Do I need a B rated tire?

[Steve Kolenda]

Looking to buy a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 3s for my 2011 R1200RT and wondering if I need a B rated tire for the rear?

[AZRTRDR]

Only if you want to use the bike's gvwr.

 

It is higher, GVWR, than most other bikes that use this size tire.

BMW has to use them to safely meet the weight that is listed.

[Firefight911]

Only if you want to use the bike's gvwr.

 

It is higher, GVWR, than most other bikes that use this size tire.

BMW has to use them to safely meet the weight that is listed.

 

Not true. The B rated tires have the same load carrying capability as the non B rated tires.

 

You do not need them. They are a preference item and are designed to provide a different handling characteristic to the bike with them versus with the non B tires.

 

I have personally spoken with Michelin concerning these tires quite some time ago. They are not needed. They are a personal preference item based on the handling characteristic you are looking for.

 

Different bike but my research put THIS on my "heavy" bike.

[XTrooper]

Only if you want to use the bike's gvwr.

 

It is higher, GVWR, than most other bikes that use this size tire.

BMW has to use them to safely meet the weight that is listed.

 

Not true. The B rated tires have the same load carrying capability as the non B rated tires.

 

You do not need them. They are a preference item and are designed to provide a different handling characteristic to the bike with them versus with the non B tires.

 

I have personally spoken with Michelin concerning these tires quite some time ago. They are not needed. They are a personal preference item based on the handling characteristic you are looking for.

 

Different bike but my research put THIS on my "heavy" bike.

 

Just to clarify, this may be true for the Michelin Pilot 3, but it's not so for every rear tire from every manufacturer made for the RT.

 

From other tires and brands, often the "B" tire IS the recommended tire (not personal preference), it does have a higher weight rating, and it has an extra ply in the sidewall and, in some cases, an additional ply below the tread, as well. The Pirelli Angel ST tires which I'm currently running on my RT are an example of this. Since my wife and I do a lot of touring, I opted for the Angel ST "E" reinforced rear tire as recommended by Pirelli.

 

In any case, if you ride a lot loaded with luggage and/or with a passenger, I would spend the little extra money for the "B" tire because this is what it is designed for. Its stiffer construction will help to control the temperature of the tire which in turn will help to minimize wear while touring with a heavily-loaded bike.

 

If you tour with a heavily-loaded bike, the choice becomes paying a little extra up front for the "B" tire or having to replace the standard tire sooner.

 

Oh, and I totally agree with you 1bmwfan, the Z6 tires suck big time! I hated them from the first mile to the last.

[Guest Kakugo]

Having just had one fitted, I can say it will only be worthwhile if you do lots of miles with a pillion and/or tons of luggage. Construction has one extra ply in both sidewalls and thread to cope with higher weight and it's alleged the compound in the middle is slightly harder (though I am not 100% on this rumor).

I bought it just because they had it in stock and was exactly the same price as the regular PR3.

Right now I am not 100% over these tyres but so I was when I first fitted PR2's and ended up buying four sets one after another.

I really hope this is the case because if there's one thing that really makes me mad is having to throw away a perfectly good tyre because I cannot adapt to it.

[tallman]

You're right, different bikes and different results.

On the GT I love the Z 6's.

The only time I had wear issues was when we put the regular rear tire on.

All the other times I used the (C or B or whatever) and had plenty of rear tread after 7,500-10,000 miles.

That one time, using the regular one I had cord appear at 7,000 miles.

Don't know why but my experience over a bunch of sets of those tires showed a difference in longevity.

YMMV.

Best wishes.

[Firefight911]

From other tires and brands, often the "B" tire IS the recommended tire (not personal preference), it does have a higher weight rating, and it has an extra ply in the sidewall and, in some cases, an additional ply below the tread, as well. The Pirelli Angel ST tires which I'm currently running on my RT are an example of this. Since my wife and I do a lot of touring, I opted for the Angel ST "E" reinforced rear tire as recommended by Pirelli.

 

Direct from Pirelli - The Angel ST and the Angel ST "E" have the SAME weight rating. This would be a 73W.

 

LINKY

 

The "E" tire provides a different handling characteristic. I stand by my comments. Yes, there are recommendations just as there are OEM fitment tires. An OEM fitment tire, for example, is a tire that the manufacturer of the bike dictated to/ asked of the tire manufacturer so as to provide a specific handling characteristic they were looking for on the bike. Yes, sometimes this employs extra plies, different profiles, etc. but, I have not yet found one tire in this that carries a different weight rating.

[Pup.]

I run Continental Road Attacks, "C" rated.

[XTrooper]

From other tires and brands, often the "B" tire IS the recommended tire (not personal preference), it does have a higher weight rating, and it has an extra ply in the sidewall and, in some cases, an additional ply below the tread, as well. The Pirelli Angel ST tires which I'm currently running on my RT are an example of this. Since my wife and I do a lot of touring, I opted for the Angel ST "E" reinforced rear tire as recommended by Pirelli.

 

Direct from Pirelli - The Angel ST and the Angel ST "E" have the SAME weight rating. This would be a 73W.

 

LINKY

 

The "E" tire provides a different handling characteristic. I stand by my comments. Yes, there are recommendations just as there are OEM fitment tires. An OEM fitment tire, for example, is a tire that the manufacturer of the bike dictated to/ asked of the tire manufacturer so as to provide a specific handling characteristic they were looking for on the bike. Yes, sometimes this employs extra plies, different profiles, etc. but, I have not yet found one tire in this that carries a different weight rating.

 

Ok, so they have the same weight rating. They also have an extra ply in the sidewall and handle that weight better. They don't manufacture these reinforced tires just for the hell of it, you know. They exist for a reason.

 

I stand by my statement, as well, i.e., if you tour with a heavily-loaded bike and/or 2-up a lot, you should use those tires specifically designed for this kind of riding.

[markgoodrich]

Only if you want to use the bike's gvwr.

 

It is higher, GVWR, than most other bikes that use this size tire.

BMW has to use them to safely meet the weight that is listed.

 

Not true. The B rated tires have the same load carrying capability as the non B rated tires.

 

You do not need them. They are a preference item and are designed to provide a different handling characteristic to the bike with them versus with the non B tires.

 

I have personally spoken with Michelin concerning these tires quite some time ago. They are not needed. They are a personal preference item based on the handling characteristic you are looking for.

 

Different bike but my research put THIS on my "heavy" bike.

 

Phil, your link to your post seems to in part contradict your own statements in this thread: the B tire provides stability when fully loaded. I suppose that can be viewed as a personal preference.... I use the B tire because Suzanne and all our gear are on the bike a lot of the time.

 

I mean no offense...but I'd be interested in your response.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark