Mismatched tyres

[Katman]

I'm interested to hear peoples opinions of mixing a crossply tyre with a radial.

Yay or nay?


(To the moderators - I've placed this thread here instead of the Brakes, Wheels, Tyre sub-forum because I'd like to hear as many opinions as possible.)

[CookMySock]

I think most people are going to be wondering why you might run a crossply tyre to start with.

Maybe a bit more background?

Steve

[Katman]

I think most people are going to be wondering why you might run a crossply tyre to start with.

Well, for a start, there aren't radial tyres to fit my bike.........

But this isn't about my bike.

[Skyryder]

I'm interested to hear peoples opinions of mixing a crossply tyre with a radial.

Yay or nay?


(To the moderators - I've placed this thread here instead of the Brakes, Wheels, Tyre sub-forum because I'd like to hear as many opinions as possible.)

Not wise.

Can I Mix and Match?
That might work for your wardrobe, but not your tires. In general, the brand and model for the front and rear need to be the same. In some cases, the tread pattern is similar enough to mix. Some Pirelli and Metzeler tires, for example, are compatible. It would be best to check with a reputable dealer to be sure. Mixing two tires whose tread patternaren't compatible can have deadly results. They won’t work properly together. Tires are made one of two ways: Bias ply or radial. Some bikes that come equipped with bias ply tires cannot be fitted with radials, and vice-versa. Again, check with your dealer. NOTE: (NEVER mix a bias ply with a radial!)

From

http://www.spokes-women.org/Technica...ycle_tires.htm


Skyryder

[riffer]

I thought it was a no-no, as the biasply front and radial rear would cause massive understeer problems and the opposite would cause oversteer.

HOWEVER, this was ages ago and times change.

The Harley-Davidson Rocker runs a radial rear and a biasply front.

And they wouldn't sell anything that could be that dangerous given that they're from USA - the land of the law suit.

[MSTRS:Me]

When radials first began appearing for cars, the advice was, if mixed, to put the radials on the front. Not sure if that applies to bikes tho.
Also not sure about mixed tread patterns...
The job of the front tyre is to force a 'dry' patch on the road for the rear to travel on. That only works in a straight line. At a lean, this is out the door, regardless of tread pattern.

[NordieBoy]

I thought it was a no-no, as the biasply front and radial rear would cause massive understeer problems and the opposite would cause oversteer.

So bias-ply front and rear and you're 2 wheel drifting everywhere?

[jono035]

So bias-ply front and rear and you're 2 wheel drifting everywhere?

That'd be worth seeing...

[boman]

Crossply tyres, due to their construction, are stiffer in the sidewall and carcass than the Radial tyre. Radial tyres are made so that the sidewall can flex and keep the tread pattern in better contact with the road. Mixing the types is not recommended, due to their different construction methods. On a car, or truck, from memory ( I am often wrong) crossplys on the front and radials on the rear is the recommended method. Mixing them on the same axel is, from memory illegal.

[MSTRS:Me]

Crossply tyres, due to their construction, are stiffer in the sidewall and carcass than the Radial tyre. Radial tyres are made so that the sidewall can flex and keep the tread pattern in better contact with the road. Mixing the types is not recommended, due to their different construction methods. On a car, or truck, from memory ( I am often wrong) crossplys on the front and radials on the rear is the recommended method. Mixing them on the same axel is, from memory illegal.

Nup. Radials will hang on for longer than a crossply. If you 'want' a tyre to break traction it'd better be the back first. Surely.

[boman]

Nup. Radials will hang on for longer than a crossply. If you 'want' a tyre to break traction it'd better be the back first. Surely.

Yea but the crossply on the rear will not allow the bike to corner properly, I think. They tend to push the front end around, which is why you want the crossplys on the front, not the rear.

But I stand to be corrected on this. My experience in tyres is more automotive than motorcycle. I know, on a car, that if you put crossplys on the rear, then you will struggle to drive around a corner.

[Skyryder]

Crossply tyres, due to their construction, are stiffer in the sidewall and carcass than the Radial tyre. Radial tyres are made so that the sidewall can flex and keep the tread pattern in better contact with the road. Mixing the types is not recommended, due to their different construction methods.

I think that is the 'nux' of the problem.

With different tyre walls you will have a difference in how each tyre behaves. Put these differences together on a motorcycle frame and the traction of the bike will not be as stable. That's how I see it.


Skyryder

[boman]

I think that is the 'nux' of the problem.

With different tyre walls you will have a difference in how each tyre behaves. Put these differences together on a motorcycle frame and the traction of the bike will not be as stable. That's how I see it.


Skyryder

On a car the differences are noticable. On a bike I would think they would be very noticable, dangerous even. I wouldn't like to try it.

[CookMySock]

If you are stuck with having to fit crap tyres, maybe some suspension work is in order to recover the situation.

Steve

[Katman]

If you are stuck with having to fit crap tyres, maybe some suspension work is in order to recover the situation.

Steve

Don't try and second guess the question.

You're already shown you don't know the first thing about tyres.