Michelin...

[armstrongracer]

Interesting since I remember reading a PR5 launch review and they referenced a certain C Sarron, who was riding his own well used and tatty K1300.  That would have been interesting to see, a man who's ambition (or bravery) often exceeded his talent hustling the mighty K around a test track.

[richtea]

The date on my last tyre invoice is dated 10 May 2017...

I had no concerns with the Road 5s. They were easily as good as the PR4s. They had slightly better feel and slightly quicker turn in and lasted pretty much the same distance. They also lasted longer before starting to white line.

Or maybe take a chance on a pair of Angel GT / GT II - they don't white line, and still stick pretty well in the wet (albeit maybe not quite as well as a wet Mich).

[Phmode]

And so to the thorny problem of prices...

Generally R5's are £50 a pair more than PR4's.

Micheldever, my go to dealer for decades is now 100 miles and 2 hours away.
Wheelhouse, my supposed new go to dealer is 70 miles and 1h 15m away.

Michelin currently have a free fitting deal on pairs on a ride-in ride-out basis. Yippee! Although Micheldever are happy to do it on PR4, Wheelhouse say it doesn't apply.

Micheldever PR4 £230 fitted - not in stock, 1 day notice.
Micheldever R5   Â£265 fitted.

Wheelhouse PR4 £280 fitted.
Wheelhouse R5   Â£300 fitted.

Looks like Wheelhouse are skinning customers and I have a long ride ahead...

[black-k1]

And so to the thorny problem of prices...

Generally R5's are £50 a pair more than PR4's.

Micheldever, my go to dealer for decades is now 100 miles and 2 hours away.
Wheelhouse, my supposed new go to dealer is 70 miles and 1h 15m away.

Michelin currently have a free fitting deal on pairs on a ride-in ride-out basis. Yippee! Although Micheldever are happy to do it on PR4, Wheelhouse say it doesn't apply.

Micheldever PR4 £230 fitted - not in stock, 1 day notice.
Micheldever R5   Â£265 fitted.

Wheelhouse PR4 £280 fitted.
Wheelhouse R5   Â£300 fitted.

Looks like Wheelhouse are skinning customers and I have a long ride ahead...

As ever, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

If it were my money I'd pay the £265 for the Road 5s and, as you know Brian, I had no issues with the PR4's once the pressures were sorted.

[black-k1]

Interesting since I remember reading a PR5 launch review and they referenced a certain C Sarron, who was riding his own well used and tatty K1300.  That would have been interesting to see, a man who's ambition (or bravery) often exceeded his talent hustling the mighty K around a test track.

Another option indeed. Do they really not white line as they get towards end of life? I've never ridden on a tyre that doesn't eventually white line. My experience is that it's just a matter of how far through their life it is before it happens.

[Phmode]

And so to the thorny problem of prices...

Generally R5's are £50 a pair more than PR4's.

Micheldever, my go to dealer for decades is now 100 miles and 2 hours away.
Wheelhouse, my supposed new go to dealer is 70 miles and 1h 15m away.

Michelin currently have a free fitting deal on pairs on a ride-in ride-out basis. Yippee! Although Micheldever are happy to do it on PR4, Wheelhouse say it doesn't apply.

Micheldever PR4 £230 fitted - not in stock, 1 day notice.
Micheldever R5   Â£265 fitted.

Wheelhouse PR4 £280 fitted.
Wheelhouse R5   Â£300 fitted.

Looks like Wheelhouse are skinning customers and I have a long ride ahead...

As ever, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

If it were my money I'd pay the £265 for the Road 5s and, as you know Brian, I had no issues with the PR4's once the pressures were sorted.

And having re-read your original report on the R5's, that is exactly what I am going to do 

[Phmode]

This is daft!

Why would anyone ride 100 miles for tyres in this day and age? I was trying to buy the tyres online but the Micheldever website just wouldn't let me do it.

Then I remembered that the place that fitted the wrong tyres to the car last year, Protyre Gloucester, is only 20 miles down the lovely twisty A417 and they are part of the Micheldever group. I don't remember seeing a bike bay there so I gave them a ring. Turns out there are two sites on Bristol Road and the 'other' one does bikes...

Spoke to the lovely Tammy and she sucked her teeth and whistled softly then swore a little under her breath and finally said she would get the sack if she gave away the Road 5's for £265 fitted.

'But, the man at head office him say...'

I rang the guy back. He couldn't understand the confusion, double-checked his prices, confirmed it and gave Tammy a ring, which used to mean they were engaged, but now I'm not sure.

So, off to Gloucester tomorrow for a set of Road 5's at a silly, all-in, ride-in ride-out price of £265 a pair 

And Wheelhouse can take their pair at £300 fitted and stick em where the sun don't shine. As the guy said when I told him Micheldever's price 'There you go!'

And 'there' I went

So, as the ad used to say, let your fingers do the walking.

[black-k1]

That's actually a bloody good deal. FWR, who I use in South London and who are always competitive, would charge £284.

[richtea]

Agreed - v good price. And plenty of time to test their wet weather abilities before Wales. 

[Matt]

Hurrah! Congratulations on shortly having new tyres Brian!

[Phmode]

As I said, Michelin do have a free fitting deal on bike tyres for ride-in ride-out till the end of the month or the end of the road or some such, so knock £30 off the usual price.

I think Metzeler have a £40 credit card deal which always means you can't remember the pin so lose the 'discount'.

I shall now spend the next few weeks riding between the white lines rather than just adjacent to them. Nerg Nail hates white lines and lurks in the gutters 

[fjtwelve]

Imho pr3 were simply astonishing especially in the wet, pr4s were a step sideways and backwards in the wet, the pr5s are almost as good as the 3s, not the glued to the road sensation, but last longer. The original Angel's were a nice summer tyre but couldnt touch pr3 or 5 in the wet, haven't tried the angel 2s. £265 is good for a pair of tyres whatever make unless you live near m6j6....Think you'll be reasonably satisfied with the pr5s, get em scrubbed in

[Phmode]

get em scrubbed in

Well, you know the bends between Maisemore and mine...

Interestingly, Micheldever are still advertising PR2's, PR3's as well as PR4's. Didn't check in what sizes and an ad. doesn't mean they available 

[Phmode]

Wow, that new front Road 5 is great...

[chriscanning]

Facinating thread, my approach over the years is buy e'm when their the right price and not when you need e'm ,but as Wheel House said  'There you go'