx and I agree they seem to be so much better than the standard Bridgestone stuff.
Anybody who scrimps and saves on tyres should take note, these are awesome.
Alan
...but not so good when they're flat...
We've been riding the GSA for the last few weeks. As we left this morning on the FJR I thought "This feels really strange after the GSA - small and it doesn't steer so well". A few yards down the road I realised the back tyre was flat which would explain the steering :sad: (it's still small though!).
Kevin
The PR3's are outstanding !!! And you will discover soon that they are just brilliant in the wet as well. I honestly do not think that I will fit another tyre to my GTR. It has totally transformed the bike in a very positive way.
Deon
I'll agree with all the comments above.
I fitted PR3's after changing the OEM Skidstones and they are by far the best tyre i have used in my 10 years of riding.
Great in the wet and mine have done 4k and not showing any signs of squaring off or wearing any time soon. I recon there's another 2k or 3k left in the rear.
If I had to find a small weak point it seems that at motorway speeds (and maybe slightly higher!) they do seem to feel a little squishey. The OEM Skidstones had re-inforced side walls for the weight of the old girl where as the PR3's don't. It's not an issue but just a slightly different feel.
Anyway great all round tyre and will be putting another pair on when the time comes.
Quote from: mattye on August 10, 2012, 07:48:12 AM
If I had to find a small weak point it seems that at motorway speeds (and maybe slightly higher!) they do seem to feel a little squishey. The OEM Skidstones had re-inforced side walls for the weight of the old girl where as the PR3's don't. It's not an issue but just a slightly different feel
- some of the K1600 users have also commented on the high speed "weaving" of these PR3s when compared to their stock B'stones/Metzelers.
- somehow it seems crazy for a manufacturer to knowingly/deliberately install poor tyres onto their latest + greatest machine. At manufacturer's level , they probably have a pick of which tyres they want to run on their bikes and they will test & test to determine the best setup.
- sometimes i do wonder whether a "different" feel to the tyre is somehow equated to the tyre being "better" for some reason or other. We all know that new rubber on any vehicle has an almost fundamental effect of how the thing will handle.
- in racing , its easy. Tyre "A" produces lap times of XX.YY consistently over ZZ laps. Tyre "B" produces lap times of BB.CC. But with street use tyres , empirical factors like that don't apply.
- that and B'stone are not small patatoes either when compared to other tire makers.
cheers.
.
Very good points pistole. :agree: :yes:
Different riders will experience different results when using non OEM tyres, and that will probably vary from individual to individual.
I do wonder though just how much manufacturing costings are part of the OEM tyre choice , as clearly this would be part of a manufacturers decision process. Plus various manufacturers will have long standing relationships with certain tyre manufacturers.
.
- ha , on the American Concours forum , they've got a diabolical theory that since Kawasaki Heavy Industries is based in Kobe (and .... drum roll ... so are B'stone) hence them tyres found their way onto our bikes .... probably on account of the fact that they only need to fling the tyres over the fence to make delivery ....
- can't really fathom that sort of logic , but hey ...
.
@mattye,
Perhaps check your tyre pressures. I run high speeds very often and have not encountered any problems at any (high) speed.
Deon
Guys, do check your tyre pressures, I fill to 43, check them with a calibrated meter and leave them at 42.
I have found that by just dropping a couple of pound because of the cold mornings or nights, (compared to the day) it total changes the handling.
Brucy bonus points too for the PR3's
Only tyre that can legally be mended out of the crop.
They are kevlar belted, not steel, so are safer to repair causing less damage to construction.
I have it on good authority thatMichelin tested the tyre with 20 repairs in main tread to ensure they were OK. They then did another 20 sidewall repairs (not required for testing ) and had no issues with them either.
Ah tyres!!! you could go on forever. I have had three sets on mine, original Bridgestones which did 5000 miles, and were good in the dry, but a bit skittish in the wet. Then a pair of Dunlop Road smart 2s that did 4200 miles, and the latest pair to grace my rims a pair of PR3s , which so far have done 4000 miles, and tread depth wise are fine, and will more than likely do 6 to 7 thousand. BUT, all of them have suffered from distortion of the rubber across the full width of the tyre. Relevent factors could be that I do tend to get a move on, and ALL my biking is done on B and A roads that are bumpy, and very undulating, and I suppose these factors combined with the bikes weight, and power give my tyres a tough life. I honestly dont think there is much between any of them. And when we all say "Oh these new tyres are brilliant, they turn in great, and feel very planted, and make the old ones feel like :shit: " Well they will wont they? you have just removed tyres that were knackered and replaced them with brand spankers, and all of a sudden the bike is transformed, and the same will apply when the PR3s are goosed and you replace them with brand xyz. Until recently I used to ride out with a bloke who bought the cheapest tyres on the planet for his TDM 850 made by manufacturers that I have never even heard of, but he never had any problems with the performance of any of them, and this lad was an ex racer and could really boogie when required. So yes PR3s are good but in my humble opinion are no better or worse than most tyres on the market today. :smiley:
Quote from: 100milesaway on August 10, 2012, 05:52:33 PM
And when we all say "Oh these new tyres are brilliant, they turn in great, and feel very planted, and make the old ones feel like :shit: " Well they will wont they? you have just removed tyres that were knackered and replaced them with brand spankers, and all of a sudden the bike is transformed, and the same will apply when the PR3s are goosed and you replace them with brand xyz.
Absolutely correct Geoff. Except the Bridgestones that I have just replaced weren't knackered, in fact they still have plenty life left in them, but as I'm going to France at the end of this month I wanted to be sure that my tyres would be ok for the journey...after all my tyres also get some stick for the same reason as yours, serves me right for being a pink armband army disciple.
I remember when I had PR2s fitted before that the OEM Bridgestones carcasses were heavier and much less pliable than the PR2s, I reckon the compound on the PR3s is better/different than the Bridgestone stuff...But hey I'm certainly no expert :no:
ANYONE WANT A PAIR OF PART WORN OEM BRIDGESTONES, ONE CAREFUL OWNER, 3000 MILES USE ONLY, MAKE ME AN OFFER :yes:
Hi Guys
I fitted Mitchilin Pilot 2 at 4000miles, the original Bridgstones were worn out and did not impress. The MP2 have now done 6k and i reckon i will get another 1 to 2k out of them at least and they have transformed the handling of the bike. Why do Kawasaki fit tyres that do not benifit the bike?
H
What about the size of the rear tyre, anyone got any thoughts on that ?
Mr Kawasaki have great thought, he think 190/50/17
Coman
Just to follow up Kevin's earlier comment regarding the FJR, I noticed that the PR3's last much longer on the GTR. Maybe as much as 50% longer. I think it's because there is more depth to the tread with the GTR tyre. Don't know if this is because of the physical size difference or Michelin have increased the depth over the last year or two?
I doubt it's a change in handling, I hammer the GTR as hard as I ever did with the FJR.