Mixing front and rear tires

[gsferrari]

Before I begin - I didn't go down or get hurt...or hurt anybody else in the process...

OK - I did scare the sh*d outta a geriatric "peering over the dash" female driver.

Front - Stock Bridgestone BT-56
Rear - Dunlop Qualifier 190

Under hard cornering - the bike turns in gently when using body weight to lean the bike in. Use the counter-steering and it leans in faster but still in a smooth motion until about 60 degrees...and then it just drops like a stone! You'll get from 60 degrees to zero in less time than you can say "WTF!!"

Some weird sh*d also happens with the rear end but I am at a loss to put it into works. Bike doesnt feel well...feels like it isn't sure if it should ride from the front or from the rear.

Plenty of grip and a more round cross section helps when you keep a sensible pace. Up the ante and the frisky puppy wakes up and goes all crazy...


Yeah...dont mix tires

And if you do - observe the handling carefully over a nice long ride. Mine was 700 something miles

 

[Cykill]

I replace the front every other time i replace the rear. I konw people say don't mix them, BUT what i do is i don't tell the front that i changed brands on the back and it's all good... the old never let the left hand know trick

I currently have a Diablo on the Front, But i must say I'm so happy with the new qualifier that i think i'm going to be sticking with them for a while.



<!--EDIT|Cykill
Reason for Edit: None given...|1153878728 -->

 

[Justyntym]

Hmmm...not that I'm doubting that this is an issue but I'd like to hear from as people as possible about this.

I'm sitting on about 4600 miles and looking to put on a new rear, either Qualifier or Pilot Power (haven't decided yet) leaving my stock front as I still have tread on it.

Been wrestling with the mixing my tires...my only difference is I don't do many/any twisties (central Fl, roads are flat and straight) so I didn't think mixing would be an issue.

But now you've got me questioning it again...anyone else wish to offer their expertise, it would be appreciated.



<!--EDIT|Justyntym
Reason for Edit: None given...|1153878339 -->

 

[Warputer]

Bt 56 .....................front
Conti-Force ............rear

Haven't noticed a change in handling .

 

[HillsRider]

IF.. and I do mean a BIG IF.. you are going to mix tires, why would you put a stickier tire on the back than what is on the front?

I don't really like the back end sliding around but it is a lot better that what happens when the front slides too much!!

 

[GMbusa]

I've never had a problem either. I will soon be running a Qualifier up front and an Ultra soft Shinko on the rear. I'll post the results.

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Hmmm...not that I'm doubting that this is an issue but I'd like to hear from as people as possible about this.

I'm sitting on about 4600 miles and looking to put on a new rear, either Qualifier or Pilot Power (haven't decided yet) leaving my stock front as I still have tread on it.

Been wrestling with the mixing my tires...my only difference is I don't do many/any twisties (central Fl, roads are flat and straight) so I didn't think mixing would be an issue.

But now you've got me questioning it again...anyone else wish to offer their expertise, it would be appreciated.

I got a nail in my rear 56 with very few miles on it so I replaced it with a PP before my 4000 mile tour and couldn't be happier. Only on initial turn in can I feel some momentary difference (twitch?) but that goes away as soon as the (real) cornering begins. I figure its only due to the tread differences and I have no other complaints so I'll keep the front 56 till the rear needs replacing and then go with PPs on both ends.

 

[Charlesbusa]

I've mixed and matched for years.

I've always kept a softer or equal tire in the front than the rear.

Unless you're dragg'in knees, you can mix and match all you want.

 

[Wolfman]

I have a factory tire on the front and a Dunlop D208 on the rear. I have had my foot rubbing the road and it held fine. I can see as how it would be better to use the same tire on both ends seeing as how they are designed to work together.

 

[Dennis]

Hmmm...not that I'm doubting that this is an issue but I'd like to hear from as people as possible about this.

I'm sitting on about 4600 miles and looking to put on a new rear, either Qualifier or Pilot Power (haven't decided yet) leaving my stock front as I still have tread on it.

