1olbull
Riding Motor Since 1950
I do not find the Road 5 GT in a 150/70R17
I do not find the Road 5 GT in a 150/70R17
The best tire I have put on my 2015 R3T, by far, is the Dunlop Elite 4. I got over 11000 miles on the rear, almost double what I have ever gotten on any other tire. Plus it has very good grip in the twisties. The worst tire I put on the rear, by far, is the Michelin Scrambler. I got 6000 miles and it felt like riding on snot in the twisties. The Avons had good grip but didnt last. My 2 cents.
Journeyman
"And this one is just right" ~ Goldilocks
I've been running the Dunlop Elite 4 for quite a while, until my recent experiment with the reversed Road 5.
I will say that the Dunlops handle very well and always wear evenly. I just checked my mileage at this last swap and the Dunlop actually went just under 6,000 this time (although not much tread left), which is really good in my experience (rears go more like 4,000 - 4,500).
Just seconding your recommendation of the Dunlops. Check 'em out!
I will say that the Dunlops handle very well and always wear evenly. I just checked my mileage at this last swap and the Dunlop actually went just under 6,000 this time (although not much tread left), which is really good in my experience (rears go more like 4,000 - 4,500).
Just seconding your recommendation of the Dunlops. Check 'em out!
pjsmithres
SD Dreadnought
Three different tires and they all are about the same for miles. 6000 for the rear and 12K for the front. Not worn down to the cord, but what I considered safe
1olbull
Riding Motor Since 1950
The Dunlop Elite series are great tires. I've run several Elite 3 on other motors, but none fit the Roadster.
Journeyman
"And this one is just right" ~ Goldilocks
Chip
Turbocharged
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2014
- Messages
- 745
- Location
- Vicksburg Michigan
- Ride
- 08 Rocket Touring, 15 Rocket Touring
I just ordered a Elite 4 for my front. Looking forward to a winter trip down south to try it out.
Mounted the Michelin Road 5 Rear Motorcycle Tire 150/70ZR-17 (69W) (reversed orientation) yesterday and took her out for a spin on The Devils Whip (Hwy 80) in NC. Since the tires were new I didn't push it, but my first impression was very good. It feels like the contact patch is bigger than the Dunlops I've been using. It may be a bit less "flicky," but seems more planted once you pick a line. The tread is massive, so expecting I'll get more than 4,500 miles before I can no longer trust it in the rain.
Jouneyman28778, I think you will find the Michelin Road 5 quite long lasting.
I find it confidence-inspiring in the wet and dry. It started with 4.6mm of tread, and after 10,000 miles it has 4.0mm of tread left at the thinnest points, just off center. That's more than a brand new Michelin Commander II has (3.6mm). Picture attached.
To give you a feel for how fast I wear out front tires (living here in flatland NE Ohio) compared to your much nicer roads in NC):
I got 8,000 miles out of the Commander 140/75. It started with 3.6mm of tread, was removed with 1.0mm remaining. It is a good rain tire, but not as good as the Road 5. It wasn't as good in the wet when it was well worn.
I got 7,000 miles out of a Cobra 140/75 before it got down to 2.6mm of tread. It started with 4.4mm. I removed it because I had totally lost confidence in the tire's wet grip, especially in cold weather.
I got 11,000 miles out of the original Metzeler ME880 150/80, removed with 1.0mm tread left, started with 5.5mm.
1olbull, Michelin did talk about a GT version, but I don't know if it will be produced. I haven't seen one in this size. I'm happy with the standard version on the front of my R3R...10,000 miles and nowhere near worn out.
tdragger, Even though the Rocket is heavy, we're talking about a front wheel fitment. It seems to me that rear tires are built heavier and stronger than front tires, and a GT rear tire might be too stiff on a Rocket's front wheel.
I fitted a pair of Michelin Road 4 GTs to my Tiger 1050 and regretted it. I lost a lot of road feel, and lost some confidence in cornering. I blame it on the bike not being heavy enough to properly "work" a tire designed for a heavier bike. YMMV
Tripps
Retired superhero
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2010
- Messages
- 11,314
- Location
- Florida and NY
- Ride
- R3T,Sprintona,K1200GT, Blackbird,r/65 hack
That's interesting, because you made something just click, I ran road 4GTs on my k1200, I recently installed Road 5s, and I think I recently commented on the noticable"road feel" with these tires, the k1200 has amazing suspension, nothing unsettles it, but I can feel the actual courseness of the road material with these, the texture, more so than any other bike or tire.
