Author Topic: What is the most comfortable tire? (Read 34820 times)

tomp · « **Reply #60 on:** February 09, 2015, 06:06:25 PM »

Quote from: rcannon409 on February 09, 2015, 09:43:05 AM

Tire comfort? I knwo one thing I dont care for. The sport tires, soft compound.

I agree there. Had a Dunlop Sportsmax something on a Duke, and it was gone in under 3k miles. Stupid me, replaced it with the same model, and it lasted 1400 miles. Couldn't continue doing that, so I sold the bike. I do miss it though.

kdlongride · « **Reply #61 on:** March 02, 2015, 01:21:30 PM »

I ride cross-county annually. The trip is usually 5500 miles - 7500 miles in 16-20 days. Having owned 4 C14's, I find that the PR-4's (not GT) are the best for me. Riding in rain as much as 60% of my trip, carrying 350 lbs of cargo including myself, I have enjoyed TWICE the mileage with the PR 4's opposed to the other generation Michelin. AND, I push the bike to the limit, at times. Traction is great and comfort is grand. Just my 2 cents

Rhino · « **Reply #62 on:** March 02, 2015, 04:40:36 PM »

Welcome to the forum kdlongride!

maxtog · « **Reply #63 on:** March 02, 2015, 05:04:00 PM »

Quote from: kdlongride on March 02, 2015, 01:21:30 PM

Having owned 4 C14's, I find that the PR-4's (not GT) are the best for me.

But have you tried the PR-4 GT or are you just saying that you have only tried the non GT so far and found that, so far, they are the best for you? (They haven't been out long, so I suspect you haven't tried them yet).

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #64 on:** March 02, 2015, 06:01:53 PM »

These tires look pretty comfy and in all kinds of conditions as well. What's not to like?

http://youtu.be/pStQ1FwxCnE

Is it me or just the premise of the most comfortable tire that just doesn't go with a sport tourer.. I'm not riding a sofa, I'm riding a 'fairly' state of the art sport tourer and I want good grip in dry and wet conditions and not wear out in 3000 miles. The PR line has worked well for me. I have used PR2s and PR3s with very good success. I look forward to using PR4s in the future.

connie14boy · « **Reply #65 on:** March 02, 2015, 11:56:07 PM »

Quote from: kdlongride on March 02, 2015, 01:21:30 PM

I ride cross-county annually. The trip is usually 5500 miles - 7500 miles in 16-20 days. Having owned 4 C14's, I find that the PR-4's (not GT) are the best for me. Riding in rain as much as 60% of my trip, carrying 350 lbs of cargo including myself, I have enjoyed TWICE the mileage with the PR 4's opposed to the other generation Michelin. AND, I push the bike to the limit, at times. Traction is great and comfort is grand. Just my 2 cents

Greetings Mr. Long Ride,
How many miles do you get w/the PR4's compared to PR2's? How many miles do the bikes have before you buy another C-14? I just wonder how you can go thru four bikes already? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks

elp_jc · « **Reply #66 on:** March 03, 2015, 12:18:37 AM »

I'm also looking forward to the PR4s when I'm done with the stockers. I won't get the GTs either, mainly because I always ride solo and mostly without any bags/luggage, and am only 155#, so I'm far from needing the payload of the GT variants. Plus with the harder sidewalls, damage to the wheels is almost inevitable at tire-change time. But if I was riding 2-up constantly, then I'd probably get it.

maxtog · « **Reply #67 on:** March 03, 2015, 12:50:58 AM »

Quote from: elp_jc on March 03, 2015, 12:18:37 AM

I'm also looking forward to the PR4s when I'm done with the stockers. I won't get the GTs either, mainly because I always ride solo and mostly without any bags/luggage, and am only 155#, so I'm far from needing the payload of the GT variants.

The bike is still plenty heavy without adding the few extra hundred pounds of rider/passenger, I expect. The same way that the tires ride correctly with 42psi, even with no passenger and a smaller rider. But, whatever works.... I would be concerned about premature wear.

Quote

Plus with the harder sidewalls, damage to the wheels is almost inevitable at tire-change time.

I have no damage, and nobody has reported any damage thus far.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #68 on:** March 03, 2015, 04:01:19 AM »

I've never had any damage done to the rims from tire changing, but I get it done at a shop down the street from me.

Rhino · « **Reply #69 on:** March 03, 2015, 09:07:09 AM »

I haven't tried the PR4 GT yet. What is the main advantage of the GT over the regular PR4? I know it has a stiffer sidewall but why is that better especially for people like me that almost never ride 2 up?

JoeRau · « **Reply #70 on:** March 03, 2015, 10:00:50 AM »

Quote from: Rhino on March 03, 2015, 09:07:09 AM

I haven't tried the PR4 GT yet. What is the main advantage of the GT over the regular PR4? I know it has a stiffer sidewall but why is that better especially for people like me that almost never ride 2 up?

