Mixing tyres

[Ryder]

Hi,

My bike is due for a new rear tyre, and I wanted to replace the BT56 that is on there with a 020 or pilot power. Don't really want to over tyre the thing, but I'm using all of the tread on the right and all but 1 mm on the left - and seeing as it's more of a touringish tyre I'm kinda thinking it might not be such a great idea to push my luck on it too much.
The front is a BT56 as well, it's still good for a few thousand yet, but some people are telling me it's a really bad idea to mix tyre types especially with such different rubber front and rear. What they haven't been able to tell me it WHY.

Did a search, couldn't find anything, was wondering if anyone could offer some advice/insight into the life of a tyre. Would it be a false economy to keep the front for a bit longer?

[flori]

i know one reason why (there are problably more):
if your new rear tyre has more grip than your old front tyre you will, when cornering, start to loose grip on the front first. this is much more diffucult to handle than it is the other way round and might lead to a crash.

cheers

Originally posted by Ryder@Apr 19 2005, 02:30 PM
Hi,

My bike is due for a new rear tyre, and I wanted to replace the BT56 that is on there with a 020 or pilot power. Don't really want to over tyre the thing, but I'm using all of the tread on the right and all but 1 mm on the left - and seeing as it's more of a touringish tyre I'm kinda thinking it might not be such a great idea to push my luck on it too much.
The front is a BT56 as well, it's still good for a few thousand yet, but some people are telling me it's a really bad idea to mix tyre types especially with such different rubber front and rear. What they haven't been able to tell me it WHY.

Did a search, couldn't find anything, was wondering if anyone could offer some advice/insight into the life of a tyre. Would it be a false economy to keep the front for a bit longer?

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[wombat39]

Howdy

You don't say what sort of bike you're using so here my humble opinion after 10 years on the same bike with a variety of tyres and mixes thereof.

Started off with a 'sports' front and a 'sport touring' rear. I kept this for ages in the belief that I'd rather have the front stick better but wanted the milage out of the rear. Problems here were that the two different profiles ment different wear patterns and subsequent 'funny' handling when tyres were brand new. After about 1000km or so when the tyres had worn a tad and the prifiles had sort of worn to the same, it was ok. However I could never use all the available tyre on the front yet had virtually no 'chicken stripe's on the rear.

After about 5 years I found that tyre technology has progressed to the point that even the 'sport touring' fronts provide way more grip than I really need. Since then I have tried a variety of matched sets and combonations before settling on the current.

My bike (1994 VFR750) does tend to cup and scallop the front so after throwing away several tyres do to outlandish wear patterns I have finally settled on the Michelin road front. The asymetrical tread pattern helps to reduce cupping and the grip is good.

For the rear I tried the Michelin road rear (with the before mentioned front) but will never go back - I've never had so many unexplained slips and slides than on this tyre. Never - prob my riding style but me thinks it is just too hard a compound.

I'm currently using the 020 on the rear. I have tried 020 front and rear but did not like the front at all, followed cracks in the road and cupped just as badly as the D207 I had tried before it.

So a long winded answer to your question but here is my summary.

The pilot power is a 'sports' tyre while the 020 is a 'sports touring' tyre so make up your mind which one you want. Michelins 'sports touring' tyre is the road which I would not recomend to anyone (my humble opinion here remember!!)

You can mix and match tyres.

People do it all the time.

Just because they are made from the same company doesn't mean a 014 / 020 combo ('sports' tyre with a 'sport touring' tyre = different profile, compounds and structure of the carcass) is any more 'dangerous' than a Michy road / Bridgy 020 combo.

In fact I would go so far as to say that the combination of two road tyres from different manufacturers is far better than a combination than a sports tyre / road tyre from the same manufacture as the road tyres are going to have a more similar profile / compound.

If you play boy racer then stick to matched sets regardless, you need to understand where i am comming from in owning a 10 year old sport touring bike!!

However, apart from one long straight, I was sort of able to keep up with two GSXR750's recently with a pillion on the back... (yep I know they were taking it easy thanks Stuart )

Keep the front a tad longer and see how you feel. If you don't like the feel then change the front. I'm betting that after 300km you won't know the difference. Just don't forget to get rid of the mould release off the new tyre!!!!

For more info ring Bike Tyre City on 9443 2122 or Peter at Tyres for Bikes on 9362 6262 or PM me if you like to know more.

Greg

[Bulbous]

i don't think it matters too mauch, but what you may want to look for is a tyre that has the same profile as the front, so that the front is not nice and round, while the rear is more triangular in profile, then the rear will want to tip right in while the front is more happy taking it's time on the way over. my girlfriend went the other way on her fireblade and had a 020 for the front and a BT56 for the rear to help with the wear life, and i or she never had a problem with them being different compounds..... i think mainly cause the profile of both tyres was the same or very close......

[rgvlee]

Originally posted by Bulbous@Apr 19 2005, 02:15 PM
i don't think it matters too mauch, but what you may want to look for is a tyre that has the same profile as the front, so that the front is not nice and round, while the rear is more triangular in profile, then the rear will want to tip right in while the front is more happy taking it's time on the way over. my girlfriend went the other way on her fireblade and had a 020 for the front and a BT56 for the rear to help with the wear life, and i or she never had a problem with them being different compounds..... i think mainly cause the profile of both tyres was the same or very close......

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That's because the front tyre was always pointing skyward

j/k

[Ryder]

Ok thanks for the advice people

Ended up getting a pilot sport for $250 fitted. Will see how it goes once it's scrubbed in, i'll tell you if I crash it

I don't think they are making the BT56's anymore. When I said thats what was on atm the guy said 'gee thats an old one'

[PrestigeCBR]

Rule of thumb is match front and rear.

But if your a steady rider, it don't matter much.

[wombat39]

Originally posted by PrestigeCBR@Apr 19 2005, 06:05 PM

But if your a steady rider, it don't matter much.

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Define steady.....