Mixing tire brands

[TWILKIN650]

I'm about half way through the stock 'Stone front tire, and plan to replace the stock 'Stone rear with an Avon AV46 ST. Shouldn't be a problem, right? Avons front and back after the 'Stone front bites the dust, however.

 

[donaldb]

UR battlax front did not cup? Mine is far from wearing out, but the cupping is a problem and I have watched to pressure like a hawk. I read some where that cupping has more to do w/tread patterns that w/pressure. I do not know if that is true, but what I do know is my stock battlax is cupped w/plenty of wear left. When rear goes, I'll replace the front because of the cup situation.

 

[madmike2]

At some point you'l find the front 020 will cup badly. IIRC, mine started around 5K and by 6K I could feel it in the handlebars when cornering, and since I'm already half-way-'round-the-bend, I figured that would drive me all the way, so I changed both.

Others have run mixtures and report no undue problems. Assuming you are not a super aggressive rider, you should be okay, with one caveat: The Avons have a vastly different profile than the 'Stones. If you notice some "wonky" handling, change the front mui pronto!

If your riding style is more to the "touring" pace, you might not notice any difference.

 

[odot]

Wonky?.....oh, christ....here we go again.

 

[TWILKIN650]

donaldb, no cupping or significant wear so far which is why I'm toying with trying to stretch the front a little longer. And yeah, madmike2, I'm more on the touring side, which is why the center of the rear tire wore out so soon. I just KNOW, that when I put the new Avon on the rear, the front 'Stone will die....... such is life. I will be on the alert for "wonky" handling. :lol:

 

[Warpdrv]

I have an Idea about why the Stone is cupping, I think that with any car you get the same problem with poor suspension, I think the factory springs on this bike are far to soft for the machine, and therefore it would bounce dramatically, which is why I got the Wilburs Upgrade....

Any car with struts or shocks that are junk will ruin a tire with the same cupping pattern...

 

[FJR Gary]

Hi all. New member. Just traded my 2002 Bandit 1200 on an '06 1300A (#372).

When I was running BT-020s on my Bandit, the front would start to cup badly after about 5K miles. Then I switched to BT-010s and the cupping went away. Had Roadtec Z6s on the Bandit when I got rid of it. Got about 6K out of the rear when I replaced it. The front had about 7K on it and was still in good shape. I figured it would last for at least 10K.

This is a great board.

Gary

 

[2tsnon]

Due to a flat in the middle of nowhere Texas, I ended up with a Metzelar ME4 on the front and the Avon on the back. Avon was the replacement. Anyway no handling issues and after a couple of hundred miles I forgot about it. However I did not ride in any bad weather. I spoke to the Metz rep once and he indicated the the front me4 was not compatable with a rear meZ6 due to waer channeling issues.

YMMV

 

[Stray Bullet]

My front tire (battlax) cupped after less than 3K miles! Replaced it with the Diablo Strada. The rear still has plenty of tread left so I'll wait. The service manager, who also has an '03 fjr, at the local Yamaha shop told me that their is no problem using different tire makes on the front and rear.

Roger

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

The "Stones" front cupping is not due to suspension issues. If that was the case all brands would have the tendency to cup and this is not the tendency. The stones just do. I would replace the front and rear together. One time change. Will not have to do it half way. If it were the Avon, no tendency to cup, I would leave it but with the Stones cupping I would change it now. The more treadwear the more the problem.