Mounting new set of Michelin Pilot Roads today...

Here's the rear tire after 13,500 miles. I still have plenty of thread on the sides but, unfortuneatly I've been doing mostly highway miles.
The front tire still looks good..but..if I'm doing them, I'll do both..
Total miles on the bike: 99 ST2
Needless to say, I'm very impressed with these tires. The best I've ever done with other brands has averaged 8k miles.
Michelin Pilot Roads
BTW. The pair was $225 shipped...

That's amazing mileage for a Z rated radial. Hope mine last that long. What do you weigh and what air pressure were you riding on Frt/RR? 1 or 2 up most times? The Frt's showing wear bars so it's on it's way out as well. Great price for 2 Z rated radials!!

75% solo highway. (80 mph) I weigh 200lbs. F-33 R-37 psi.
Michelin A100-8,900 mi. with trackday.
Bridgestone BT020-7,722 mi. with trackday.

Your frt pressure matches mine, but the RR is somewhat lower, I use about 40 psi, and I'm about 15lbs lighter. I ride mostly solo as well but maybe 50/50 highway-town. I guess I can let some air out get and a softer ride, better braking etc. and still expect excellent mileage. Thanks.

40psi is OK...I run 37 when solo or mild weather (I use the 10% rule)..difference between cold and hot pressures should be about 10% difference. I increase it to 40 in hot weather or when riding double and fully loaded!!
Today I put 40 psi in the NEW rear....

The new one!!

I am continually impressed by the mileages you guys in the US get from your tyres. The Pilot Sports that my bike came with were shot at 2K and the Conti Road Attacks that are on now look like being good for 4.5-5K which is about average for me. the best I've had from any tyre, ever, was 5.5K from Macadams. A lot of my mates are far harder on tyres than I am.
Maybe it is the roads over here, lots of twisties and coarse surfaces, or maybe we just ride faster.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Derek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am continually impressed by the mileages you guys in the US get from your tyres. The Pilot Sports that my bike came with were shot at 2K and the Conti Road Attacks that are on now look like being good for 4.5-5K which is about average for me. the best I've had from any tyre, ever, was 5.5K from Macadams. A lot of my mates are far harder on tyres than I am.
Maybe it is the roads over here, lots of twisties and coarse surfaces, or maybe we just ride faster. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The road you ride, and how you ride certainly make big differences in the tire's life, (along with any number of other variables) but, if you're mounting sport tires with rubber compounds for "traction", you're going to get low mileage regardless. Get a touring tire for the best tread/tire life, but don't expect to be hanging off in the twisties, as the tread life of a harder rubber compound costs traction. Look for a *sport touring* tire for your sport touring bike, they do well in both worlds, but not as well as specific touring or sport tires. The Pilot Roads are a ST tire, unlike the Pilot Sport you describe, so one will naturally get better mileage all other things being equal. Personally, I've never gotten more than 6K out of any rear tire, unless a bias ply H rated. To hear that 13+K is dobale from the Roads that came on my ST3 gets my attention, as I haven't lacked for traction yet. That's a dream come true: good mileage *and* good grip, from a more than reasonably priced tire.

Road attacks and Macadams Sport Touring are tyres which is what I usually go for. I have never found them to be lacking in grip for road use no matter how hard they are ridden - seldom get more than 5k though.
To put things in perspective, the original owners of the bike were the the Triumph Motorcycle Company. I reckon they were assessing the ABS for comparison with the Sprint ST which they were developing at the time, evidenced by the fact that there were signs of duct tape on the panels where data-logging equipment had been mounted and the front wore out before the rear. Hence the extremely short life of the original Pilot Sports.

That Road Attacks are ST tires is news to me. I thought they were sport tires I've read/heard different things about them. My mileage experience has been the same as yours, 5-6 K miles on the rear, that's why I'm looking forward to getting more than twice from the Pilot Roads, keeping in mind MMMV. That type of mileage is unheard of in a Z rated radial ST tire.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Derek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Road attacks and Macadams Sport Touring are tyres which is what I usually go for. I have never found them to be lacking in grip for road use no matter how hard they are ridden - seldom get more than 5k though.
To put things in perspective, the original owners of the bike were the the Triumph Motorcycle Company. I reckon they were assessing the ABS for comparison with the Sprint ST which they were developing at the time, evidenced by the fact that there were signs of duct tape on the panels where data-logging equipment had been mounted and the front wore out before the rear. Hence the extremely short life of the original Pilot Sports.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Give the ROADS a try...and maybe UP the air pressure.
I think that if these ROADS had a dual compound design (like their Power Race tire), with a true "touring" (harder compound) center and the standard sides they may just last forever!!
But then, they would sell less tires so, I guess I'm asking too much!!

After further consideration and research, and a few occassions when I've personally felt what I believe were mild rear wheel slides, and after getting some feed back from other ST ryders who confirmed they too felt slides, one stating he experienced two nasty low sides, I'll be replacing my Pilot Roads in the spring with another brand. I'll try lowering the air pressure to 36-38 in the mean time, but I don't want to risk a get off. I appreciate tires are a personal choice, and experiences vary greatly, but I've lost confidence in these tires after feeling them slide. YMMV.