Not so new tyres.

[Capt Sisko]

When I bought my R1250RT back in '22 they'd just been fitted with a set of Michelin PR4, and jolly good they were, including a run through Scotland on an Iron Butt ride that's since become infamously known as the 'Monsoon of Glencoe without a twitch. When they wore out I put on PR6's and have been happy with the three sets I've had on since.

Back in February I looked at the tyres, thought we've got a couple of months of iffy weather still to come, you're looking a bit worn, it's time to change them. I trawled through the internet, but my local dealer was doing a great offer on a pair of Bridgestone Battlax T31, i.e. what was back in 2017 the then one of the all new all singing & dancing tyre from Bridgestone. Now it's all T33, better grip this, improved mileage that and so on, but the offer for a pair was only £20 more than what the rear PR6 would have cost me on it's own. Sod it I thought and placed my order.

So here we are 1,000 miles later and can I tell the difference, no. Do I ride any differently, no. Do I dread the rain, no (and we've had a lot of that over the last month or so). Do I ride just as before, 100% yes.

Bottom line. We've come to expect constant 'improvements' in tyres (and just about everything else as well) over the last decade and yes, the lastest T33 and other new for '26 tyres probably will last longer and giver better grip than something launched nearly ten years ago, but unless you're a hardened jouralist or constanly ride on the edge I doubt you'll feel the difference. For a boring old fart like me riding big fat old bird like an RT, I'll take the more than enough grip & feel and accept a bit of reduced mileage (we'll see) as a reasonable exchange for approaching half the price of a set of PR6's.

[Steve398]

Thanks for the review…

I thought I’d try the Dunlop Roadsmart 4GT’s for our proposed Greek trip this year. I’ve had several sets of the Michelin 6GT’s since they were introduced, and they a were really good tyre on wear/grip (if a little harsh on occasion), but I just fancied something different this year.

However, an upcoming minor op has obliged the trip to be postponed until September, so the tyres are currently residing in the garage and I’ll get them fitted with a pre-trip service in late August sometime.