Mixing tyres: sport & sport touring?

[hang0ver]

Ello,

I'm due up for a new front on the R6 I just picked up, currently it has a Metzler Roadtec Z6 (Sport Tourer) on the back.

I'm being coerced towards a set of Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's, the question is, would it be unwise to put one of these sportier fronts on with the Metzler? The intention would be to match the rear a couple of weeks down the road when finances allow.

Cheers,

H

[caspernz]

Given that some riders match a sporty front with a more touring type rear as a matter of choice...you'll be fine.

[AllanB]

hmm within the same family it is not uncommon ie Pilot Power front Pilot Road 2 (or3) rear.

Personally I'd not mix brands but people do. But I'm anal about shit like that and always run matched pairs.

[caspernz]

hmm within the same family it is not uncommon ie Pilot Power front Pilot Road 2 (or3) rear.

Personally I'd not mix brands but people do. But I'm anal about shit like that and always run matched pairs.

Yes, I agree with you in principle. If like the OP says it's only for a couple of weeks...different brands...meh, big deal.

Oh and as a rule I run matched sets myself, so I fit that anal clan too!

[Drew]

Mix and match away. There is little advantage in matching pairs, and no one who argues with that seems capable of providing proof.

[hang0ver]

Cheers guys, I think I will chuck the 2CT on the front, and cut down my beer budget to get the rear on soon. Priorities right??

[nzspokes]

cut down my beer budget

:weep::(.....

[mossy1200]

I prefer the new conti sport attack 2s to the 2cts.

They seem to be lasting well also.

[nzspokes]

I prefer the new conti sport attack 2s to the 2cts.

They seem to be lasting well also.

Epic chicken strip.

[mossy1200]

Epic chicken strip.


I keep my tire warmers on while riding.

[DrunkenMistake]

I had a sport tourer on the rear of my 400 and a Full sport on the front, It didnt blow up so I dont think it was bad? haha,

Im running Conti motions at the moment on the Hyoslag, almost chewed through the rear in maybe 5 months, 4 - 5,000km (Pathetic amount of K's aint it? poor bikes petrol tank is starting to rust on the inside I run it so dry)

[hang0ver]

Well I went and forked out on a pair of Road 3 2cts yesterday... No beer for a month. Yeah right! Thank god for trade accounts.

Those Sport Attacks look good in the pics! I spend so much time getting rained on the Road 3's seemed like a smart choice. Maybe god is getting kickbacks from Michelin??

[SimJen]

people mix between brands because they often have a similar profile, but some brands are often slightly more pointy or roundy than others etc.
You don't want a pointy brand A mixed with a roundy brand B as you'll get mixed feedback and a serious lack of traction on one or the other at certain lean angles.
Tyres are so good these days and multi compound makes them so much better wearing that its just as easy to stick with matched pairs as long as you choose right for your riding style.

[Drew]

people mix between brands because they often have a similar profile, but some brands are often slightly more pointy or roundy than others etc.
You don't want a pointy brand A mixed with a roundy brand B as you'll get mixed feedback and a serious lack of traction on one or the other at certain lean angles.
Tyres are so good these days and multi compound makes them so much better wearing that its just as easy to stick with matched pairs as long as you choose right for your riding style.

Are you joking? Look at a pair of race tyres, the rear is often far less pointy than the front.

[SimJen]

Are you joking? Look at a pair of race tyres, the rear is often far less pointy than the front.

Why would I be joking, different tyres have different profiles! its a fact!
I'm not talking about the differences between front/rear tyres as that is obvious.
I'm saying that if you mix different profiled tyres of different brands then it might give unwanted results.
A set of touring type tyres are less pointy than a set of racier tyres, so if you mixed them you might not get very good handling if you suddenly decide to crank it over a bit?

[Drew]

Why would I be joking, different tyres have different profiles! its a fact!
I'm not talking about the differences between front/rear tyres as that is obvious.
I'm saying that if you mix different profiled tyres of different brands then it might give unwanted results.
A set of touring type tyres are less pointy than a set of racier tyres, so if you mixed them you might not get very good handling if you suddenly decide to crank it over a bit?You might also get better results and handling from a touring rear and a race front. Or vice versa.

[SimJen]

You might also get better results and handling from a touring rear and a race front. Or vice versa.

