New Michelin tyre - Pilot Road 3

First topic message reminder :

Better wet grip and superior wear...mmm


http://motorcycle.michelin.com.au/twproduct/findProduct/moreProduct/313

madmax wrote:What would you normally expect to pay for a shop to fit a tyre for you if you were supplying the tyre yourself?

Reason I ask is I want to find out if its worth buying tyres myself (a pair of PR3s is just over $400 delivered from AU) and get a dealer to fit them or just buy them from a dealer.
I'm going to ask my dealer tomorrow, but would like to know something before going in completely blind.

About the same as Rolls - savings and fitment costs. I take the wheels/tyres in.....$20, or if I take the bike in its $25.

Had a few bad experiences with ride in ride out, so I just take the wheels in now.

ThatOtherGuy wrote:Mick at MCBT suggested 38PSI F&R as a starting point. He said he's been getting good reports from PR3 users with those settings for both longevity and handling. I had 38psi in them Sunday and couldn't fault them at all. Also have PR2s on the GS500 and cannot fault them, part of the reason I decided to go PR3s on the Bandit.

Might try that out over our weekend ride. I have usually ran my roadbikes at the same pressures F&R Am currently at 38/40. Not much diff I guess.

I have a PR3 on the front. Very happy with it. While I can't tell the difference in the dry between the PR3 and PR2, in the wet the PR3 certainly feels more confident.

Thanks for the feed back guys.
I rang my dealer today, a 180/55/17 PR3 for the rear cost through them is $295 fitted
Fitting and balancing if I supply the tyre is $50

However I can get both front and rear replaced for $400 fitted (cheaper than buying them online)
The service manager told me Michelin are doing deals on full sets to discourage people from buying online

So even though my front still has 25% or more tread left in it, it is worth changing them together for that price

I checked Canberra Motorcycle Centre today as I'll be coming up for replacements shortly. They wouldn't do a set of PR3's for less than $520 but they would do a set of PR2's for $430 fitted.

Ewok1958 wrote:I checked Canberra Motorcycle Centre today as I'll be coming up for replacements shortly. They wouldn't do a set of PR3's for less than $520 but they would do a set of PR2's for $430 fitted.

They definitely quoted me on PR3s. The price came down when I challenged them on the ebay prices

Maybe you need to come down here for your tyres

I am tempted.

Maybe you could ring Dahlitz, Dave. They do Michelin as well, and I'm sure Greg will do a better price than CMC with or witout Michelin specials.

Ta Rolls. I'll give Greg a ring tomorrow or pop over for a visit - I only have the farm truck at my disposal at the moment (the Bandit is at the farm - a few stumps need removing ).

I've got the reciept here that came with my bike , font 120/70-17 and rear 190/50-17 michelin pr3's supplied and fitted $399 that was at team moto Honda springwood which is in brisbane , I rode to work in the pouring rain on friday and I rode with confidence even on a new bike because of the reviews I have read on the PR3's

madmax wrote:Thanks for the feed back guys.
I rang my dealer today, a 180/55/17 PR3 for the rear cost through them is $295 fitted
Fitting and balancing if I supply the tyre is $50

However I can get both front and rear replaced for $400 fitted (cheaper than buying them online)
The service manager told me Michelin are doing deals on full sets to discourage people from buying online

So even though my front still has 25% or more tread left in it, it is worth changing them together for that price

MM - could you please provide the name of the dealer (PM me if you like) - I reckon I'm in for a set of PR3's as I can't get them at anything like that price around here.

Check these guys out
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/explosiveracing2009/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

Ewok1958 wrote:

madmax wrote:Thanks for the feed back guys.
I rang my dealer today, a 180/55/17 PR3 for the rear cost through them is $295 fitted
Fitting and balancing if I supply the tyre is $50

However I can get both front and rear replaced for $400 fitted (cheaper than buying them online)
The service manager told me Michelin are doing deals on full sets to discourage people from buying online

So even though my front still has 25% or more tread left in it, it is worth changing them together for that price

MM - could you please provide the name of the dealer (PM me if you like) - I reckon I'm in for a set of PR3's as I can't get them at anything like that price around here.

Bryners in Seaford

http://www.byrnerssuzuki.com.au/

Kaupy1962 wrote:Check these guys out
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/explosiveracing2009/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

They are good prices if you are capable of fitting & balancing them yourself

Thanks mate - I'll give them a call tomorrow.

madmax wrote:
Bryners in Seaford

[url=http://www.byrnerssuzuki.com.au/

http://www.byrnerssuzuki.com.au/[/quote[/url]]

Booked in for Wednesday. Yep, $400 = a pair of PR3's fitted. Service manager (Craig) seems a decent bloke.

