Pilot Road 3 cupping

[mrchips]

I'm getting signifacant cupping / Scalloping on the right side of my 5,000 km old PR3 front tyre. Refer attached. The tyre is otherwsie fine. No squaring off or cupping on the left side + the tyre pressure is fastidiously maintained at 36 psi.

243662

I am concerned this cupping will lead to premature demise of an otherwsie, good tyre.

Is any one else having this issue with their PR3's or more importantly, what could be causing this ?

I eagerly await your words of wisdom

[YellowDog]

I have seen something similar on another board, but it was specifically related riding in very high tempertures.

What does the tyre shop say about it?

There must be some kind of warrantee against such a defect?

[Corse1]

Yeah I have seen that other info on PR3 where great chunks of the tyre were falling out in hot temps :shit:

Other than the right side will be the side to wear first on the front given the road camber I would do what yellowdog suggests and get the shop to look at it.

[White trash]

You've done 5000km on a tyre and it's got THAT much tread left? Jesus, I'd be nominating Michelin for a Nobel Peace Prize.

This is a piss take right?

[Kickaha]

There must be some kind of warrantee against such a defect?

That would only apply if it was a manufacturing defect which is unlikely

[Quasievil]

I'm getting signifacant cupping / Scalloping on the right side of my 5,000 km old PR3 front tyre. Refer attached. The tyre is otherwsie fine. No squaring off or cupping on the left side + the tyre pressure is fastidiously maintained at 36 psi.

243662

I am concerned this cupping will lead to premature demise of an otherwsie, good tyre.

Is any one else having this issue with their PR3's or more importantly, what could be causing this ?

I eagerly await your words of wisdom

Is it only on those two spots, or all the way around the tyre ?

[mrchips]

You've done 5000km on a tyre and it's got THAT much tread left? Jesus, I'd be nominating Michelin for a Nobel Peace Prize.

This is a piss take right?

Nup, no piss taker here. You wanna see the PR2 rear ... 13,000 km & still looking shit hot.

It's my commuter bike & does some good milage so the rubber's gotta go the distance. I'm getting similar milage from my SV's PR2's & half of that is with a pillion.

Thanks for the replies, I'll run it into the bike shop & get their opinion.


Quassie, the cupping is for the entire right hand circumference.

[Quasievil]

If it was a poking out type issue it would be a belt or a delamination, but an internal dent in my knowledge could only mean that you have hit something, but in saying that an impact normally offers a delamination scenario.
If nothing like that has occured I would be taking the tyre back to the retailer so they can look at it, after 5000 kms I wouldnt expect a replacement at all, but I think you might get something if you politely offer the situation to the retailer and the importer. Tyre Importers etc need to know of issues like this, they may even be able to offer an explanation to you

[Kickaha]

but in saying that an impact normally offers a delamination scenario.

It also normally only affects the area the impact occurred in

[mrchips]

Yeah, thanks for that Quazie.

Apart from flying plywood the odd tarp & bits of shrapnel blown at me from wellington construction sites, the tyre hasn't hit anything.

Will run it into the shop, they'd welcome the feedback.

[YellowDog]

High Mileage PR3 after riding in 100 degrees of heat.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/5793839687_ff7dfe54d2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5155/5794397648_2e568e6844_z.jpg

[Hitcher]

My first and only foray into Pilot Roads, PR2s, was on my FJR1300. The front had massive cupping on both sides, indeed the first time ever I have worn out a front before a rear. It ended up with a profile a bit like a wiper blade. The rear, however, acquitted itself superbly. And I am a fastidious tyre pressuriser.

[Geeen]

High Mileage PR3 after riding in 100 degrees of heat.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/5793839687_ff7dfe54d2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5155/5794397648_2e568e6844_z.jpg

Wow, that second pic is one stoofed tyre:gob: Is that just the tyre over heating and coming apart or are there other reasons for that to happen?

[boman]

Right hand side of the tyre? I would say reasonably normal wear, due to the camber of our roads. I have seen very similar wear on PP2ct, on the front of my SVThou. Not as bad cupping, but noticable wear. The cupping, could be down to the tread pattern, causing the blocks to "heel and toe.

Just my opinion.

[AllanB]

Does not look too severe in the image. Plenty tread left, bit of cupping. I suspect it is the softer edge rubber getting ripped up a bit - the amount of tread on the PR3 may make it more prone to cupping than a more sport orientated tyre with a lot less tread.
Be interested in what the shop says.

The Michelin Hi Sports that were fitted new to my Hornet had the worst cupping I've ever seen on a front tyre - both were dead before 6,000.

My PR2's have 13,000 on them - rear is almost dead and the front is showing cupping and noticeably worn at the softer edges more than the centre.

I've a set of Pilot Powers in the shed waiting to replace them.

Regarding that Americans claim about his PR3 delamination in high temps - I've read all his thread and personally think he is full of shit.
a. he claims that tyre had 10,000 miles on it (it shows little wear!) unlikely.
b. if indeed your rear tyre did have chunks of rubber come off like he claims why the F would you continue to ride the bike with the same front tyre fitted? Anyone with half a brain would dump it in fear it behaved like the rear.

No sir - something fishy there.:corn:

[TOTO]

High Mileage PR3 after riding in 100 degrees of heat.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5198/5793839687_ff7dfe54d2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5155/5794397648_2e568e6844_z.jpg

have no sufficient information to support my hunch, but I somehow sense a burnout having something related to this image. Also on the first image you see the tyre with plenty of thread in the middle, and the second, the tyre is down past the wear markers. something funny about that.

