Time for new tires, Michelin Road 5's or Metzeler Roadtec 01's?

[Pat Conlon]

My current Road 4's will be ready in the next few months for replacement.
I can not believe the mileage I've gotten on these tires. Never have I had a set of tires lasting 8,200 miles like these Road 4's.
I could probably get 8,500 miles out of these.
Mind you, my FJ has a RPM 1380cc engine with ~100 ft.lbs of torque, so I had resigned myself to a short life on the back tire.
What I notice with the Road 4's is a very slight wiggle powering out of a third gear corner. Nothing alarming.
You *must* have a gentle hand with this engine. As Kookaloo Frank Moore said..."it suffers no fools..."

Anyhoo.... I'm super impressed with the mileage of the Road 4's.

I have heard several good reports on the Metzeler Roadtec 01 tires. A step up in the handling vs. the Road 4's. What kind of mileage have folks got on these tires?

The Roadtec's were to be my next set....however along comes Michelin with their improved Road 5 tires. It seems that they were aware of the handling on the Road 4's and have stiffened the sidewall and increased the shoulder contact patch on the Road 5's to correct this.
The UK folks at Visor Down give a good review on the Road 5's:
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-product-news/michelin-road-5-full-road-and-track-test

so....how's the mileage on the Roadtec's?  I realize the Road 5's are new, so I doubt anyone has yet to have them.

These modern motorcycle tires are absolutely amazing.....

Cheers   Pat

[giantkiller]

Pat that's the first thing I noticed about the 4s. That they would let go faster than the 3s. So I actually liked the pr3s better. But If they have addressed that. .. maybe I won't get the 01s. I think you should try a set and let us know.

[racerrad8]

Another option is the newer Michelin Power RS.

http://motorcycle.michelin.com.au/motorbike/michelin/desktop/US/en/tires/products/power-rs.html

Mike is on his second set and so far zero complaints.

Mike used to run the Road 4 in the winter (wet) months and the Pilot Power 3 in the summer (dry) months. Well, since the RS ties were installed, there has been no change of compounds for different conditions so far.

Randy - RPM

[red]

Pat,

Are you running on OEM stock 16" rims?

[Country Joe]

Pat,
I currently have a set of Roadtec 01s on my FJ. I have run Avon Azaros and Storms on this 1993 FJ and ran a set of Continental Conti Motions and a set of Metzeler Lasertecs on my previous 1990 FJ. I have never run a set of Michelin motorcycle tires so I have no point of reference for a comparison. The Conti Motions were toast in just a bit over 2,000 miles in the Ozark hills, the Avon's would go about 3,000 miles before they needed replacement. I have just a little over 1,500 miles on the Roadtec 01s, the rear is showing slight wear on the center 1/3rd of the tread, the front has very little discernible wear. I'm expecting to get double the mileage on these tires as I got on the other brands. Lack of grip has not been an issue so far. A faster rider may not be as impressed with them as I have been so far, but as far I'm concerned these are some great tires.
Joe

[oldktmdude]

   G'day Pat, I haven't used the PR5's yet but have been through a set of 01's. They lasted just over 9,000 kms, great grip wet or dry. They did, however, wear flat across the centre 1/3 of the tread very early on. Just after fitting them, I did an unusually flat, i.e. boring ride for about 800kms which wore a lot more from the centre than I expected. I also got good wear from the PR4's, about 9,000kms but had a problem with them pushing in the sharper corners. Great in the wet and not so good in the dry.
I have gone back to using Metzeler Roadtec Z8's, by far the best value tyre I have used. They last almost as long as the 01's, handle just as well and are $100 per set cheaper. Their wet grip is almost as good as the PR4's but the dry grip is far better. They are so good I'm on my 4th set and I have never before used any set of tyres more than once. 
   Regards, Pete.

[FJ1100mjk]

Pat,

Are you running on OEM stock 16" rims?

[Pat Conlon]

Ok, thanks guys...

Dan, now that you mention it...I don't recall having the back squirm with the earlier PR3's.  

Randy and Mike, thanks, what kind of mileage on the Michelin Power RS did you get?

Red, I have the 17" conversion on my '84:  YZF1000 T Ace rear (180/55-17), YZF750 USD front (120/70-17)

Joe, yea, I fully expected a 3,000 mile life out of my back tire. That's why I was pleasantly surprised with the PR-4's

Pete, Ok, thanks for the input on the 01's. 9,000km's (~5,600 miles) is very reasonable. The same mileage out of the Z8's? I'll take a hard look at those and after a cost vs. mile study, I will put them on my list.

Re: Cost vs. miles traveled: I don't change my tires at home. I dismount the wheels and take them down to my local bike shop for mounting and balancing.
It costs me $25 a tire for mount and balance.
This cost vs mile is used for information purposes and is not my sole consideration.

I do not skimp $$ on tires, chains or oil. It's the price of admission to the kookaloo zone.

