tires

[Geofizz]

Anyone running a different front tire than rear? I have a bridgestone 021 front that is trashed like everyone elses(ridge down center) but the rear has lots of life. Was thinking of putting the mich pr2 on the front and leaving the bridgestone 021 on the rear until it needs to be replaced. Anybody run on this combo. The dealer was trying to tell me I should always pair up my tires. Sounds like sales bs to me

Bernie

 

[r1byker]

Try it and tell us what happens.

 

[dcarver]

I've run many mis-matched tires. Unless you're really on the performance edge, you won't experience any problems. I've had PR2 fronts with ME880 rears, PR2 rears with Strada fronts, Strada fronts with Z6 rears...

...and I keep a fairly good pace.

Some folks complain of the 'front end deacceleration shake' but that's more a matter of front to rear weight bias than anything else.

IMHO of course..

 

[HotRodZilla]

I have a BT021 rear and a PR (not PR2) front. My tire guy made me sign a release that he warned me about different tire profiles but I have never had any issues. They are both round and black and the bike handles great. Tons of people do this, some on a regular basis due to wear and riding patterns. I push pretty hard sometimes. It has never been a problem.

 

[old&slow]

Anyone running a different front tire than rear? I have a bridgestone 021 front that is trashed like everyone elses(ridge down center) but the rear has lots of life. Was thinking of putting the mich pr2 on the front and leaving the bridgestone 021 on the rear until it needs to be replaced. Anybody run on this combo. The dealer was trying to tell me I should always pair up my tires. Sounds like sales bs to meBernie

My Bridgestone BT021 was shot at 3500 miles ,,, replaced it with a PR2 .... Currently have 5100 on the BT021 rear,, still looks pretty good..

I have a PR2 rear in the corner ready to mount....

The PR2 front is looking good so far ,,, and haven't noticed any problems with handling with the PR2 / BT021 combo...

I've always been rather anal about wanting my bike tire brand & style ,,,etc. to match.... but when the front BT021 was shot,, the rear looked brand new..

couldn't see canning it ... Figured if it didn't handle right ,, I had the PR2 rear to spoon on....

Haven't had it in a lot of rain or stuff like that to check out how the combo will do.....

 

[Jagermeister]

I've run 3 mixed sets w/ rear Bt-021 & front RoadSmart, which is a good combo. Both stick well, and the rear 021 has stiffer sidewalls than the rear R/S.

Regarding the PR2, just be aware that it's a harder compound, and will loose traction before the 021.

IMO, the softer compound should be placed in the front, when mixing tires. Depending on your ride style, this may not be very important.

 

[Fred W]

I have a BT021 rear and a PR (not PR2) front. My tire guy made me sign a release that he warned me about different tire profiles but I have never had any issues.

Yeah, the "different profile" argument is a load of crap. The profile on a front and rear tire are always different, even if they are the same brand and model.

I have a Strada front and Roadsmart rear on the FJR, which is a decent combination.

I have a D205 front and regular Diablo (non-Strada) Rear on the VFR.

They don't want you to mix tires so they can sell more tires.

 

[ionbeam]

There are some tires that *are* made to be run in sets. The Diablo Strada's rear tire does not have tread siping across the center of the tire so it depends on the tread pattern of the front tire to pump away the water clearing a path for the rear tire. I believe all rear tires that do not have tread in the center require a front tire designed to clear water.

If your rear tire has tread across the center of the tire like the Avon Storm and the Michelin Pilot GT it shouldn't matter what your front tire is, but if there is no tread like the Pirelli Diablo Strada and the Metzeler Roadtec Z6 ya might wanta think about getting a matched set.

I agree that for dry road riding the tread pattern matching isn't so important.

FWIW.

YMMV.

 

[RAVENRIDER]

I have the mich pr2 on the front and the bridgestone 021 on the rear and I'm riding just fine. Your dealer is looking for $$$.

 

[Fred W]

There are some tires that *are* made to be run in sets. The Diablo Strada's rear tire does not have tread siping across the center of the tire so it depends on the tread pattern of the front tire to pump away the water clearing a path for the rear tire. I believe all rear tires that do not have tread in the center require a front tire designed to clear water.
If your rear tire has tread across the center of the tire like the Avon Storm and the Michelin Pilot GT it shouldn't matter what your front tire is, but if there is no tread like the Pirelli Diablo Strada and the Metzeler Roadtec Z6 ya might wanta think about getting a matched set.

I agree that for dry road riding the tread pattern matching isn't so important.

FWIW.

YMMV.

That's an interesting theory that I'd not heard before about the rears with no center tread.

But, which front tires don't clear water? I thought they all do.

 

[ionbeam]

That's an interesting theory that I'd not heard before about the rears with no center tread.
But, which front tires don't clear water? I thought they all do.

Tire techno-babble (sales BS) tries to make a case that some front tire siping patterns clear water to prevent hydroplaning, but the front tires for the no center tread rears squeegees a dry path. It must be true, I read it on the internet :lol: If I run out of fun things to do today I'll see if I can find the ******** technical document that is posted on one of the tire manufacturer's sites.

 

[Ignacio]

Uh oh! I just rode 14,000 miles on a Metzler ME-880 rear and Pilot Road front. Did I accidentally rip a hole in the time-space continuum?

 

[FJRBluesman]

Roadsmart on the front, B021 on the rear. I didn't plan it that way, I needed a new rear, big-O-ho in it.

The rear is worn wiute a bit and soon I'll get a new one, it's handling poorly with the giant flat spot in the middle. Way too many straight road miles. I'd like to go completely over to PR2s but my front is nearly new. I may have to have mismatched tires for a while which I don't mind; however, I don't lkike having one tire far more worn then the other. I may have to bite the bullet anbd get a full new set.

 

[colin]

Anyone running a different front tire than rear? I have a bridgestone 021 front that is trashed like everyone elses(ridge down center) but the rear has lots of life. Was thinking of putting the mich pr2 on the front and leaving the bridgestone 021 on the rear until it needs to be replaced. Anybody run on this combo. The dealer was trying to tell me I should always pair up my tires. Sounds like sales bs to meBernie

i had that combo until just recently. This happens all the time when moving from one tire to another, front and rear never wear the same for me on any bike.

ideally, pair them up, so they heat up at the same rate, etc.

by my opinion? Just ride it.

 

[mtnhigh]

I lost my rear tire to a utility knife blade at 6500 miles. Put on a practically new Pilot Power on the rear from a coworkers wrecked bike. Been riding since. I have noticed tire pressure is more critical with this combo. With the temp changes in northern VA being erractic this time of year, the front can get a little loose if it drops a few pounds.

Went to a great test area for my combo last week. (Deals Gap) So many twisties!! Yee Haw!! Felt very comfortable the whole way through. I did slide the rear a few times, but I ran 11miles in 2nd, 3rd gear, and I believe I was just having too much fun with the throttle!

I would say, ( and I am no expert by any means), put your tires on and ride. Just give your self a little time to see how the bike feels in the turns. Then gradually step it up and see how it feels. If you still feel comfortable when your toes are tapping the pavement, forget about it and wear them tars out!!

 

[Geofizz]

thanks for feedback. Put the pr2 on the front Friday and ran it for 200 miles this weekend.Runs great. Have not pushed it too much yet. Stayed along the coast Very hot(90's) smoke filled air from the so. cal fires.

BG