Mixing Tires

[FelixLeiter]

I have been running a BT010 front and a BT020 rear for last season--the parts guy at the dealership said that I could do this with that line of Bridgestone (same goes for the new BT014 and BT021). Can I do this with any other brand? Specifically, the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT front and Pilot Road 2 Rear?

I do a fair bit of touring every summer (5000-6000 kms) so I want a rear that will hold up--I will run the matched sport rear for urban riding but change to a sport-touring tire for trips. I only want to have to change out the rear tire, otherwise I would just buy 2 complete sets. Plus, the front sport tires always seem to outlast the rear sport tires anyway.

[DGA]

I imagine you would be fine with that combination. Having a stickier front tire than the rear, will insure that your front does not wash out sooner than your rear slips. Just speculation on my part.

[Blindboypig]

I've done that with several sets - Conti Sport Attack in the front with Road Attack rear and Avon Super Viper in the front with Sport Viper in the rear. Excellent handling and decent wear with both. And as DGA posted, ALWAYS sticky in the FRONT. But that Mich combo should work fine.

[13]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tec...cts/index.html
Don't Mix and Match: Never run two tires of differing construction. We can't stress this enough, and this rule applies to bias-plies vs. radials as well as tubeless and tube-type tires--even bias-ply vs. bias-belted tires. The results can be disastrous.

[welshrob]

Originally Posted by 13

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tec...cts/index.html
Don't Mix and Match: Never run two tires of differing construction. We can't stress this enough, and this rule applies to bias-plies vs. radials as well as tubeless and tube-type tires--even bias-ply vs. bias-belted tires. The results can be disastrous.

IMHO, that`s not entirely true. Partly, but not entirely. Many bikers will tell you the results are disatrous. Strangely, not many of them are able to tell you EXACTLY how, why or what will happen if you mix tyres.

I know plenty of road racers who deliberatly mix tyres to IMPROVE the handling of the bike. You need to know what you`re doing though and the results will vary depending on the bike. The general rule of thumb is that if you are mixing 2 different brands, ie a Michelin and a Pirelli, the front tyre must be the same compound or stickier. By far the best my Sprint ever handled was with a Michelin Pilot Power on the front and Bridgestone BT20 on the rear.

Different compound tyres from the same manufacturer with similar tread patterns can usually be mixed OK and then you don`t need to have the stickiest one on the front. One of the best setups I`ve had on the speedy is a standard Power on the front and a Power 2ct on the rear.

Like I said though, you need to know what you`re doing.

[13]

Originally Posted by 13

Never run two tires of differing construction

Thanks! General rule mate.

[Mindonkman]

I have a Mich.Pilot Power front and a Conti Road Attack rear. Works great.

[FelixLeiter]

I'm not looking to mix different brands, and infact will run the same tire front and rear a good portion of the time (ie BT014 front and rear). However, when I sport-tour I don't want to use up and entire tire on a trip (ie the Nelson RAT and back will be a 2500-3000km trip for me). For these trips I was planning on putting a sport-touring tire on the rear. When I put a sport touring on the rear it will be the closest match to the front sport tire (ie BT021 and BT014, or Pilot Road and Pilot Power). I am currently running a BT010 on the front and a BT020 on the rear and have gotten good mileage (8000kms) and the tires aren't quite done yet (fair amount of squaring on the rear but likely a good 2000kms left). They worked well on track days last year---but on the street I find myself "backing in" to some corners and I think that this can be remedied by a stickier rear.

[triple3john]

I've fitted Pilot 2CTs to my Speedy because the 014 wore out on a trip to Scotland.I think they are good enough for road riding,the only issue for me is a slower turn in presumably due to the front tyre profile but I'm learning to adapt and I can push the bike hard enough for my riding style.