[FJ1100mjk]

These modern motorcycle tires are absolutely amazing.....

Cheers   Pat

Modern motorcycles with modern tires are even more amazing!

[Pat Conlon]

These modern motorcycle tires are absolutely amazing.....

Cheers   Pat

Modern motorcycles with modern tires are even more amazing!

Reminds me....Hey Marty, it's a cold as a witch's tit in your region....but, when things warm up, how about a bike review on your new FZ-1?
I'm also after Lee Carkenord on a review of his new Suzuki Bandit...

Back to tires...

[racerrad8]

Randy and Mike, thanks, what kind of mileage on the Michelin Power RS did you get?

I'll have to let Mike answer on the miles traveled.

Randy - RPM

[Bill_Rockoff]

I had Roadtec Z8s on mine, and I wore the rear out in 4,500 miles. Z6s last 6,500 or so. The front Z8 still looked like it has plenty of life on it, I still have it in the garage and I may stick it on with another Z8 rear at some point, but I went back to a pair of new Z6s. Fantastic grip on the Z8s and they felt great the whole time, instead of getting hard to turn the way some tires do as they wear. The Z6s have been terrific, and I am making probably half the power of a built FJ motor these days so "too much power" is not an issue. I am using either 160/70 or 170/60, i forget, on a 17x5 YZF600 rim.

True, this tells you nothing directly about the 01s, except that Pete has had 01s and Z8s, and got longer life out of the 01s.

Andrew picked himself up a bumblebee FZ1 last year. I know that all the upgrades we do to the FJs can be done to an FZ1 as well (except the ones it already comes with, like brakes and wider wheels) and I think Andrew's needed tires. But in the first couple hours he rode it on the way up to Boone last spring, he dragged the aftermarket lower fairing on one side and the footpeg on the other side, and I think he can go faster more easily on the FJ.  We'll see if he decides he likes it enough to upgrade suspension on it, or if it gets sold once the 916 is sorted out.

[Pat Conlon]

Ok, thanks Bill. Z8's @ 4,500 miles, but 6,500 miles out of Z6's...I'll look into those.

Randy, thanks, I'm sure Mike will chime in.
The first time I saw a set of PR-4's on a FJ was on Mike's, up at the (wet) Hayfork Rally.
I really appreciated the wet handling on my PR-4's riding back from the South Dakota Rally thru the flatlands of Wyoming with the thunder showers and cross winds.

[FJ1100mjk]

These modern motorcycle tires are absolutely amazing.....

Cheers   Pat

Modern motorcycles with modern tires are even more amazing!

Reminds me....Hey Marty, it's a cold as a witch's tit in your region....but, when things warm up, how about a bike review on your new FZ-1?
I'm also after Lee Carkenord on a review of his new Suzuki Bandit...

Back to tires...

Pat, please, it was a balmy 46F and sunny here today, so it's almost riding weather. My bike is not new, only new to me. Being manufactured in this century qualifies it, from my perspective of past ownership of 1980s FJs, as modern though.

I can provide a preview of a review, after one year ownership of my '02 FZ1 though:

Cons: It's OEM seat sucks (fixed with new Sargent), it looks like shit from the side, it broils the right leg if ambient temp is above 72F, and wind protection and noise sucks. Mushy, marginal, OEM (fixed with stiffer front springs and an $80 S1000RR OEM shock) suspension.

Pros: Upright ergos. Handles, cuts and thrusts far better than previously-owned, aformentioned bikes. The nice weight drop and mass-centralization are very noticeable. Engine spools-up lickity split, provides and ass-kicking hit at 6.5K RPM, and just pulls until the tach hits the red zone.
Easy to work on, and that's something that's not needed much, and if parts are needed, are all still available at your online Yamaha supplier.
Stops and turns as expected of a modern Yamaha bike with its OEM blue dots, stiff aluminum swingarm, and 17 inch wheels shod with good radials.
Nor, any reasons to bring along spare ignition systems and electric fuel pumps, since it is reliable and decades newer. No fear, and looking over my shoulder, when I throw a leg over it, when going on several hundred mile journeys on it.

There are better bikes out there, but I am happy with it. Don't plan on owning it long either. Life's too short, and one never knows what's around the next bend in life.

Back to the marvels of modern tires...

[oldktmdude]

   Pat, when considering the Z8's, there are 2 different spec rear tyres. The "M" spec has normal strength sidewalls and the "O" spec has stiffened sidewalls to cope with heavier bikes, ; touring bikes. I've tried both, about 6,000kms with the M spec and I average about 8,500 kms on the O spec. The M's have slightly better grip when inflated to the same pressure as the O's but dropping the pressure slightly evens things up. Then you have the added advantage of upping the pressures when carrying a heavier load. Not positive but I think the fronts only come in the M spec configuration. The 01's may come in different spec's as well, might be worth looking into.
   Regards, Pete.