Author Topic: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s  (Read 3444 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Freddyfruitbat

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 366
  • Bike: BMW R1200RS
  • Location: UK
Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« on: May 19, 2018, 00:36:12 »
Anybody happen to know? (Or have a new set handy?)
Am trying to decide how long mine are going to last (as I have a tour coming up); I know the mileage when they were fitted so by measuring the current depth I reckon I ought to be able to extrapolate roughly how much longer they've got (if only I'd measured the depth when they were new...  :dl_smiley_banghead:
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS

Offline Pug27

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 308
  • Bike: DL1050
  • Location: Thirsk
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2018, 08:20:28 »
not 100% but I think they're 8mm rear 5mm front when new.

Offline chris1200

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 481
  • Bike: 2008 V Strom 650.
  • Location: Bristol
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2018, 08:58:34 »
If you have a couple of spare hours on the tour you could always just get a new one on route and then you're  not throwing away tread. I've'e bought new ones in Spain and Portugal while on tour and there has never been a problem with supply, fitting, or finding a tyre shop. Attempting to work out wear is very hit and miss as all roads aren't the same texture and if you are romping over the mountains it's going to be a lot different to blasting down a motorway. As it is I have just measured my PR5's (a couple of hundred miles on them) and its 4.3 front and 6.4 rear. (That was with a very cheap pair of Chinese verniers). EDIT. It's more like 500 miles now I have had a quick think abut it.

Offline Pug27

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 308
  • Bike: DL1050
  • Location: Thirsk
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2018, 13:34:02 »
Not my words.... seen this on another forum "I just got off the phone with the Tech Manager at Michelin UK and he said the starting tread is 6.7mm"
So looks like 8mm was bum info!

Offline chris1200

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 481
  • Bike: 2008 V Strom 650.
  • Location: Bristol
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2018, 13:54:20 »
Huzzahh! My cheapo Chinese verniers work!

Offline Freddyfruitbat

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 366
  • Bike: BMW R1200RS
  • Location: UK
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #5 on: May 21, 2018, 14:13:34 »
Thank you all!
As it happens I also emailed Michelin as an afterthought, and they've just replied (this is for the Trail type): 6.7mm rear and 4.5mm front.
I appreciate it's very rough and ready, but for me that equates to about 1200 miles per mm on the rear, which corresponds to around 6,000 miles total life; which sadly seems in the right ballpark.
My rear's not going to last another tour anyway, that's for sure!  Might try a 'regular' PR4 next time...
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS

Offline UK_Vstrom650

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 6580
  • Bike: DL650A L2
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2018, 14:17:17 »
I managed to get 11,000 miles from my PR4s before the tread meant they needed replacing. That was a standard rear. They were pretty squared off mind, but still fine to ride esp on the motorways.

Offline old git

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 354
  • Bike: DL1000 L6, BMW R1250RT
  • Location: Aberdeenshire
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2018, 20:16:26 »
I was lucky enough to pick up a spare pair of wheels for my FJR. I got fed up with the hassle of taking part worn tyres off before we go to Europe. Still had to get them changed in Spain last year after leaving with new tyres. Not even 3K on them and well past it  :shrug: :icon_exclaim: The tyres I came back with last year are on the spare wheels and have new Pirelli Angels on the bike ready to go.

Offline Mr Nick

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: May 2012
  • Posts: 3234
  • Certified Fisher Price trained technician
  • Bike: 1979 Suzuki TS185ER, 1979 Moto Guzzi V50, 1989 Moto Guzzi SP3, 2010 KTM 990 Adv
  • Location: Fife
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2018, 21:00:28 »
So looks like 8mm was bum info!

The difference could be what's classed as tread - they may be 6.7mm to the tread wear indicator, and 8mm to the bottom of the deepest ravine...
Seems pearl asbo orange is faster after all....

'Don't believe all the quotes in forum signatures' - Aristotle

'Ehh, good enough' - Mediocretes

Orange Bikes Matter!

Offline Freddyfruitbat

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 366
  • Bike: BMW R1200RS
  • Location: UK
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2018, 23:31:00 »
Actually no; Mr Michelin specifically told me that those were the full depths of the grooves
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS

Offline porter

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 1374
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Northern Ireland
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2018, 17:35:28 »
I've had about 2mm left after only 3500 miles, I might have gone to 5k at a push but was taken out by a nail yesterday.  :angry-banghead:  It was the standard pr4 rear. Mileage is disapointing to me, I got 6k each outa 3 Bridgestone's.  I'll get another rear as my front is like new but next set will be back to adventure style tyres for me.

Offline wurzel

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 2534
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Maldon, Essex
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2018, 18:11:23 »
Make sure it is not the trail version Porter,they wear out fast.

Offline porter

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 1374
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Northern Ireland
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2018, 18:57:09 »
I was going to get the trail next to see how they compare but mr nail has ruined my experiment!  Here you just have to take whatever the tyre shop has, I'll see tomorrow.

Offline wurzel

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 2534
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Maldon, Essex
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2018, 20:59:33 »
The trail ones are probably OK on the 650, but the Veek just eats them in summer.

Offline porter

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 1374
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Northern Ireland
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2018, 16:53:50 »
The fitter said the tyre was fixable so my experiment is back on!  He also said you can't get the pr4's anymore,  once stock is used up, 5's only. I'm off to Scotland in two weeks so that'll finish this tyre off nicely then I'll try the pr5 rear.

Offline vstroman

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 585
  • Bike: DL650A L2
  • Location: UK
Re: Tread depth on new Michelin PR4s
« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2020, 15:54:42 »
I don't see any other option other than the trail version in Road 5 110/80 19, the rear tyre seems to be only available in the 'road' version. maybe not a bad thing.
Still considering the anakee adventure as well.