Michelin Road 6 GT

[ExGMan]

After seeing the Michelin advertisement for a new sport touring tire appearing in the December 2021 OWNERS' NEWS, I looked around a bit and found some places (outside the US), showing some photos of the Michelin Road 6 GT model. I made a couple of PNGs which show some information as well as tread designs. The first is the front and the second is the rear. See below:





I think I recall that the Road 5 came out in the non-GT version in early 2018.

Anyway, something new on the road, I guess...

[lkraus]

Hope those are not U.S. dollars...

[brownie0486]

My PR5gt rear was done at 6K, the PR4gt rear my brother was running lasted 6500 miles. Lets hope the PR6GT gets a little better mileage.

Until I see signs [ from reviews ] that this new tire is getting 8-10K on a rear, I'm not interested in the latest greatest. My Dunlop RS4's are at 4350 miles with just 2/32's tread wear. On schedule to make 10K on the rear with 4/32's left after leaving the 2/32's minimum tread depth.

Simply amazed at these RS4's for longevity, in the rain, and sticking ability on dry pavement.

I do like the tread pattern on these new PR6's, it'll be interesting to learn what others are saying about them after a time on motors. Good heads up.

[drneo66]

I remember sitting in a tire presentation (Des Moines maybe?) where they were talking all about how the tire looked for approximately half the presentation. "Look how pretty it is..." Honestly, I don't buy tires for the aesthetics, they could have unicorns for all I care, but I do care how they perform. Telling me why you implemented this scoop here and that siping there to improve safety, longevity, etc. gets me to buy your tire. If I get up-close and personal with your tire during a ride, either I've done something really stupid, or your product has failed.

But I wear an Aerostich 1-piece and ride with an RDL seat... so my fashion sense is 0...

[adamchandler]

Hope those are not U.S. dollars...

If they are, Michelin will just say "well these last 40% longer than the road 5 so we are only going to charge you 30% more for a set" :P

[GREGFEELER]

My PR5gt rear was done at 6K, the PR4gt rear my brother was running lasted 6500 miles. Lets hope the PR6GT gets a little better mileage.

Until I see signs [ from reviews ] that this new tire is getting 8-10K on a rear, I'm not interested in the latest greatest. My Dunlop RS4's are at 4350 miles with just 2/32's tread wear. On schedule to make 10K on the rear with 4/32's left after leaving the 2/32's minimum tread depth.

Simply amazed at these RS4's for longevity, in the rain, and sticking ability on dry pavement.

I do like the tread pattern on these new PR6's, it'll be interesting to learn what others are saying about them after a time on motors. Good heads up.

I bought a set of the Dunlop Road Smart 4's at the Great Falls rally and have to say I'm blown away by what a great tire they are. From Great Falls to my house is about 500 miles of mountains, so I appreciate good handling - traction, stability, neutral turn in, etc., and these RS4's do not disappoint. No real data on mileage, yet, but several friends of mine who have used the later Michelin sport touring tires have told me the Dunlop RS4's handle as well or better and they are getting several thousand more miles of tread life.

[Lee]

I remember sitting in a tire presentation (Des Moines maybe?) where they were talking all about how the tire looked for approximately half the presentation. "Look how pretty it is..." Honestly, I don't buy tires for the aesthetics, they could have unicorns for all I care, but I do care how they perform. Telling me why you implemented this scoop here and that siping there to improve safety, longevity, etc. gets me to buy your tire. If I get up-close and personal with your tire during a ride, either I've done something really stupid, or your product has failed.

But I wear an Aerostich 1-piece and ride with an RDL seat... so my fashion sense is 0...

I pay attention to tread grooves on tires. If you're a touring or sport touring rider I think it's important to have grooves at the center or crossing the center of the tire. This make it easy to monitor tire wear on a trip. Some tires have tire wear indicators too far from the center.
I also look at grooves near the edge of the tire. No sipes or grooves near the edge and you better take it easy in the rain on a curvy road.
The Road 5 does not have enough sipes near the edge. It will be interesting to see if the Road 6 has more.

[brownie0486]

I pay attention to tread grooves on tires. If you're a touring or sport touring rider I think it's important to have grooves at the center or crossing the center of the tire. This make it easy to monitor tire wear on a trip. Some tires have tire wear indicators too far from the center.
I also look at grooves near the edge of the tire. No sipes or grooves near the edge and you better take it easy in the rain on a curvy road.
The Road 5 does not have enough sipes near the edge. It will be interesting to see if the Road 6 has more.

The RS4's have sipes nearly to the sidewall, and tread in the middle of the tire. Both are something everyone should consider when choosing tires.

RS4's till I hear reports of a better tire for longevity, stickiness and planted on wet roads. Best wearing tires I've ever owned on any motor

[Lee]

Here's a couple examples of good designs. Sipes at the center and out to the edges.
Road Smart 3 and Pilot Road 4.



It would be nice if all sport touring tires ran the sipes to the edge and had the little holes like Michelin uses dead center.

[Lee]

The Road 5 front tire did not last long for us.
I wonder if the more solid tread in the middle of the 6 will fix the short life problem.

[GREGFEELER]

Here's a couple examples of good designs. Sipes at the center and out to the edges.
Road Smart 3 and Pilot Road 4.



It would be nice if all sport touring tires ran the sipes to the edge and had the little holes like Michelin uses dead center.

Good points, Lee, but honestly, I make it a point to never get onto the outer edges of my tired in the rain. My sphincter doesn't need that much exercise.

[orforester]

Then you couldn't ride in Oregon from October to May or June. My PR4 and Now the PR5 are fine in the rain on my RT. My buddy on his C-14 rides fine in rain. But we all ride our own ride. I had a set of Sport 2's or 3's and they were a bit scary in the wet to me, but that was on a XR1200, which was loaded with power

[GREGFEELER]

Then you couldn't ride in Oregon from October to May or June. My PR4 and Now the PR5 are fine in the rain on my RT. My buddy on his C-14 rides fine in rain. But we all ride our own ride. I had a set of Sport 2's or 3's and they were a bit scary in the wet to me, but that was on a XR1200, which was loaded with power

No mistake, I've ridden many miles on in the rain on trips - rain is just a part of travel. But, where I live in Idaho is high desert and we get very little rain compared to western Oregon, and when we do, the roads are pretty greasy . When I do ride in the rain I just don't go all crazy cornering. Maybe if I did more of it.

[Lee]

Good points, Lee, but honestly, I make it a point to never get onto the outer edges of my tired in the rain. My sphincter doesn't need that much exercise.

I'm the same but there's a few brave riders out there

This October a group of us were in Arkansas and after a rainy day a friend mentioned his Road 5s were sliding too much in the curves.
He plans to switch back to the Pilot Road 4s.
He's a better rider than me and braver

[jharpphoto]

I just found this post as I started another thread about the longevity of these tires. I've got 10k on mine and they are definitely DONE. Looks like I might've pushed mine a bit too far.