77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
86/100
76 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Michelin Pilot Road 2 vs Michelin Road 5 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
84/100
24 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Road 5 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Michelin Pilot Road 2 if dry matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Pilot Road 2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Road 2 | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Road 2 | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 87 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Road 2 | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 89 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Road 5 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Road 2 | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Road 2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Pilot Road 2 | Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Road 2 | Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 85 |
| Dry | 94 | 88 |
| Wet | 66 | 87 |
| Comfort | 82 | 89 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 83 |
| Handling | 81 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Tire A
85
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin Pilot Road 2 is widely regarded as a benchmark sport-touring motorcycle tire, celebrated for its exceptional balance of longevity, wet-weather confidence, and dry-road grip. While some users note that newer iterations have surpassed it in absolute performance, it remains a highly favored choice for commuters and spirited riders who prioritize durability and all-weather reliability.
Pros
- Excellent tread life and resistance to squaring off
- Strong wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Quick warm-up time and predictable handling
- High value-for-money ratio compared to newer sport-touring models
Cons
- Not suitable for track-day use due to overheating
- Can feel unstable or 'squirmy' in extremely hot climates
- Front tire can become noisy on rough road surfaces
- Susceptibility to punctures in certain road conditions
Observations
- Users on heavy sport-touring bikes (e.g., Hayabusa, Bandit 1200) report high satisfaction with the tire's ability to handle high-speed commuting without rapid wear.
- Riders of V-twin motorcycles noted that the tire provides good feedback, though some experienced rear-end movement under aggressive acceleration.
The Michelin Road 5 is widely regarded as a benchmark sport-touring tire, praised for its exceptional wet-weather performance and impressive longevity. While most riders report high confidence in both dry and wet conditions, a significant subset of users has expressed frustration regarding the tire's susceptibility to punctures, which some attribute to its soft carcass and siping design.
Pros
- Class-leading wet weather grip and rider confidence
- Excellent tread life and durability for touring applications
- Dual-compound construction provides a balance of stability and cornering grip
- Strong performance across diverse riding styles, including occasional track use
Cons
- High susceptibility to punctures from road debris
- Soft carcass construction can be prone to structural damage from impacts
- Some users report a lack of feedback compared to dedicated sport tires
- Premium price point compared to competitors
Observations
- Users on torquey middleweight bikes (e.g., 650cc-765cc) report excellent traction and longevity, even under aggressive riding.
- Heavier sport-touring machines (e.g., K1300R, VFR800) benefit from the tire's stability, though some note unique wear patterns on the front tire compared to the rear.
- Commuters on poor-quality tarmac report high mileage but note that the tire's grip can be tested by extreme road surface conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Michelin Pilot Road 2 | B · Michelin Road 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Motorcycle | Motorcycle |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Michelin
85
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Road 5 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Michelin Pilot Road 2 if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Road 5 scores 87 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Road 5 scores 83 vs 74 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Road 5 scores 89 vs 82 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Road 2 scores 94 vs 88 on dry.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Road 2
Tire B · Michelin Road 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Michelin Pilot Road 2 also compared with
Michelin Road 5 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.