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Tire Wear

lee

lee

Debbie's Servant
Yesterday I had my tire guy order two sets of Pilot Road 4 so we have new tires for a trip next month. Hope we take a trip :)
We've had PR4s before and Dunlop Road Smart 3 on the bikes now. For us tire wear is similar between the two brands.
Thought I would show a few pictures so you can see how they compare.
We both ride R1200RS Wetheads.

My Dunlop with 8,450 miles and 3/32" at end of red line.
Tire Lee 8,450 miles 3 32 inch - Copy.jpg


Deb's tire at 7,710 miles, 2.5/32" at same spot.
I would guess 8,700 miles would be max for this tire.
Tire Deb 7,710 miles 2.5 32 inch - Copy.jpg


PR4 Non GT
Tire Lee.JPG

Tire.JPG

More PR4s from another year.
Debbie's tire on the left has 8,794 miles and mine on the right has 9,074.
Tire Deb left 8,794 Lee right 9,074.JPG

Wasn't sure which forum would be best for this thread.
 
Just face it Lee, Deb just rides harder than you.:stick

How long does she have to wait for you at the end of the twisties?:dunno





:dance:dance:dance
 
36654 said:
Just curious, why not go for the newer Michelin PR 5?
Click to expand...

I don't like rear tires without a tread groove at the center or crossing the center.
There's a lot of tires out there now that can show cords before you're down to the center most wear indicators.
We tried the PR4 back with a Road 5 front and the Road 5 wore faster than any other tire we have tried.
 
A big thumbs down on the Road 5 from me on my 2016 RT. changed them out way early because the tread pattern created a sympathetic hum in the pegs and bars that was so pronounced I could hear it. At 45mph my hands would go numb on long rides.

Currently just went over 10,000 miles on my Donlops Road Smart 3’s.

Next set will be Pirellie Angel’s, not because the Donlops aren’t totally awesome; I just want to check them out based on an objective review I read two years ago, from my friend Doc Stickle.
 
Interesting comments. I'm trying to get some miles on the PR5's, but it's been a challenging Spring. My initial impression, relative to the PR4's, is much nicer (more stable) in turns.
 
I looked at the Lee and Debbie tire data and can reflect back to the two of them at Heartland Park Topeka oh those so many years (I have forgotten when and which bikes) ago. So we have a conundrum I pose to the masses. You are free to offer opinions.

Is Debbie the more aggressive rider? Or is Lee just a whole lot smoother? Vote now. :)
 
akbeemer said:
I got the same results with my RT, R and FJR. It must be me.
Click to expand...

As you know there's a lot of variables.
Riding style, road surface, curvy roads and temps.
We almost always ride together and do not get the same tire wear. It not unusual for me to get 10% to 15% better tire life than Debbie.
 
PGlaves said:
I looked at the Lee and Debbie tire data and can reflect back to the two of them at Heartland Park Topeka oh those so many years (I have forgotten when and which bikes) ago. So we have a conundrum I pose to the masses. You are free to offer opinions.

Is Debbie the more aggressive rider? Or is Lee just a whole lot smoother? Vote now. :)
Click to expand...

I vote that Lee is more often the lead rider, and a lead rider can be smoother and make fewer speed adjustments than a wingman. But that effect diminishes over time as the riders become more attuned to each other’s lead styles.
:):)

DeVern
 
franko said:
Who uses more engine braking?
Click to expand...

Both of us like to engine brake coming into a turn.
We had a rider follow us down a mountain once and he commented that he rarely saw the brake light come on either bike.
 
PGlaves said:
I looked at the Lee and Debbie tire data and can reflect back to the two of them at Heartland Park Topeka oh those so many years (I have forgotten when and which bikes) )
Click to expand...

It was 1991 when BMW gave us the free CLASS with the purchase of our 1991 K75S bikes.

Here's Debbie on her K75S and a K100RS that belonged to a instructor.

Track Deb - Copy.jpg

Track.JPG
 
Last edited:
GTRider said:
I vote that Lee is more often the lead rider, and a lead rider can be smoother and make fewer speed adjustments than a wingman. But that effect diminishes over time as the riders become more attuned to each other’s lead styles.
:):)

DeVern
Click to expand...

I think she accelerates harder when passing.
 
PGlaves said:
I looked at the Lee and Debbie tire data and can reflect back to the two of them at Heartland Park Topeka oh those so many years (I have forgotten when and which bikes) ago. So we have a conundrum I pose to the masses. You are free to offer opinions.

Is Debbie the more aggressive rider? Or is Lee just a whole lot smoother? Vote now. :)
Click to expand...

I vote neither.

Rather, Debbie is surely lighter and therefore experiences more wheel spin.

Long time ago (like 1970s) there was an article about tire wear and this was the explanation given for longer tread life for 2-up riding versus solo riding.

This is about rear tires of course, but then they are the first to wear out.
 
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