I ran the new PP3s at this years TMAC. I had 150 miles on the front tire and 0 miles on the rear when I headed to Franklin on Wednesday morning and I covered 1,309 miles, arriving home Sunday with the front tire looking decent and the rear tire to the leading edge of the side tread wear bars. Switchblade also ran the P3s at TMAC and his results were similar. One thing we have learned is the tire has as much wear left after touching the wear bars as getting to them.
I did not ride my usual style during a lot of TMAC as I usually lead rides while this year I spent as much time in the pack. As a result I spent more time accelerating out of turns and less time diving in with minimal front brake and using the front tire to slow me down which may have been partially responsible for the rear showing signs of wear sooner. When I led rides I carried a slightly slower-than-normal pace most of the time. All-in-all not the perfect test to gauge front tire wear but I stressed the front enough over 1,996 miles in 3 weeks enough to know it is a very durable and very grippy front tire. It still shows plenty of tread over the side wear bars and the center tread is looking good as well.
The rear went a total of 1,836 miles before I changed it and I probably could have stretched it out more in spite of the wear bars about flat on the sides. I believe there is something to Michelin's process of laying the soft compound over the hard compound on this tire as the rear seems to get to a point of visible wear and stay there. Switchblade is well over 2K and his rear tire wear has slowed though I did run a slightly slower pace this weekend so as not to put too much stress on his worn skins.
My only gripe with the PP3s is they have a slightly heavier steering feel than the S20s or the Q2s and they start steering strangely after 1,200 miles or so. Over time my PP3s required increased effort at turn-in and then would fall in for the next bit of lean angle and then go back to needing increased effort to get to (my) max lean angle. Like having three tires in one (not cool). The steering/leaning observations I make are subtle and for most people probably not that big a deal but I spend so much time hurtling though the mountains on a 550+ lb sport-tourer I have become ultra-sensative to tire performance and feedback. I just hate having to make small corrections as I corner.
One reason these tires may have worn strangely is my riding was inconsistent but it is a chicken and egg thing as to why...did the tire cause my inconsistency or did my inconsistency cause the tire wear?
I installed a new set of S20s and have 600 miles on them for a direct comparison. In the same mileage period the Michelins never turned as easily but the PP3s may have slightly more outright grip but only very slightly. The S20s are like magic on my VFR as anyone who has followed me will attest. I easily carry an additional 5 mph corner speed just because I love how direct and smooth and grippy the S20s are. On the street I prefer the S20s but if I had to do a track day I suspect the PP3s would outperform them. At street velocities I just love how perfectly neutral and communicative the S20s are and do not really care for the more remote feel of the PP3s.
One major observation is the VFR began to pogo in fast corners during TMAC and got worse on my sporting ride home and over the next couple of weeks. Zero pogo with the S20s. I suspect the profile of the rear tire was the direct cause of the wallowing but I would need to do more research. For the record I always run 36F/42R and maybe the PP3s needed less. I never took a hot pressure reading to see if either tire needed an adjustment.
My tire testing is incredibly subjective but the one thing I can usually help with is grip and durability and my take is the PP3 is one of the best, if not the best, street/light track tires you can buy on both fronts. My front will go on the Versys in a few weeks, it has that much life left in it, and the feel of the sidewalls is still sponge-like and supple (probably the reason the tire feels so remote). I want to see if the front tire was causing the weird steering and the V will let me know.
I will try the Q3s next and probably go back to the PP3s for a late summer re-test because I believe this test was slightly flawed. My take is the PP3 is a very high quality tire that has a very advanced rubber compound. As long as Michelin can maintain solid quality control (one reason I like newer model Bridgestone tires btw) this tire will impress a lot of people.
KEB