Been wrestling with the mixing my tires...my only difference is I don't do many/any twisties (central Fl, roads are flat and straight) so I didn't think mixing would be an issue.

But now you've got me questioning it again...anyone else wish to offer their expertise, it would be appreciated.

I got a nail in my rear 56 with very few miles on it so I replaced it with a PP before my 4000 mile tour and couldn't be happier.  Only on initial turn in can I feel some momentary difference (twitch?) but that goes away as soon as the (real) cornering begins.  I figure its only due to the tread differences and I have no other complaints so I'll keep the front 56 till the rear needs replacing and then go with PPs on both ends.

I replaced my rear at 6700 with a PP because that is what the dealer had in stock. I noticed some "twitching" but when I realized I had the pressure dropped from my trip to the strip (first place I went when I picked the bike up) I inflated it properly and the twitch is gone. I'm quite happy with the combination, but I don't do crazy cornering either.

 

[Lamb busa]

Lamb mixes and matches also. It makes no difference. Just be careful with the stock front, kind of slickery when compared to a better tire!

 

[spkerhed]

IF.. and I do mean a BIG IF.. you are going to mix tires, why would you put a stickier tire on the back than what is on the front?

 I don't really like the back end sliding around but it is a lot better that what happens when the front slides too much!!

I would run a stickier tire on the back for better aceleration dont have a lot of twisty roads lots of straight highways though

 

[Tufbusa]

Mixing tires is not a good idea unless you spend all your time around town and never exceed the speed limit. If that's the case, anything that will hold air will work.

No two tires from different manufacturers are the same diameter nor do they have the same handling characteristics. Mismatching your tires can unsettle your suspension. I'm sure there is more than one unknowing rider in the grave yard that had no idea why his bike went into an uncontrolable tank slapper at high speed with a michelin on the rear and at Bridgestone on the front?

It's okay to mix and match tires from the same manufacturer but don't use two different tires from two different manufacturers. Not a good idea!

I have mixed tires before on many occasions. I'd pick up used tires from my dealer and use them for burnout tires. Would go through numerous rear tires of all brands without changing the front. Never exceeded the speedlimit with them nor leaned hard.

 

[Justyntym]

I don't understand the reasoning behind that. A balanced wheel is a balanced wheel and your front and rear are different diameters anyway. I can see maybe a gription differencial on extreme corning but straight line riding even at high speed....if they're balance properly, why would it matter if they're different makes?


ah wait...I got ya, not only different compounds but different curve dimensions on the sides of the tire...eww.



<!--EDIT|Justyntym
Reason for Edit: None given...|1153890682 -->

 

[The Big Red One]

Hmmm...not that I'm doubting that this is an issue but I'd like to hear from as people as possible about this.

I'm sitting on about 4600 miles and looking to put on a new rear, either Qualifier or Pilot Power (haven't decided yet) leaving my stock front as I still have tread on it.

Been wrestling with the mixing my tires...my only difference is I don't do many/any twisties (central Fl, roads are flat and straight) so I didn't think mixing would be an issue.

But now you've got me questioning it again...anyone else wish to offer their expertise, it would be appreciated.

I never mix my tires....but I have a friend that throws whatever he wants on whenever he wants to do it......the boy rides ALOT, he's a hard charging corner carver, and he claims he's never had an issue. So who knows? lol

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

They're all radials so as long as you don't mix a bias ply tire at one end with a radial at the other, it should be ok at least until the front needs replacing at the same time as the rear.

 

[busa1300nut]

Pilot Power on he rear, Metzler M1 on the front. No handleing issue,s here either.

 

[dudewizr]

BT 56= front
Conti attacks= back

I don't drag my knees but 140+ is not uncommon. Right around 4000 with this setup no problems yet.

 

[Shibumi]

GSF, I had the same tires you do when I bought the bike- put a new Qualifier on the front a week later. Even as a rookie two different tread compounds and friction coefficients trying to work together as centrifugal forces act on them did not seem to be a good idea!