I'M DONE WITH MICHELIN TIRES!

[Burbs]

I've had it with Michelin tires. I can't seem to get more than 6,000 miles out of a set. I'm now less than 4,000 miles on my set of PR3's and the rear is starting to scallop. I RELIGOUSLY check my tire pressures every time I ride and set them at 42 psi. I even started to check pressures while the bike is on it's sidestand, and yet I'm having issues again. I've burned through PR2's and now that I'm burning through this set of PR3's, I'm done with Michelin tires for good!!!

Could this be happening because of too much weight on my bike? I'm about 250 and my wife is 115, tack on a little extra with the topcase and perhaps some light clothing, especially on day trips. Should I go up in size on my rear? Looking at the load requirements, does that number include the bike weight? If that's the case, I'm wondering if I'm over the load limit.

-Chris

[ZG]

I'm now less than 4,000 miles on my set of PR3's and the rear is starting to scallop.

Can you you post up any pics Chris? 

[Burbs]

Can you you post up any pics Chris? 

I'll post them up tonight.

[CigarSki®]

Chris,
 
What milage did you get from the OEM BT-021s?

[Barry]

Could be a combo of weight and riding style.  When you break, how you break, how you turn in, how you roll on/off the throttle.  I'm 185-190 lbs, and I run the same PSI as you.  If you ride "sportingly" 2 up, it could easilly be argued you should be running a higher tire pressure than me.

YMMV....

[CrashGordon]

You can also have tire issues if your suspension is not properly set for the load that you usually carry. I suspect if you're getting the same wear issues at about the same amount of miles on different sets of tires, it isn't the tires. Though, 6000 miles may not be bad if you usually ride 2 up (don't know--almost never ride with a passenger). Cupping or scalloping is usually a sign of something other than just wear and I suspect it is your suspension.

[mikeboileau]

I'm amazed you guys go through tires at that rate.

[Rawman]

I am 6'2", 225 (on a good day!) wife is 120.  We ride quite a bit 2 up, fully loaded, Givi V46 trunk.  I got 12,000 out of the first set of PR2s and I am about 8000 miles into the second set with no issues.  I will easily get 12,000 out of this set.  I hit the dragon twice a year and I am not easy on the rear tire.  I usually have mine set at 40 psi.  I only got a little over 3000 on the OEM set before they were trash.

Maybe it is harsher, grittier roads in your area?

[CigarSki®]

Hmmm...by those numbers, I should get some epic mileage from my PR3s as I got 8500+ miles on the stockers. 
 
Me,200 lbs, the wife, well, she'd likely just kill me if I pulished that number. Givi v46 and a good amount of two up riding.

[Zteve]

Only got 7000 rear and 8000 front out of my last PR2's.  Rear was well into the wear bars in the middle and the front was worn on the left.  I ride mostly one up on two lane blacktops moderately aggressive.  My first set wore a little better.  Just put a set of BT023's on and they feel pretty dam good.  I'm hoping to get PR2 mileage out of them.

[VirginiaJim]

I had at least 10k on my PR2s before I replaced them with PR3s.  I don't have any complaints about them and they are my tire of choice for the foreseeable future.  The PR2s probably had about 2k or more left on them but I was going on a trip (1500 miles) and didn't want to take a chance on them wearing out before I got back.  I like the PR3s better.   They 'feel' better at higher speeds and stick like glue.  Rode them in a deluge a couple of days ago and had no issues to report. 

[stevewfl]

I replace my Michelins at 6-7K miles. Not because the tread is gone, but I prefer fresh sticky tires over hard worn out SOB's

[IRULE]

What about the stock BT?  My rear still good after 9000 miles. But the front was done at 7000.

[stevewfl]

What about the stock BT?  My rear still good after 9000 miles. But the front was done at 7000.

My stockers sucked so bad on my '10 as far as handling that i took them off the bike not long after I bought it.

[VirginiaJim]

What about the stock BT?  My rear still good after 9000 miles. But the front was done at 7000.

You actually did quite well with those.  I got about the same mileage before I replaced them with PR2s.  I didn't have any problems with my stock BT's.  They handled quite well for me but the PR2/3s are better tires for my style of riding.

[cablebandit]

Wow 4000 miles before the scallops appear.  That's pretty good.  Mine seem to appear by the time I get to the end of my driveway after mounting them.    That's with every tire I've had to date on this bike.

This PR3 is about to turn 4000 miles.

[Mister Tee]

I have gotten epic miles out of PR2's when I installed them on my BMW 1200RT.  I actually had a rear last 25,000 miles, and that is not a typo.  I just installed a set on the C14 - OEM tires lasted about 10,000.

[Pokey]

I had at least 10k on my PR2s before I replaced them with PR3s.  I don't have any complaints about them and they are my tire of choice for the foreseeable future.  The PR2s probably had about 2k or more left on them but I was going on a trip (1500 miles) and didn't want to take a chance on them wearing out before I got back.  I like the PR3s better.   They 'feel' better at higher speeds and stick like glue.  Rode them in a deluge a couple of days ago and had no issues to report.

Hey buddy your back.......have a good time?

[Rawman]

Remember, there were 2 different BT-021 stock tires, the '08-'09, then the '10+ which were BT-021'U'.  The 'U' version apparently had more rubber in the tread area to increase mileage.
So anyone that has a '10 or '11 should get more mileage before the strange wear pattern shows up.  I have heard some of the first 2010s got the old BT-021 and not the new BT-021'U'.

[sherob]

Road surface... blacktop, concrete... and surface temperature... will impact tire life along with riding style, load weight, and running PSI.