Long range touring tire that would work for 2002 RT?

[4jbaker]

I don’t really get a chance to ride sport, primarily ride touring back and forth to work 40+ miles round trip.
I ride in Ohio and I’m looking for a tire that will last a long time, 15000 plus?
I’ve read a couple forums and folks talk about the Michelin Pilot Road and ME 880 Marathon Touring. But these just last about 10000 depending on riding surface and riding style, assuming all other things equal.
Does anyone know of a touring tire that would work for 2002 RT?
No, I’m not willing to change bikes for tires sake. Just wanted to see if anyone else with a similar riding style has found a long range tire.

[bimrluvr]

I would say 10k is a bit above the average from what I recall of previous threads on this subject...of course it all depends on your riding style. Still, Ohio roads probably aren't the smoothest in the world so 10k really is not bad at all.
My experience with the Metzler Z6 has been quite good, but not better than what you're getting.
Hope that helps.

[boxermania]

4jbaker

15K plus, I don't see that from a motorcycle tire based on your desired service The only way to attain that mileage is if you go over to the "dark side" (use of an automovile tire) which I don't recomend. Some Valkerie and large scooter owners (Burgman 650) have gone that route.......

[chibbert]

4jbaker - No offense but I, too, think you are hoping for too many miles. I'd be ecstatic to get 10,000 as I usually get around 8,000. Even if you could find a tire that would make it 15,000 miles I think it would be harder than a celebate at a cheerleading convention and wouldn't grip at all.

P.S. I'm roughly about 30 miles east of you near Newark.

[wncbmw]

Without the colorful analogy, I agree with Chibbert. I would not trust the traction (wet or dry) of any tire that could get 15K, although I have never even heard of anyone getting that sort of mileage.

I would be overjoyed to get 8,000 miles. I usually average 6-7K out of a tire.

[CycleRob]

A high mileage tire like the ME-880 does last a l-o-n-g time. If that attribute is the most important thing and you never throw it that fast into sharp corners, it'll be among the best of the choices for you.

I usually get 9 to just over 10 thousand miles out of a rear tire because I prefer to take the longer, slower, sometimes cooler state roads in my shopping trips, rather than the much quicker 65/70 MPH speed limit Interstates I-985 and I-85. I think you'll find the combo of lower tire pressures and 70+ MPH cruising eats rear tires. Another big thing for me, after some 44 years of riding, is that full throttle take-offs are "infrequent". Going fast in the corners and enjoying being one with the machine is what makes me smile.

[jcridge]

I too commute year round, 75 mile round trip, 50% back road, 50% slab. I had the ME 880 on my K and got 10K miles on the rear. I tend to push the limit riding on good days, and have to say I like the 880. I have never mounted an 880 on my R . I'm looking at the Road Pilot II for my next set, I just went through one rear Road Pilot I and that lasted about 8K with no complaints, I carry full side cases and two up at times on the weekends. The Road Pilots have been great in the rain and stick to the corners as well as one could expect. 8K miles from a great tire is fine by me. Besides, if you time it right, you will have new skins in the fall when riding becomes an obsession.

John

[marsdog]

I've got 11400 miles on my current pair of Michelin Pilot Road 2's, and they still showing plenty of wear left above the wear bars. This is my second set, and I'll probably get these again. Though I've been itching to try Continental Road Attacks.

[Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales]

I put Continental Road Attacks on my Rockster and loved them, BUT they only managed 4000 miles of very careful riding. I changed to Pilot Road 2 and have 7000 on them at the moment with plenty of tread remaining. I think others on the Board have commented on the poor mileage of the Road Atacks.

Rog

[gunga din]

Either I have developed a really poor riding style, or our roads down under are extremely brutal on tyres. My rear Michelin PR2 tyre lasted less than 4k miles.

I just cannot get my head around the mileage mentioned on this thread.

Am i envious, you bet. Is there any others out there that churn through rubber as this rate?

cheers

gunga

[WorkinMan]

I installed a set of Pilot Road 2's about 3000 miles ago and they have yet to show any signs of wearing. I'm sure they have, but they sure don't look like it. I also rode the Blue Ridge Parkway last month for about 250 miles in a downpour and they stuck like glue. I was impressed. I'll be picking up another 1150R in a week or so and I intend to install Pilots on it also.

Chris

[pebmr]

My 04 R came to me with 8900 miles and I'm now at 23000 with the same Metzler Z6 tires. I assume they were near new when I took ownership. So they have gone at least 14,000 miles. The rear is down to the wear bars and the front is past, so they are now beyond my comfort zone and need changing. I have a new set of PR2's waiting to be installed, but the procrastinating installer has never done this before. It seems like a good winter project but I cannot wait that long. I would use the Metzlers again.

[boxermania]

pebmr

Your mileage experience is unheard off, as the Z6"s are one of the favorite replacement tires in this forum and is touted as a "high performance tire". If memory doesn't fail me, users have reported Z6 life anywhere from 4K to close to 8 K miles in R1150R use.