[paturoa]

I've seen the same on PR2s on a ST1300 and FJ1300 on a recent ride in oz. Both bikes fronts wore quicker than the rears.

So a total guess on my behalf, is that it is how the PRs are made????

[Stylo]

Thanks for the info and , looking for some new rubber soon for the 'Busa ...forewarned is always good . ..:sunny:

[CeeJay]

Oh piss - I've got a set of PR3s waiting to be fitted & now I'm having doubts. Michelin claim better braking performance over the PR2s. Maybe the compounds are softer on the 3s than the 2s?

[sinned]

That tyre doesn't show signs of having been worked hard so why did it fall apart?

[TOTO]

I'm onto my second set of PR3 on the 900 and they've been fantastic.

[manxkiwi]

Just a thought, RT would be qualified to comment. It could just be a suspension issue. If that's not right, the tyre always suffers.

[Blackbird]

I've got PR3's on my Striple but have only done about 600 km on them so it's too early to comment on wear. However, is your PR3 A or B Spec? I understand that the B spec has a heavier carcass construction for litre-plus bikes.

[LBD]

So Apart from the cupping...those here that use the PR3's are happy with them right?

I fitted a PR3 to the rear of the MTS, when I puntured the Scorpion...and I have a front PR3 being fitted now to match although the front scorpion is still fine.

I beleive they are great in the wet and last years Grand Challenge was dry so the odds are....

[Blackbird]

So Apart from the cupping...those here that use the PR3's are happy with them right?

I fitted a PR3 to the rear of the MTS, when I puntured the Scorpion...and I have a front PR3 being fitted now to match although the front scorpion is still fine.

I beleive they are great in the wet and last years Grand Challenge was dry so the odds are....

Very happy so far. I seem to remember rather a lot of rain on the GC last year round Stratford, but admittedly not so bad as some past ones :yes:

[Grant`]

I have a set of PR3's on my predator and honestly I can't fault them, no slips, no slides, never missed a beat for me in the 3000 kilometres since putting them on.

Still look almost brand new as well, if my PR2's were anything to go by I am expecting to get around 15k out of them.

Previous tyres, have always tended to wear more on the right side and I believe mentioned above seems to be the way NZ roads are cambered? but I am no expert.

[Robert Taylor]

I'm getting signifacant cupping / Scalloping on the right side of my 5,000 km old PR3 front tyre. Refer attached. The tyre is otherwsie fine. No squaring off or cupping on the left side + the tyre pressure is fastidiously maintained at 36 psi.

243662

I am concerned this cupping will lead to premature demise of an otherwsie, good tyre.

Is any one else having this issue with their PR3's or more importantly, what could be causing this ?

I eagerly await your words of wisdom

This particular brand / model of tyre may be more sensitive than others to the cupping you describe. In the absence of more complete information the loading on the tyre and the front suspension ( also causing that loading ) is a major cause of that cupping. Spring rates / preload and damping calibration has a major affect on tyre wear.
This should be looked at and to not put too fine a point on it tyre manufacturers often get unfairly blamed for what turns out to be suspension deficiencies

[LBD]

Just spent 4 days Nelson Marlborough in mainly wet conditions...couple of very wet.

PR3's felt good, I felt my confidence building to where I was riding nearly steady dry style in pouring rain....I have always been a nanna in the wet after a few scarys on Tar snakes.

I was getting the traction control to light up on occasions.

Good write up on the PR3 in the latest Rapid Mag from Aus

[Grant`]

Just clocked up 3k's on my set and haven't missed a heartbeat, still awesome tread pattern on them as well, heading to Hampton Downs for 3 days of riding (superbike school and ride day) early October so will report back how they hold up for the track and total k's I have completed by that time.

[Gremlin]

seems to be the latest PR3 thread...

A magic carpet (aka courier) has just delivered a set of PR3 in GSA sizes for Devil and I, this morning, from the USA (they may not be available here in our sizes until next year).

Devil will probably fit his shortly, mine will have to wait, as a, I don't have the bike back yet, and b, the bloody Conti Trail Attacks look like they may last a fair while, even though I don't like their low speed characteristics.

[Devil]

Yup, we'll see how we go. Fitted the Ohlins front shock the other day and have just got that dialled into the correct sag and preferred damping. Rear is still a little firm, hopefully have the PR3's fitted Sat afternoon.

[Shaun]

Yup, we'll see how we go. Fitted the Ohlins front shock the other day and have just got that dialled into the correct sag and preferred damping. Rear is still a little firm, hopefully have the PR3's fitted Sat afternoon.


Im at 742 Beach Rd Browns bay if ya need help setting stuff up mate

[Devil]

Im at 742 Beach Rd Browns bay if ya need help setting stuff up mate

Rear likely needs a spring swap to get recommended sag out of it. As delivered there's no possible way to get to ohlins' recommended settings. Just never got around to getting Mr Taylor to change it.

On that note, why is the paint on Ohlins springs so soft/easy to chip off? The rear one has had a hiding.

[caspernz]

Pilot Road 3 will cup, as will any other 2CT tyre, on a heavy bike. Poor suspension will only exaggerate this trait. Must say, have run Power Pure, Pilot Road 2, now Pilot Road 3. My opinion on PR3 is that I doubt it'll outlast the PR2, but the grip from the PR3 is top notch. Also find that PR3 feels happier with a bit more pressure in it than recommended by bike manufacturer. Oh, and PR3 can handle a bit of playtime on the racetrack too....

[Grant`]

Well i have just cracked 6k on the pr3's (well almost) and that includes 2 days of the superbike school and a couple of sessions at a trackday and the tyres have held up superbly and still have plenty of tread left.

So far extremely impressed with them and would recommend.