Michelin Road 6

[The Doctor 46]

I've put a few miles on the Pilot Road 6 tyres now and like them. They are very confidence inspiring and I have scrubbed them in right down to the Michelin man on the sides of the tyre already. The tyre can take anything I can throw at it on a dry road but I have't had chance to ride them in rain yet, it hasn't rained.

In honesty, the first generation Pilot road was the same on a much bigger bike years ago. I guess I should have fitted  cheaper tyres, Pilot 5's maybe but then, as I said "I haven't used them in the wet yet" and I don't know how many miles they will last.

Overall I am very happy with them. Oh, I claimed £30 cash back as per their offer and it's in my bank. 

[pichulec]

My last set of pilot Trail 5 lasted 12K rear and 20k front. I have anakee adventure now but looks like I will try Pilot 6 Trail next.

[rikpward]

The mileage in a tyre is subject to many variables, but assuming they are always inflated correctly, the key reason is not riding style so much, but how many of those miles do you do in the cold and wet? Riding in the cold and wet will prolong the mileage due to the effect of the tyre temperature.

[Youngman]

The mileage in a tyre is subject to many variables, but assuming they are always inflated correctly, the key reason is not riding style so much, but how many of those miles do you do in the cold and wet? Riding in the cold and wet will prolong the mileage due to the effect of the tyre temperature.

... as well as the horsepower of the engine when it comes to wearing out the back tyre maybe?

[Oop North John]

Scotland isn't the driest, or warmest place, and I tend to get no-where near the claimed miles others do. But they do resurface most of the roads every few years by spreading tar and then throwing loads of chuckies on them, which probably increases the grippiness of the roads and reduces the miles achieved from the tyre.

[martind]

Out of interest would different versions of the Michelin Road front and rear be a massive "no no"?

I.e. I have 4's on the front and rear, but if the rear needs replacing can I swap it with a 5 and leave the front as is?

 

[The Doctor 46]

I would say yes, definitely. Before I changed my tyres it had a miss match of tyres. The garage where I bought it had put a new rear on but when it came to changing the front I realised the miss match but (I can't remember which tyres were fitted) could not buy a matching tyre in the correct size for the front so I bought what the garage recommended. They miss matched but worked perfectly.

Years ago I bought a Kawasaki ZX10 with miss matching tyres. They worked very well but the front lasted half as long as the rear. It was very soft and sticky. Even with all that power to the rear it still lasted twice as long.

Anyway, my tyres do match now. The pilot 6 is first class in the dry. I went out yesterday as it started to snow a little, to try them in the wet but the snow stopped after only making the road damp. They still performed perfectly but I have still got to try them in proper rain, sometime this week probably.

Back to your question. Make sure both tyres are speed rated correct for your bike and the correct size then go easy until you are confident with them and the new one is worn in then.... Go for it. 

[porter]

I ran a 4 trail front and rear and when the rear was done I fitted a 5, then two sets of 5's and now I'm going to fit a pilot road 2 rear as the 5's give crap mileage.
I don't worry about mixing tyres much, my mate raced for years with a Pirelli front and a Dunlop rear and even turned the tyres the wrong way for practice sessions to save money. And at 6 times Irish superbike champ he wasn't slow like me!

[UK_Vstrom650]

I was told same brands are fine. When I went to change one to a different brand, the shop said they'd contact the tyre rep to check it was OK (it was)

[This was a previous bike, not Strom]

[The Doctor 46]

Porter, would that be Jonathan Rea you are talking about? Brilliant rider. I could beat him on my 650 Strom though. 

[The Doctor 46]

Oh! I forgot to mention, I road my Pilot 6's in the rain (and hailstone) today. They felt good and gave me so much confidence that I'm sure I'll crash tomorrow. 

[porter]

No not JR, he's a bit to good and to young!
Good to hear the new 6's are up to the job, the  Michelin road range is a tyre I really like it's just the road 5 has given me poor mileage, about 1000 miles less than a 3 or 4 lasted.

[Nelson]

Interesting stuff. I'm on my third set of Bridgestone A40's bought as a pair from M&P for £109 delivered. (now around £123 I think per pair) Change around 7500 miles but the rear will go to 10,000. These are four years old when delivered, but haven't had any problem and I use them up pretty rapidly. I did try the new (then) A41 a while ago and noticed a slight improvement over the A40, but this could easily have been imagined. Wet performance great, but then I haven't tried any other brand or type in many years. I'm reluctant to change when a tyre is so cheap and gives me all the grip and life I need. I'm 11 stone and ride like the throttle's glued shut, but I'm happy.

[Brooksy75]

I had the road 5 trails fitted to the Veek at the weekend, never tried Michelin before always had Bridgestone but hope they last longer than the 4k quoted on here.
I did notice a slight rubbing sound coming from the front wheel on the way home, sounds like it rubbing the mudguard as anyone else ever had this?

[bazza950]

Agreed,  it's all spin in order to justify a new model tyre.

I sell pilot 6's , the take up is slower than slow due to the cost, they are, in my opinion, too expensive.

As a new 650 owner the front Bridgestone  is a bit low compared to the back so I would like to fit a road pilot -have loved them on other bikes .But can I put a front on ONLY as the rear bridgestone is like new?

There's no doubt as to how good they are but are they (for big tourers and sports bikes) good enough at nearly £400

We talk to our rep often and he bullshits like a politician but as we are Michelin dealers we are encouraged to sell them.

For info , there's a fitting campaign which refunds the customer up to £30 running right now .

[The Doctor 46]

 Brooksy75. I would expect the person who fitted it to have noticed if it was touching and refused to leave it like that even if you wanted him to. Have a good look at the tyre, if it's touching you should see marks on it.

A work mate of mine fitted his own rear tyre. It was too wide and the drive chain was cutting into it. He left it like that?   

[TarkMalbot]

Agreed,  it's all spin in order to justify a new model tyre.

I sell pilot 6's , the take up is slower than slow due to the cost, they are, in my opinion, too expensive.

There's no doubt as to how good they are but are they (for big tourers and sports bikes) good enough at nearly £400

We talk to our rep often and he bullshits like a politician but as we are Michelin dealers we are encouraged to sell them.

For info , there's a fitting campaign which refunds the customer up to £30 running right now .

As I have never tried the 6's and am still on the original Trail Hawks or whatever they are called I am sure I will find the Michelin Road 5 good enough.  Hopefully save a few quid.  Can you still get hold of the 2, 3 and 4?  Hmm.   

[kwackboy]

You can Still get the 4s , the 3s are discontinued although someone out there may have old stock and the 2s , I don't remember Michelin making a 110/80/19 front for the strom .

[AdvntureSi]

Well, it seems a lot of tyres are out of stock, but found a supplier that has the road 6 in, does anyone have some miles on them now to know how they last??
Will be going on my newly acquired 1000....
Cheers

[timangus]

Done 5k so far on mine, two up from Azerbaijan and they seem to be wearing well.