Mixing tires

[georgesgiralt]

Hi !
Not another thread about what tire is better but ....
I've on the R65 an ME77 which is brand new on the rear;
The Lasertec on the front is wearing very fast. Too fast for my taste and wallet.
I planned to install Michelin Pilot Activ tires. But as the rear one is new, would it be good to put a front Pilot tire and keep the Metzeler at the rear ? Or is it a mistake ?
What do you think ?
Thanks for your help !

[Lucky_Lou]

Personally I never mix tyres not even on my cage..................
Lou

[Bob_Roller]

How many km on the front Lazertec

I usually get around 15-16,000 km, 10,000 miles on a Lazertec front .

[georgesgiralt]

Well it will reach the 8000 km barrier and be as slick as a bald man...
May I add it is V speed rated ? (was the only tire fitting at the time I needed it)
Maybe it is the reason why ?

[Matt Chapter]

I've had different brands front and rear before, never had trouble (due to tire brands, at least)

I'm way too tight to replace both tires if one still has useable life.  I'm thinking about switching to a different brand when my rear tire is worn out next and I expect my front tire to be about halfway through its life.

I'll be looking at avons or michelins.. I didn't care for the dunlop (I think) I had a couple years ago.  If I remember I'll try and find my records for tires and report back.

Go with a 90 / 90 in the front for sharper handling.

[Luca]

May I add it is V speed rated ? (was the only tire fitting at the time I needed it)
Maybe it is the reason why ?

Higher speed ratings can mean either softer rubber, shallower tread, or a combination of the two.  They do wear more quickly than lower rated tires.

[Barry]

Having the same brand of tires on a bike or car just looks right and feel right but provided they are of the same construction type I doubt mixing tyres is automatically unsafe especially bearing in mind that even "matched pairs" from the same manufacturer may not be the same tread pattern or even the same tire. If the bike handles OK I wouldn't worry. I've mixed them for the same reason i.e. planning to have them both wear out at the same time so I can buy matched tires at the next change. Frankly even then as they wear out at different rates you end up unmatched eventually in the sense that one is older and therefore harder than the other. Motorcycle tires are expensive enough without throwing good rubber away by replacing both at the same time.

On the speed rating, years ago I've replaced ME11's on the front and found that the H rated tire had only 5mm of tread while the previous S rated tire which was all I really needed had more like 6 or 7mm.  It's done to reduce rubber squirm and therfore heat build up at high speed.

[Bob_Roller]

I'll have to check the speed rating on the tires I have mounted .

What pressure are you keeping the tire at ??

[georgesgiralt]

I keep them as Metzeler put it :2.2 bar on front and 2.3 bar on rear.
The rear is a "S" rated I bought it to a friend who mistakenly bought it for a 1000 CC bike... I got it for a song ! And I agree, the thread is thicker than on the other tires I've seen rated H or above.

[nhmaf]

I've mixed brands on some bikes when it was necessary with no ill effects.  Sometimes it is because one manufacturer doesn't make the model tire I want in the size I need - especially for bikes like my Kawasaki Concours, which has a 17" front wheel.  I do avoid mixing radial and bias play tires though - either both radial or both bias ply - that's how I roll.

I do try to get tires of the same/similar speed ratings, so that they wear a little more evenly and my traction/cornering angle is more consistent across various road conditions and speeds.   sometimes the lower speed rated tires with harder, heavier rubber will grip on gravel roads better, but the high speed rubber will grip on wet asphalt better.   I don't want the front or back  end sliding out prematurely!