Its true you might do, its a bit of a lottery though and if it doesn't work out you might end up on your ass finding out!
Michelin say they have no problem with people mixing within their ranges but they can't guarantee anything if you mix with someone else's (obviously!).
Personally I prefer my tyres to have been designed as a package so I know what they are capable off and all the testing has already been done :)

[Fast Eddie]

if ur just riding on the road and your not a TT legend I'm sure any thing black and round will be sweet.

I ride a blade, grunty enough.. had IRC/Shinko and 5 year old hard rubber on.. mixed brands bla bla..

it always turns and stops and can go too!

if its a race bike then im sure its a bit more important.. i just have slicks for that hehe..

these days I try and find used tyres on trademe etc, last couple tyres I got were donations from fellas on here.. best tyres iv ever had! flag spending so much money on shit that only lasts a couple thou kms.. or a couple doughnuts

[hang0ver]

if ur just riding on the road and your not a TT legend I'm sure any thing black and round will be sweet.

I ride a blade, grunty enough.. had IRC/Shinko and 5 year old hard rubber on.. mixed brands bla bla..

it always turns and stops and can go too!

if its a race bike then im sure its a bit more important.. i just have slicks for that hehe..

these days I try and find used tyres on trademe etc, last couple tyres I got were donations from fellas on here.. best tyres iv ever had! flag spending so much money on shit that only lasts a couple thou kms.. or a couple doughnuts

I'd never go anywhere near Shinko's again. They are 'cheap crash repair flick her on' tyres. I was unlucky enough to buy a bike with them, front was like a washing machine.

I've got a used Metzeler waiting for you on TM too.

[caspernz]

You might also get better results and handling from a touring rear and a race front. Or vice versa.

Yep, I've at times done the sporty front and touring rear combo. Even done the odd track day with that mix. Works fine, not an issue. Maybe if one is sooooo concerned about having perfectly matched sets of tyres at all times, stick to four wheels??

[SimJen]

where you'd come unstuck is if you mixed tyres with a slow to warm up front with a fast warm up rear and misread the signals then you might lose the front before it comes up to full grip!

[Fast Eddie]

I'd never go anywhere near Shinko's again. They are 'cheap crash repair flick her on' tyres. I was unlucky enough to buy a bike with them, front was like a washing machine.
haha yeaaa.. bet u were comn out of those corners sideways too on ur sunday ride :D haha, nah each to their own, iv ridden on them road and track day.. they grip enough at well over any legal speed limit so meh i dont need the brand name to have fun. names not valentino tho, and i have proper slicks fr track where it makes a diff in a real race

I'dI've got a used Metzeler waiting for you on TM too.

lol.. I dnt like to spend mre than a 20 on rubber ;) (front and back)

[GrayWolf]

Its true you might do, its a bit of a lottery though and if it doesn't work out you might end up on your ass finding out!
Michelin say they have no problem with people mixing within their ranges but they can't guarantee anything if you mix with someone else's (obviously!).
Personally I prefer my tyres to have been designed as a package so I know what they are capable off and all the testing has already been done :)

I've used a 'mix' several times now on 3 different bikes, FJ, ZZR, MT...Mostly same manufacturer, but sport/tour on the rear and sport on the front. A bike weighing 240kg without rider(s) and/or a big V twin will rip a soft rear to shreds, I know that from experience. I currently use a dual compound rear, sport front from Bridgestone and the bike handles quite nicely, but then I am not riding 100% like on a track.

[SimJen]

dual compound is now pretty much de riguer!
My duke with 2CT Pilot Pure's seems to wear very evenly, but most of that is the fact I ride the twisty way to work :)

[caspernz]

dual compound is now pretty much de riguer!
My duke with 2CT Pilot Pure's seems to wear very evenly, but most of that is the fact I ride the twisty way to work :)

Yes that Power Pure is a rather nice tyre to hoon around on. I've found that 7000 clicks is about the most I get from a set, with the front getting to the end of its life first...

The current set of Power Pures are almost done, but there's a set of Pilot Road 3s sitting in the toyshed. Almost as sticky, nowhere near as pointy as the Pure, and lasts at least 12000 clicks...

[Drew]

Almost as sticky, nowhere near as pointy as the Pure, and lasts at least 12000 clicks...

I'm going to make an example of you, but don't take it personal like.


"Almost as sticky". This implies you push then to the limit of adhesion, I submit you wont get close, at least not on purpose on either tyre.

Which brings us to the natural end to that train of thought. Save coin, you're no where near as good as you think, or tell people, so the reasonably priced tyres will do the job.

That last bit was in general, not solely directed at you caspernz.