New for 2014, the Michelin Pilot Road 4 is a heavily updated sport touring tyre from the French manufacturer which aims to deliver an increase in durability and a big improvement in wet grip over the very popular Pilot Road 3.
Using unique X-Sipe technology, with a newly chamfered edge the Pilot Road 4 is designed to evacuate water from around the contact patch more effectively than ever before, whilst also addressing the wear and steering issues some riders experienced with the previous tyre.
In thei September 2014 issue, Sport Rider Magazine gave the tyre the big ‘thumbs up’ saying that Michelin have succeeded in terms of addressing these issues. Having put over 2000 miles on a Ninja 1000 they said that “the Road 4 enabled the Ninja 1000 to steer quicker than it did with the stock rubber, and wear rates were better than expected. Despite the surplus of tread and sipes, there’s very little squirm when hard on the brakes or loading the rear tyre with the throttle. The new compound on the shoulder provides a great deal of feedback too.”
The new Michelin comes in three different versions:
- Standard
- GT
- Trail
The Sport Rider team also had the chance to test the GT version, which utilises a 2AT (Dual Angle Technology) design which offers riders the rigidity of a bias ply tyre, with the sporty performance of a radial. Prior to the BMW R1200 RT being returned for a mandatory recall, they had ample opportunity to test the tyres wet weather claims and stated it “worked exceptionally well in wet conditions and offered ample amounts of grip.”
The team did feel that in warmer conditions (over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, that’s anything above 32.5°C to you and me, so no danger of that in the UK then!) the tyre felt a bit “greasy” but that it really wasn’t a major issue and was probably down to the new 100% silica compound.
A real all-rounder for sport tourers!
