Got a pair of Michelin Road 5 and an MOT put on her. This is the first bike I've kept long enough to have new tyres put on, felt quite twitchy on the way home to the point where I was shitting it a little. Thinking it may be a combination of a new tyre profile vs worn and needing scrubbing in; I've never scrubbed in new tyres on a bike before, read a few differing things about scrubbing in new tyres, some say it's temperature related and a motorway run will sort, others are more like gradually increasing lean angles and so on which might be a bit difficult without pre planning a route and timing. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Never even knew they had made a newer version of the PR4, which i can only describe as the best tyre i've ever had on any bike. (PR3 front & PR4 rear)
The real test was when i got blasted with sudden heavy snow on the way home from work, and the snow was quickly settling but on the main roads was loads of wet slush so i was just waiting for the tyres to slide whilst just pushing on to get home but they literally didn't at all, i was simply astonished at how well they stayed gripped to the floor.
So after just reading reviews on how they've improved the PR4 for wet AND dry conditions seems quite remarkable to me.
As you say, if you're not used to new tyres then they can feel a tiny bit unnerving straight off the shelf, firstly because like you say they'll need scrubbing in for a while because of the shiny surface left when they are moulded. Just take things easy for the first 100 miles so the tyres can take that shine away with road dirt, and then after that period you can then start chucking the bike about a bit.
Secondly though whenever bike tyres are new their profile is obviously much more rounded and taller, so your steering will feel much lighter and the bike will fall into corners easier as the tread contact will be a tiny bit less than you're used to feeling.
Obviously with new tyres you need to be extra careful in wet weather, even more so after a long dry spell, where rain will suddenly raise oil and fuel from the roads, before it eventually gets washed away.
Doubt it will take too long with these new tyres you have though, as i think once you're used to them and get to trust them, like i have done now with my ones, you will find yourself not worrying about conditions so much and you'll naturally push the bike a little more when cornering due to the confident feedback.
On the plus side too with the Road 5's is that they also do a 110 size front tyre, which the PR4 did not for some odd reason, hence why a few of us have to use the PR3 & PR4 combination, although in fairness it's a brilliant combo for me anyway.