PR3 to PR4

[Tusker]

About to have my tyres replaced, off come the PR3's on go PR4's in readiness for the Whitby bimble..  Anyone tell me what the difference is if any ??

[tallpaul]

The number 4...

Oh, and the tread pattern! Joking aside, I think on reflection I may have preferred the PR3 more in terms of feedback, but the PR4 is still excellent.

[Tusker]

I just asked a mate the same question "what's the difference"  he said "about 30 quid"   

[Paz324]

PR3s are the superior tyre, they are softer and much better suited to all year round use than the PR4s.

Because of how much harder they made the compound to increase longevity for the PR4s they lost a lot of their wet weather ability in comparison to the PR3s, I'd even go as far as refusing to accept PR4s on anything bigger than a 600.

You may be fine if the bike is a fair weather machine but if you intend to use it as a work horse where it only gets left in the garage when snow and ice are involved then I'd go for the metzeler roadtec 01s which are the current king of sport touring tyres..

[Tusker]

it is a fair weather machine,  if I ride in rain I've been caught out or I'm on a touring holiday. I know the compound on the outer edge is harder, they say the PR3 was medium in the middle and soft on the edges and the PR4 is hard in the middle and medium on the edges.... The edges don't bother me much as it seems I seldom trouble them  the PR3's I'm taking off look new on the edges !

[wurzel]

I'm on my second set of pr4's, I use the bike all year round and find them an excellent all round tyre, especially in the wet.

[mr_diver]

What Paz324 said is correct.
PR3 was a better all round tyre.

Bridgestone BT-023 is a better tyre than the later T30 Evo or T31. That's why I've stuck with them on the GSX14- I really have to provoke it to get the rear to step out which might surprise you.

[paulja]

I'm on 5's and absolutely no issues in the wet, I still prefer the 3 as it was a better lane scratcher tyre.

[tallpaul]

I have a Road5 on the rear of mine and up to now I like it. It feels grippy but time will tell how long it lasts. It was cheaper than a PR4 too...

[Tusker]

once again we prove that opinions are like arseholes,,,,  whether we like it or not we all have one.. my PR4's get fitted Thursday .. No matter what they will not be changed until they wear out.....

[tallpaul]

  they're still good tyres Tusker. You will be happy.

[SuzukiSte]

@Tusker PR4's are great like Paul said, I had them on my Strom great feel and in the wet they where great.

[paulja]

Just because there is a new tyre, doesn't automatically mean the old tyre was garbage. I had a friend who ran a tyre business, the best advice he gave me (30+ years ago) was change the make of tyre only if you have a problem with the current one.

[Rasher]

I am not sure tyres always move forwards either, seen a lot of bad write ups about PR4's from people who really liked the PR3 on a variety of bikes.

I had been running Dunlops for a long time, loved the original Roadsmart and used it on a few bikes, then the RS2 came out and I was not convinced it was any better than the original.

Now running 1's on my V-Strom, with 3's on my KTM 1190 and the Mrs TDM has a pair of 2's, and I feel the least secure in the wet on the RS3.

When I bought another KTM (a 1090) it came with the OE Tourance Next, which I planned to bin before the Mrs used it for our Alps trip earlier this year, however I got caught in a torrential storm on the thing and I found myself actually enjoying the ride, I cannot see how a 5 year old "Dual Purpose" (in the loosest sense of the word) could be better than my new technology, group test winning RS3, but for me it felt great.

Not really comparing eggs to eggs as the RS3 is on the 1190 which has wider rims and different suspension, but after that I just threw a new rear on the 1090 for the Holiday, and seeing as these tyres of yesteryear are available a fair bit cheaper than the "latest and greatest" I am likely to pop a pair on the 1190 next time (excuse the pun)

[Tusker]

Just for the record, I originally asked for PR3's and I was told that PR3's where not available for the Tiger. Hence the 4's. I was happy with the 3's. Anyway the 4's are now on the bike for just £244 of our English pounds..

[tallpaul]

Smashing! We'll get them scrubbed in over the weekend.