Mix match tires?

[animalrooster41]

Hey, I bought this bike used and the previous owner had dual sport Dunlop d616f tires on it. Well, I wore out the back already and purchased a Avon storm st. Anyone see a problem with mixing these tires till the front is wore out?

 

[Mcgyver74]

Here we go, another tyah thread

I'm sure that everyone will offer their .002, but my belief is that you should not mix tread patterns, I see it as sort of like wearing 2 different brand sneakers at the same time, doesn't prevent you from walking but over time you'd be hurting....

Again that's just my opinion

 

[FJR Flyer]

My FJ currently sports a 616 on the front with an Azzarro on the back. Previously had a D205 on the back. No issues at all. Other than I'm not really fond of the 616 in general, but it does do well in the wet.

 

[Bugnatr]

Are they black and round? No sweat, it will work.

I've mixed tires on 3 different bikes with no problems.

 

[FJRBluesman]

As long as they are like tires, i.e. radials you should be technically OK IMHO. That being said the tires are designed to be used in sets. Many people on this forum mix and match tires, they get better wear or grip out of a certain tire, or they feel the handling is better with certain mixed tires. The bike may handle differently depending on how the bike goes into a turn, for example; the front may fall in easier then the rear, thus not working in concert with each other.

Another issue you may want to think about is when you do need the new tire, the old one is now... well, old. Again handling maybe sacrificed.

Tire purists and tire manufactures may tell you never mix them. Others will say it doesn't really matter.

I personally like my tires to match; however, in a pinch, I have had mixed tires even on the FeeJ. I bought it with Avon's then I needed to replace the rear they only had a B021. Then I stuck on a front Dunlop Roadsmart, then I finally got a set PR2's.

Good luck.

 

[HotRodZilla]

My FJ currently sports a 616 on the front with an Azzarro on the back. Previously had a D205 on the back. No issues at all. Other than I'm not really fond of the 616 in general, but it does do well in the wet.

Not to hijack, but why don't you like the 616? They are not really presented as a dual-sport tire, but as a performance tire. I have been told by a couple of people that they have good wear and stick really well. Both those guys ride Buell Ulysses, and one of them takes corners like his ass is on fire. I was really thinking of trying a set on my FJR one of these days, so I'm just wondering.

Back on Topic: IMHO, black and round is black and round. Some fronts are designed to push water out of the path for the rear since the matching rear doesn't have a path for water to escape, but other than that, I have never seen any issues.

 

[Fred W]

On many sport touring tires the front and rear tread patterns aren't all that similar.

Avon Azaro

Bridgestone BT-020

Bridgestone BT-021

They have radically different functions on the bike and so are not the same.

Now, theoretically, some engineer certified that the two tires that they sell with a particular model name will work well together. They'd also like you to replace them in sets so they can sell more tires.

The conventional wisdom is that you will be OK as long as your front tire is at least as sticky as the rear. You don't want to push into a corner and have the front letting loose. For the vast majority of us this will never be a problem.

[edit] looking at the Bridgestone tire pics above it almost looks like the BT-021 front belongs with the BT-020 rear...

 

[Richouse]

Im running a metz sporttec on the front and a mich Pilot Road 2 on the rear both seem to stick well and have no problems. I plan to buy a pr2 for the front when its worn out though...

 

[FJR Flyer]

My FJ currently sports a 616 on the front with an Azzarro on the back. Previously had a D205 on the back. No issues at all. Other than I'm not really fond of the 616 in general, but it does do well in the wet.

Not to hijack, but why don't you like the 616? They are not really presented as a dual-sport tire, but as a performance tire. I have been told by a couple of people that they have good wear and stick really well. Both those guys ride Buell Ulysses, and one of them takes corners like his ass is on fire. I was really thinking of trying a set on my FJR one of these days, so I'm just wondering.

I believe the 616 was developed specifically for the Ulysses. Its got a pretty aggressive tread pattern and feels rougher than the 205s I usually had on the FJ. Its wearing really well, and, as I said, sticks well in the wet. Just not as inspiring to me in the tight stuff.

Another answer to the original question, a friend with a FJ1100 had to swap his rear tire in a pinch, with the only option for the old 16" rear rim being a bias tire with "Harley" on the sidewall. He was running a radial on the front. Didn't slow him down at all and he reports its wearing like iron. He was hoping to smoke it fast as he had new tires at home ready to go. He did get a ration of crap from everyone for the "harley" tire.

 

[johnny80s]

I don't think you are going to find a consensus for this topic. Do what you think is right.

 

[wfooshee]

If you can run a car tire on it, then two different bike tires is gonna be OK. Just don't mix front and rear!

 

[Fred W]

I don't think you are going to find a consensus for this topic. Do what you think is right.

Let me float out a statement that we may be able to get consensus on:

There is no proven, valid reason to NOT mix tire brands or different models of the same brand on a Motorcycle, as long as they are reasonably similar in performance.

 

[FJReady]

I'm with Fred. I've been running a RoadSmart front, Azaro rear for about 1000 miles now. No ill effects.