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After two sets of PR2s back in May I decided to try the new PR3s. I installed them on 5/14/11.

It's 11k miles later and I wanted to share my experience.
The rear has been replaced, in Santa Fe earlier this month at 10, 664 mles. I was just at the wear bars on the rear and 1300 miles from home. The front still rolls.
I will speak to the wet first.
Both the 2s and the 3s were fine for the wet riding I do. I don't like riding in the rain or wet streets, though on long tours I am often caught in whatever Mother Nature dishes out, so rain, hail, sleet have all been experienced more than I care. And I don't stop. I keep going.
What I am saying is I just don't really push it in the wet, and with that type of riding, I felt equally secure with both the 2s and 3s, so for me the duel between the two in the wet is a draw.

In the dry
When I first put the 3s on I really loved them. They had a soft grippy feel to their ride. They were more comfortable than the twos and maybe a little more responsive, though the 2s were just fine in that regard, but the 3s were better. The 3s kept that soft grippy feel until about 9000-9500 miles when I started thinking that there must be a lot of gravel on the road that I am not seeing because I could feel a bit of a slide in the rear. Also, I was feeling a little loss of traction on tar snakes and this was when the temps were in the 50s and below. I never felt that with the 2s, though did on earlier tires, eg diablo stradas and metzler ME 880s; never felt it on PR1s either.
I had to drop in to Sandia BMW in Santa Fe for a bit of work--thanks guys-- they replaced my rear. They did not have a PR2 in my size so we went with a 3 and with the new tire the "gravel" on the road disappeared and there was no loss of traction on the tar snakes.
I think had they a pr2 in my size I would have gone with that to save a few bucks, and may in the future.
The quality of the PR3 ride was better, but when they started to wear out, their performance diminished far faster than my experience with the PR2s. Also, I got a thousand or so greater mileage out of the 2s riding the same style and same roads.

There was one place where I thought the PR3s shined decidedly though and that was on gravel, especially big gravel. I felt more stable with the 3s than the 2s and the 2s were good.

Since I have a 3 on the rear I will likely put a 3 on the front, but I am not sure for the riding I do whether the premium paid for the PR3s over the 2s is worth it.

John

Would it be safe to assume that the 3's are replacing the 2's, or is Michelin going to keep making both styles?

Rich,

in the long run the PR 3 is going to replace the PR 2. But only Michelin will be able to tell you when. Mind you, even the first generation PR is still available (although I don't know if it is still manufactured or if it is stock sales).

Some tests in a bike publication here show that the PR3 is not much better than the 2 hence you can safely stick to the PR2 if you wish.

Brgds
Oliver

It's the idea of the design of the 3 that appeals vs the 2, not so much the performance, in my experience.

Still, that softer grippy ride has much desirability. To be clear, it is not soft like your living room or the stereotype of a big sedan, but gentler? Maybe related to the softer compound on the sides allowing for maybe more flex? Total speculation on my part.

I will say that I did think about the price premium I would pay for the 3s and their attributes and I thought more than $35-40 per tire just was not worth it over the 2s.

Seems to me you are getting fantastic mileage out of the 3's --- I'd just replace when the ride deteriorated. The last 2 thousand miles when you're getting 9K should not be that big a deal. That little contact patch is life itself. One slippey deal on tar strip would have me getting tires. YMMV

SDMAX wrote:Seems to me you are getting fantastic mileage out of the 3's --- I'd just replace when the ride deteriorated. The last 2 thousand miles when you're getting 9K should not be that big a deal. That little contact patch is life itself. One slippey deal on tar strip would have me getting tires. YMMV

you're right. This is the first time I really noticed the ride deteriorating with a tire. Older and wiser now..

I think people, and certainly I, look for the wear bars to determine when to replace, but your advice is well-taken and spot on.

John

Thank you for your gracious reply. I was worried my comment might be taken in the wrong way. I learned the same way. It's hard to tell when they need replacing, but a little ride deterioration is one way....I'm on PR2's now as the 3's were just coming in when I had to tire up; the Metzlers that were on there from the previous owner started to howl...at that pt I should have replace; as it was all of a sudden I had steel belt coming out of the center of the rear tire...it was the front that was making the noise.

I just did them both.

Just bought a used Ducati Monster 696; tires had at least 2k left; I'm replacing with Pirelli Angels as that's supposed to work best.

For what it's worth; the BMW forums are far more helpful than the comments on the Ducati forums.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

John

Dr. Strangelove wrote:After two sets of PR2s

Thanks for that writeup Dr. S., I appreciate your observations on the handling characteristics between the PR2 & PR3

I replaced my ME880's with PR2's this summer and have found them to be a good choice so far (2000 mi). Handling and turn in is quicker they seem just as predictable and not nearly as stiff as the 880's. I have noticed a difference recently, which might be attributable to temperature (38*) or pressure (39) or hard acceleration or some combination thereof. The thing I am noticing seems like occasional wheel slip going from 2 - 3 under hard acceleration with bike upright on a clean dry surface . Bike is put up for the season now, so we'll see how they behave in the spring.

-mc