Tyre matching

**orangeback** · 10th February 2007, 06:56

Who's into tyre matching
I mean only buying match pairs of tyres, not mixing them up and why?
Disadvantages or advantages? mixing modles for sticker fonts, harder rears
Im more intrested in those bikes that have an R in them (CBR,R1,ZXR,GSXR, etc ) sports orinated. Than crusers

thats why this in the sports/road section. & what size bike you are fitting them to and what you running

**Ghost_Bullet** · 10th February 2007, 07:35

An R in the name... cool... GRISO.
When bought it, it had a pair of Rennsports on it, and now I have a Renn on the front and a M3 on the rear.

**Kyle** · 10th February 2007, 08:03

On my cbr600 race bike when i got it, it had dunlop qualifiers, but the back was shagged, and im not a big fan of dunlops, they seem to chew out, but stick alright. So then put a pair of metzler race techs on, sc0 on the front (softest) and because all they had was Sc1 (medium soft) for the rear i got that. Well one race meeting later the rear was totally gone, way to soft and it cold sheered itself to death. So then i stuck a second hand pirelli dragon slick Sc2 compound (firm) on the back to test my suspension changes and it rocked. So im leaving the SC0 metzler racetech on the front because it works great and has plenty of meat left, and bought a new pirelli diablo slick SC2. Basically my reason for mixing is im still testing tire brands, i cant afford to change fronts when they are still perfectly good. And with race tires, quite often availablity means you cant always pick the tire you want.
As for my road bike, Im not riding like a mad loon on the road so im not worryed about mixing. in fact i used two second hand tires on the front and a pirelli diablo to race on, when i was racing this other bike, the diablo lasted 8 track days and three race meeting and some road touring so i was happy with that. and now its back on the road full time i put a matching pair of pirelli diablo strada tires, because they were the cheapest tire buy the better company. I couldve got shinkos for much less but everyone told me "dont do it" so i didnt. Thats my 2 dollars worth. I voted matched when i buy two, dont care when buying a rear.

**Karma** · 10th February 2007, 08:05

Depends what you mean by matching them...

On the ZXR400 I used to run Pilot Sport on the front, and Pilot Road on the back, gave it that extra wear when commuting, not had to worry on the GSXR so far as it had a brand new rear when I brought it, but that's mismatched and I've not noticed any problems.

**MacD** · 10th February 2007, 08:26

You don't have an option for purposefully not matching front and rear tyres. For the last couple of years I've run an Avon Viper on the front and an Azaro ST on the rear on my RF900 and Bandit. The combination works perfectly well and has been used for everything from trackdays to South Island tours. I've also used a Dunlop 208 on the front and a 220 on the rear, although I wasn't so keen on the 220.

On the other hand, I do match manufacturers these days, though that wasn't always the case.

This topic is almost as good as the oil debate, nobody will ever agree. Manufacturers do not recommend mixing models of tyres let alone brands, but you have to remember they're protecting themselves from litigation with such statements in countries such as the US. You only have to read KB to realise how often people blame their tyres for bins, rather than their riding.

**bert_is_evil** · 12th February 2007, 15:26

Originally Posted by MacD

You only have to read KB to realise how often people blame their tyres for bins, rather than their riding.

It's true though - my bike fell off it's stand once, since I got a new rear tyre it hasn't happened, so it must have been the tyre.

**vifferman** · 12th February 2007, 15:34

Originally Posted by MacD

You don't have an option for purposefully not matching front and rear tyres. For the last couple of years I've run an Avon Viper on the front and an Azaro ST on the rear on my RF900 and Bandit.

Ditto.
I've run Bridgestone BT012F/BT020R on the VFR750 I used to have, then Avon AV45-SP front / AV49-ST rear on the VTR1000, and the same combo on the VFR800.
For relatively slow-steering bikes like the VTR and VFR, sticking a sports front tyre on and a sport-touring rear gives quicker turn-in, a stickier front for confidence, and both tyres wear out at the same time, so you're not mismatching new/worn tyres.

Back when I had a VF500, I had totally mismatched tyres (brand and style) and I wouldn't do it again. Mind you, the fact that it had a 16" front and 18" rear meant nothing was a matched pair anyway...

The crappest combo was an oversized IRC rear, and Dunslop front.

**The Stranger:Me** · 12th February 2007, 15:41

Originally Posted by MacD

This topic is almost as good as the oil debate, nobody will ever agree.

Yes, now add in air filters and fuel octane and you really have a volatile mix.

**bugjuice** · 12th February 2007, 16:01

surely the fact that tyres are designed together is a strong point.. (not having read the rest of the topic).. mix n match means one is going to potentially out do the other

**onearmedbandit** · 12th February 2007, 16:02

He wasn't asking who is wrong or right, just who does and who doesn't. Simple really.

I only go matched, currently running Michelin Pilot Powers, seem decent enough for both road and track duty (although I was on PP's when I highsided at the track last year, but that was rider error).

**The Stranger:Me** · 12th February 2007, 16:04

Originally Posted by MacD

You don't have an option for purposefully not matching front and rear tyres. For the last couple of years I've run an Avon Viper on the front and an Azaro ST on the rear on my RF900 and Bandit.

You don't perchance get your tyres from Kerry at Motohaus do you?

**Disco Dan** · 12th February 2007, 16:07

I just made sure the two tyres were compatible with each other - ie same profile and lean angles. Got a Metzler on the front and Bridgestone battlax on the rear.

**avgas** · 12th February 2007, 16:10

I've never had luck with matching tyres. I prefer less grip on the back so its easier to kick out.

**Squeak the Rat** · 12th February 2007, 16:31

Originally Posted by CaN

You don't perchance get your tyres from Kerry at Motohaus do you?

Haha, I'll bet a dollar.

I match my tyres just as I match my socks only washed more often. If the manufacturers are lying I don't lose much, if they're making valid recommendations then all good.