Ewok1958 wrote:

madmax wrote:
Bryners in Seaford

[url=http://www.byrnerssuzuki.com.au/

http://www.byrnerssuzuki.com.au/[/quote[/url]]

Booked in for Wednesday. Yep, $400 = a pair of PR3's fitted. Service manager (Craig) seems a decent bloke.

I'm in for Wednesday as well, and yes Craig is a decent bloke.

Might see you there.

Well after a 750km run over the weekend I am pleased to report that the PR3s are everything that you would want in a tyre. Good feel with the road. Sureness on all surfaces, dry, wet, gravel. Michies have certainly done a good job.

Had a tyre emergency two days ago and managed to get my bike to the niearest bike shop... Sydney City motorcycles at Lane Cove in Sydney. Now most people who know them know they arent known for affordable parts or servicing, but I had little choice so I sheepishly went in and asked how much for some PR3s.

After looking them up for about 10 minutes (which seemed odd to me as they stock them) they came back with $300 rear fitted, or $500 pair fitted. I took the pair without any negotiation, as my bike was sitting there on its steel belts going nowhere.

Given that they are about the most expensive place in town, I'd be challenging anyone who says they cant do it for $450 or less fitted.

Must have missed each other MM. But I do love the feel of a set of new hoops - it almost went around the first roundabout without any input. Have now done 600 odd kms so theyu are scrubbed in.

Ewok1958 wrote:Must have missed each other MM. But I do love the feel of a set of new hoops - it almost went around the first roundabout without any input. Have now done 600 odd kms so theyu are scrubbed in.

I saw your bike there when I dropped mine off, and you were long gone when I got back there to pick it up.

I've only ridden to work last night, only 54ks but I think I'm going to like them.

Also I got them to install 90º valve stems to make it easier to fit my tyre inflator.

17 months now on the PR3 front, and 14 months on the rear. 15511 kms on front to date and starting to wear on right hand side due to road camber (had a 1500 km return trip recently at indecently fast touring speeds). Probably only a few thousand clicks left on the front. Rear has 13,155 kms to date and whilst it has developed a flat section due to recent upright mileage there is still plenty of meat on it. Tipping in is now a little less fun as the Bandit transitions between the flattened sextion and the edges of the tyre. Oh, and I usually have wear way closer to the edges than most other bikes I see parked around the place - chicken strips in the vicinity of 5mm.

Would I buy them again???

Probably not - the front is very noisy, and whilst they grip pretty well they offer limited feedback at recommended tyre pressures. Seem to take forever to warm up and give decent feedback. The wet weather grip is fine, but no feedback when they are cold and then suddenly you are sliding. Controlled two wheels drifts are possible in the wet, but on a 250+kg bike, I'd rather it didn't come to that on a regular basis........Hit a patch of wet courtesy of a local dickhead cocky on the Paris Creek Road (Adelaide Hills) and full on slid through the downhill left-hander onto the opposite side of the road. Thank christ no cars coming.

Gonna try the Metzelers next, having decided the Pirellis I had on before the Michelins were hopeless - worse grip on the pre-Angel Pirellis than on my Laverda RGS which has skinnier cross-ply Pirelli Sport Demons....go figure.

Update to previous post - got to bike Thursday arvo and rear dead flat.

Rode 800 or so metres to Peter Stevens Adelaide workshop where Cameron and Phil ma aged to squeeze me in for a replacement - a repair was not considered worthwhile given age and wear on tyre.

Choice of Dunlop (have them on my Guzzi 1100 Sport) or PR3s or Bridgestone BT23 but no Metzelers so decided to try the Bridgestone.

16kms to home so no chance to evaulate properly yet........but already a very different feel to the worn Michelin........

Rabid_Canine wrote:........but already a very different feel to the worn Michelin........

In what way ?

Rabid_Canine wrote:Update to previous post - got to bike Thursday arvo and rear dead flat.

Rode 800 or so metres to Peter Stevens Adelaide workshop where Cameron and Phil ma aged to squeeze me in for a replacement - a repair was not considered worthwhile given age and wear on tyre.

Choice of Dunlop (have them on my Guzzi 1100 Sport) or PR3s or Bridgestone BT23 but no Metzelers so decided to try the Bridgestone.

16kms to home so no chance to evaulate properly yet........but already a very different feel to the worn Michelin........

Hope you do not do a lot of wet weather riding, I had the BT021 on my 1250FA when I got it, and really disliked those tyres, so much so that I replaced them with PR3's at the 6,000km service, and I think the PR3's are significantly better.