You are either blessed, have a miracle set of Z6's, the tires are pumped to 100 psi or your roads are smooth as glass......just a bit of levity..............

[Gordium7]

Not such a miracle.

My Z6's have 10K miles... but they are getting replaced next week.

The groove on my front tire is about as shallow as a politician's character, and the rear is noticeably squared off. No longer consider them "all-weather" tires. Of course I avoid rain on general principle and thats easy to do here.

70% commuting with a 50/50 mix of high and low speeds. 30% sporting enjoyment of Colorado moutains.


Just another data point.

[marsdog]

Not such a miracle.

My Z6's have 10K miles... but they are getting replaced next week.

The groove on my front tire is about as shallow as a politician's character, and the rear is noticeably squared off. No longer consider them "all-weather" tires. Of course I avoid rain on general principle and thats easy to do here.

70% commuting with a 50/50 mix of high and low speeds. 30% sporting enjoyment of Colorado moutains.


Just another data point.

Be careful on those. I had a pair of z6's that went about that long, had what seemed sufficient tread, but we're somewhat squared off. My rear hit a strip of invisible diesel leaning in hairpin and I went for a nice slide. In retrospect, I think if they were not so squared, I would have stayed upright. I went to the Pilot Road 2's immediately after and have felt much more confident, as I mostly commute as well, and need long wearing tires.

[pebmr]

My miles are primarily commuting on good paved roads (75 miles roundtrip), far too few loaded trips and pretty rare 2 up riding. My family and I are also on the low end of the weight curve, so even if MLW and I ride together we're less than 250 lbs. Only on gravel once for about 30 miles which was about 25 too much-deep windrows not much fun. I'm a pretty tame rider and never scraped in the twisties-yet. As I said, they should have been replaced already, especially the front, but I was still pretty comfortable with them 2-3K ago. Now they cause me to think tread depth through curves and I avoid the rain. I would use them again and with similar conditions would expect to get 10-12K. I did choose the PR2 because of the additional sipe through the center of the rear tire-I thought the z6's were bald on the back tire when I first got my bike.

[marsdog]

That slick down the middle of the z6 drives me crazy. I realize now there is a wear indicator on them, but I feel if that were more obvious, I wouldn't have pushed them that far. FYI, yes I slid in a hairpin, but it's part of my morning commute, and at the time I was in a line of cars and big rigs not exceeding 20 mph, moving extremely conservatively. One minute I'm starting a gentle lean, then suddenly, I'm at one with the asphalt. The diesel slick was completely invisible and I made no technical error, so i feel a newer tire may have prevented it.

[TicTac50]

I've got 11400 miles on my current pair of Michelin Pilot Road 2's, and they still showing plenty of wear left above the wear bars. This is my second set, and I'll probably get these again. Though I've been itching to try .

I am with marsdog on Michelin tires. Don't know about Continental Road Attacks.
For many years I used Avon tires. Traction on the wet road was mediocre but I was getting good mileage out of them.
Few years ago I switched to Michelin Pilot Road 2. I still have them on my old 2002 with about 16k on them.
They do look good and still have some miles left on them.
On my 2004 bike I had Metzler tires, installed by the previous owner. I was too cheap to install new tires and took my bike on 2.5k trip.
Sure enough, I was out of the rear tire half way of my trip. I was happy to get a new Michelin Pilot Road 2 at the Rally in Huntsville.
1k trip back home plus 10K round trip to Redmond, Canada and back home. Now I have about 11k on those tires.
Out of those 11k at least 2k my bike was overloaded by about 150 pounds above recommended maximum capacity.
Tires still look good and I am confided to ride in the rain.
I just got a set of Michelin PR2 tires for my son's F650CS. The only thing that bother me is that the front tire is made in Thailand and rear was made is Spain. For my R1150 the rear was made in Thailand and front was made in Spain. I don't know the difference, but somehow tires made in Spain look better to me. and it has nothing to do with the Spanish girls on the South Beach.
Your question was "Does anyone know of a touring tire that would work for 2002 RT?"
Speaking from my experience with the tires like "AVON", "METZLER" or MACADEM, I would go with the "MICHELIN PILOT ROAD 2"
Good Luck.

[RDGRNR]

Happy with the grip of the Road Attacks but need new tires after 5,000 miles of regular riding (solo). Based on recommendations here, i am eager to try on the Pilot Road 2's.

[marsdog]

Speaking from my experience with the tires like "AVON", "METZLER" or MACADEM, I would go with the "MICHELIN PILOT ROAD 2"
Good Luck.

I'm up to about 12,400 miles on my PR2s, and I was thinking of replacing them next month just to be safe (based on my experience with the Metzelers noted above), but frankly, they still look like they're good for a least a couple more thousand.