I figure why not go with the GT. My big carcass on the C14 makes almost 1000 lbs rolling down the road. Then add another 120 when my daughter rides with.
Maybe I would look more at the non GT version if I where a thinner guy and never ride 2 up.

elp_jc · « **Reply #71 on:** March 03, 2015, 11:18:00 AM »

Quote from: maxtog on March 03, 2015, 12:50:58 AM

The bike is still plenty heavy without adding the few extra hundred pounds of rider/passenger, I expect.

The regular tires have a load rating WAY over the total combined weight of bike and light rider man, so overkill for such solo rider, especially if you like cornering hard (better ride and feedback than the GT bricks

). And any harder sidewall tire will always increase wheel damage chances, whether it happens to you or not. I've read plenty of cases. Same thing with runflats on cars, even with 'specialized' shops. Had a puncture on the brand new Corvette, and they beat the crap out of the wheel because they just couldn't get it off without touching the wheel (which is black). Hard sidewall on very low profile tires is never good for tire changes, but of course it could be done without damage with the proper equipment and proper care

.

maxtog · « **Reply #72 on:** March 03, 2015, 03:35:08 PM »

Quote from: Rhino on March 03, 2015, 09:07:09 AM

I haven't tried the PR4 GT yet. What is the main advantage of the GT over the regular PR4? I know it has a stiffer sidewall but why is that better especially for people like me that almost never ride 2 up?

I am probably not the best person to answer the question...

My understanding is that the main advantage is longer tire life. The heavier the bike, the more side-load there is on the tires and this sets up internal friction which starts to wear out the sidewalls. When they start to fail/wear, it will not hold the bike in the correct position or the tread in the correct position for maximum performance/stick and tread life. On the other hand, if the sidewalls are TOO stiff, it can affect ride/traction negatively by also not holding the bike or tread in the best position.

The Concours 14, with no additional luggage and one rider is probably not going to overly stress the non-GT version. But the BMW R1200RT which weighs *100 pounds LESS* than the Concours comes with PR4-GT now from the factory. It is perfectly appropriate for the C14 under probably any normal riding situation to use the PR4-GT. I personally believe that for most people the GT is the better choice, and that is also what I chose for my always-solo C14.

lather · « **Reply #73 on:** March 04, 2015, 06:19:04 AM »

I have mounted about 20 rear tires on my C14 about half of them "GT" tires. They have always gotten better mileage for me than the non GT tires. However I have decided against using them, at least in winter, because they are too difficult to mount. I have in fact scratched the paint on my rims several times using tires irons to mount them.

I have not been able to mount them with my NoMar.

Rhino · « **Reply #74 on:** March 04, 2015, 05:24:14 PM »

Quote from: lather on March 04, 2015, 06:19:04 AM

I have mounted about 20 rear tires on my C14 about half of them "GT" tires. They have always gotten better mileage for me than the non GT tires. However I have decided against using them, at least in winter, because they are too difficult to mount. I have in fact scratched the paint on my rims several times using tires irons to mount them. I have not been able to mount them with my NoMar.

I also use a NoMar and mount my own tires. Good reason to not use the GT tires. But even with the non GT tires, when it's cold out, I bring the new tires and the old tires on the wheels inside over night so that they are at least room temp before trying to change them. In the summer I like to leave them out in the hot sun for awhile.

lather · « **Reply #75 on:** March 04, 2015, 05:34:29 PM »

I tried that with my last T30GT the rim in a heated shed overnight and the new tire slept with me in the bed

Still couldnt mount it with the Nomar in the 45 degree temps. Come summer I might try again in the 90 degree south Louisiana heat. Probably get it done and then die of heat stroke

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #76 on:** March 04, 2015, 05:38:52 PM »

Costs me 20 to get the old one off and the new one on and it gets balanced. Of course I take the wheel to them. What's not to like?

Deziner · « **Reply #77 on:** March 04, 2015, 05:59:39 PM »

+1. I ain't got money to burn but but I am getting too old to bust my

for $20.

gPink · « **Reply #78 on:** March 04, 2015, 06:09:19 PM »

Quote from: lather on March 04, 2015, 05:34:29 PM

I tried that with my last T30GT the rim in a heated shed overnight and the new tire slept with me in the bed Still couldnt mount it with the Nomar in the 45 degree temps. Come summer I might try again in the 90 degree south Louisiana heat. Probably get it done and then die of heat stroke

Did you still respect it in the morning?

tomp · « **Reply #79 on:** March 04, 2015, 08:13:30 PM »

Quote from: gPink on March 04, 2015, 06:09:19 PM

Did you still respect it in the morning?

Damn pink, ya beat me to it. I was wondering if there were pics of him mounting it.... tp

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Author Topic: What is the most comfortable tire? (Read 34820 times)

elp_jc

elp_jc