Do you mix tire brands/types ?

[SMD]

For some reason, my front tire wears out twice as fast as the rear and my front tire is now in need of replacement. Both tires are Pilot Roads. I'm thinking of purchasing the new Pilot Road 2 for the front and not replacing the rear until needed. Normally I replace both tires at the same time but I hate throwing away a tire with lots of miles left.

 

So, do you all think I will have any weird handling issues if I run a new Pilot Road 2 on the front and a half worn out, regular Pilot road on the back?

[T__]

For some reason, my front tire wears out twice as fast as the rear and my front tire is now in need of replacement. Both tires are Pilot Roads. I'm thinking of purchasing the new Pilot Road 2 for the front and not replacing the rear until needed. Normally I replace both tires at the same time but I hate throwing away a tire with lots of miles left.

 

So, do you all think I will have any weird handling issues if I run a new Pilot Road 2 on the front and a half worn out, regular Pilot road on the back?

 

 

Scott, I have been mixing & matching motorcycle tires for years.. Even back in the old bias & pre bias tire days.. Most tire mismatches worked out just fine..

 

I wouldn’t suggest you mix a sport tire on one end with a touring tire on the other end but as long as the tire types & constructions are the same it shouldn’t be a problem..

 

In most cases the miles/age/wear of the tires will be a bigger deal than the brand of tire.. When one tire wears flat in the center & you install a new round tire on the other end it can cause some handling irregularities but for the most part it isn’t dangerous..

 

Twisty

[NonComp]

Dunlop on the front. Metzler on the rear. So far, no issues. Tracks like a freight train.

[RTme2]

Yes, I mix tires. I have a Metzler ME880 on the front with a Pirelli Diablo on the rear of my 11RT.

Just like you, I hate to discard a decent tire and since the fronts usually last about 40-60% longer, I mix. I would question why your wear pattern is just about dead opposite of what most of us experience.

 

If tire pressures are correct, could the front brake be dragging? Put it up on the center stand and spin it. Light drag is normal.

 

What is the wear pattern? Centers wear out first? Sides? Do you get severe cupping?

 

We may need more minds to chime in on this one.

 

Dave

[boatzo]

I just put on new Pilot Roads front and back. I had an Avon Azro on the front and a Batlax on the back with no problems at all. The PRs sure make a lot of noise. My next set of tires will be Metzler 880s.

 

I have the same problem, front wears out twice as fast as the back.

 

Good luck,

[SMD]

Yes, I mix tires. I have a Metzler ME880 on the front with a Pirelli Diablo on the rear of my 11RT.

Just like you, I hate to discard a decent tire and since the fronts usually last about 40-60% longer, I mix. I would question why your wear pattern is just about dead opposite of what most of us experience.

 

If tire pressures are correct, could the front brake be dragging? Put it up on the center stand and spin it. Light drag is normal.

 

What is the wear pattern? Centers wear out first? Sides? Do you get severe cupping?

 

We may need more minds to chime in on this one.

 

Dave

 

I questioned that about 5 sets of tires ago but can't find any logical reason. I check the pressures every couple of weeks and try to keep around 42psi give or take a couple of psi. No cupping or unusual wear and the brakes are functioning normal. I do tend to use the front brake most of the time. Maybe that's the problem.

[SMD]

The PRs sure make a lot of noise.

 

 

That's for sure, but I really like the way the bike handles with PRs. Much of my driving is in rain and the PRs seem to be very good wet weather tires.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

I'm running a Pilot Power 2CT on the front of my Blackbird right now with a Pilot Road (regular version) on the back. Both tires mounted new and, with 4K on the combo, I can safely state there are no issues whatever. Prior to that, I was running a BT-014 front with a Dunlop Qualifier on the rear, no problems. Prior to that, a matching BT-014 on the rear, I just squared it off with 9.5K of freeway miles. Before that, a worn Pilot Road front and a new BT-014 rear.

 

The Blackbird doesn't seem particularly hard on front tires, or maybe it is my riding style. For a sport touring type tire, 9K on the rear and 12K on the front seems about the norm.

 

I would say that the bike does feel a little better with matched tires on it but, it is not enough to deter me from pushing the envelope now and then with unmatched tires in either brand or wear.