Pilot Road Review

Pilot Road review

Ya, I know, tires again. Hell, if we did not have tires and oil threads there would be nut�n to talk about, see�n as nobody bothers to change their VFR oil or adjust their valves anymore. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/tongue.gif)

Summary
Ya want a mileage tire, this may be the tire for you. Ya want a sport tire, this ain�t the tire for you�.. I know, nut�n new with that statement (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif)

My needs
I commute day in day out on my VFR, it is not just my weekend fun machine. I also tour on the bike and run back to Colorado a couple times a year. In other words, I can�t afford a 4K mile tire on my beast.

My ride�n style
I corner fast but don�t brake hard into corners or wick it up come�n out. I like smooth and steady so in some ways I�m easy on tires. I love to see how much entry speed I can carry into a corner and how smooth I can come out. I don�t stay up with the big boys and girls anymore; but, get�n my tires scrubbed to the edges only takes a few miles with each new set.

Her's a pic of the pilot road after 8,200 miles. It had just worn flat, I hit the wear bars about 500 miles ago. About 4K was commuting on two lane very twisty mountain roads and about 4K was blown�n across Nevada/Utah/Colorado fully loaded with hard bags and gear at extended runs of 85 -100 mph ( a few bursts to 130mph+) in 90-100 degree heat for hours at a time. (Side note, 46-48 MPG the entire trip. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/cool.gif) )

(IMG:http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/95214085-M.jpg)

Comments
I could live with another set if the front was better. The front is very vague and unplanted feel�n and will slide without warning when pushed hard. It must be kept at max pressure or it gets even worse due to an apparently very soft side wall that lets it feel like mush in corners when ya drop pressure. The soft side wall does make for a smooth ride but in corners it is not fun.

Wet?
I rode at least 1,000-2,000 miles in rain for we had a nasty wet spring in California. I never had any problem with traction.

Warm up?
They warm up quick and I had none of the slide�n rear in the first few miles like I did with the 020�s.

Would I buy another set?
yes/no. For a cross country tour�n, of course. For my daily commute, no, or sort of no. I elected to go with a Road rear and a Power front to see if I can get the best of both worlds, mileage and cornering.

Who are these tires for?
Folks that tour, who want/need high mileage, folks that don�t push the front real hard

Point of reference
My 020's were toast by 5700

My theory.
Try them all; they don�t last long enough to fret over. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/beer.gif)

Thanks for the update. For those of us that have yet to buy a set, the more opinions the better!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Good review.

My rear looked worse when I took it off at 5,500 miles, probably half freeway, half sporty. No track. I don't brake real hard, but I do put the spurs to it on the way out. The front had maybe a little less than half tread, so I just changed the rear (before selling the bike). I think the Power front/Road rear combo would work well, and they'd probably go about the same distance. The tread pattern wouldn't match, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)

I didn't have any real problem with the front, the only times I've had it push noticeably is if I hit a little sand or something. Even then, the rear would ususally step out first. No real cupping problems up front.

I typically hang off a bit, but keep my knees in. I had little to no chicken strip in the back, maybe 1/4" CS in the front. I'm not as concerned with ultimate grip as long as the tire gives you plenty of warning, and behaves predictably.

I liked that they didn't seem to need any scrubbing in, and worked pretty well in the cold and wet. Definitely not a true sport tire, but given the weight of the bike and intended use, the Pilot Road seems to be a pretty good match.

I'm not an agressive rider, but my Pilot roads have given me NO surprises in 8000 miles / 13000 km, including some wet riding. I use 40 f / 46 r psi. It helps them to wear more evenly. BTW, I went to a 190 tire on the rear of my '01 with no change that I could feel. Overall, I wouldn't be surprised if they last twice that.

In regards to the power front/road rear combo, it looks like the front is going to wear out before the rear. That's no good! I have no major issues with the Road compound but the profile sucks compared to other options. As the tire wears more in the center, it seems less and less willing to lean over. I have another 2,500 miles left on this one but can't wait to get it off. The Power front is another story and I may try the set eventually.

Hoopster, Sep 14 2006, 07:40 PM As the tire wears more in the center, it seems less and less willing to lean over.

That is one hell of an understatement. The last 1,000 miles or so I almost have to walk out and jump up and down on the grip to make the bike change direction (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

rad, Sep 14 2006, 04:53 PM
Pilot Road review


Comments
I could live with another set if the front was better. The front is very vague and unplanted feel�n and will slide without warning when pushed hard. It must be kept at max pressure or it gets even worse due to an apparently very soft side wall that lets it feel like mush in corners when ya drop pressure. The soft side wall does make for a smooth ride but in corners it is not fun.

Glad you said that also, a few guys here did not believe me when I said that it was responsible for my low side in the Dragons Tail a few weeks back, the tire just gave up mid corner, I was leaned really hard, and moving at a pretty good clip, never touched the brakes and didnt change my line, the tire is just not sticky enough IMO for hard mountain riding. But it is great for touring and commuting with mild to medium corner carving. I love them for there mileage, I have just had to slow down in the twisty stuff, which is safer anyway.

Hoopster, Sep 14 2006, 08:40 PM
In regards to the power front/road rear combo, it looks like the front is going to wear out before the rear. That's no good! I have no major issues with the Road compound but the profile sucks compared to other options. As the tire wears more in the center, it seems less and less willing to lean over. I have another 2,500 miles left on this one but can't wait to get it off. The Power front is another story and I may try the set eventually.

(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/+1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/+1.gif)

The profile is way too flat, but thats the idea for a high mileage tire, gotta spread that load out over a larger contact patch in order to save rubber.

I have been very happy with the Pilot Roads on my 97. I am not sure how many miles the previous owner put on them but, I have put 3000 on them since I bought the bike and they show little signs of wear. Yes they are not the best handling tire but, when you do 300-400 miles a week in commuting duty tires can get prohibitively expensive (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)

I am still trying to aquire a spare rear wheel for my plan of having a set of wheels/tires for commuting (Pilot Roads) and another set of wheels/tires for play (Pilot Powers). I was seeing rear 4th gen rims all the time when I didn't need one, now that I do it is like they are all hiding from me (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif)

HEy,
I am trying the Pilot Roads since shedding my Dunlops. It seems that these tires are a lot louder than the softer Dunlops I was using.
Anyone else notice this??
Thanks

We just lost a rider on another board that used these tires. Please do not flog these tires unless you are careful. Oddly enough, he was just posting the other week about an imprompto front tire slide that he saved. He wasn't so lucky this time. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/sad.gif)
I prefer Pilot Powers for flogging. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)

I had a set of PRs on my '02. I liked them well enough. far better then the OEM Z4's but that doesn't take much. I never had a problem with them slipping on me and I got 9k out of the rear.

there wasn't enough tread in the front for another rear so I swapped them for a set of Avon 45/46 STs. I prefer the Avons for feel. I've got 4k in the Avons and I don't think i'm going to get 9k out of them. I'll happily trade a little mileage for a much better feeling tire!

I expect to get 6-7k out of the rear on the Avons and the front is hardly showing any wear!