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(Maybe silly ) Question on tyres (Maybe silly ) Question on tyres
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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  #1  
Old 6 Apr 2006
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The franglais-riders
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(Maybe silly ) Question on tyres
If you change say the back tyre, using a different brand, do you need to change the front tyre as well ? In another words do you have to have same type/brand of tyres front and back or could you have a Michelin at the front and say a continental at the back??? I was told it has to be the same….. What you guys think?
Thanks,
Maria
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  #2  
Old 7 Apr 2006
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This isn't recommended. Manufacturers use different "formulas" for their rubber compounds, and the way the build the tires is different. So you can never be sure that the tyres will have the same grip characteristics. I've not seen any authoritative tables of "mixed and matched" rubber recommendations - I'm sure there's a good reason in that, you just don't do it.

But, if you are asking about what happens when you are in desparate need of rubber, and you only have one or two options, sure, you can stick on whatever you find, to get you out of a bad situation. You just need to realize that you have no idea how your tyres are going to behave, so take it easy going down the road, look to correct the mismatched tyre situation at the earliest opportunity.

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  #3  
Old 7 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by maria41:
II was told it has to be the same….. What you guys think?
I've run mixed brands of tyres, mixed typed of tyres (tubless and tubed, radial etc, etc, on many different bikes for years. I'm still here.
As with any new tyre - take it easy until you are comfortable with the tyres behaviour.
Most of us in the real world are not after the ultimate performance, we are after resonable performance.

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  #4  
Old 7 Apr 2006
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As Frank said....

You'll run a mix of tires on your bike, if you travel much.

I've yet to see a chain on the frt and paddle wheel on the rr, but surely it's been done before...

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  #5  
Old 7 Apr 2006
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Manufacturers don’t recommended because they don’t will tell you to use other brands or “don’t use our tires, use others ones”
The tyres never will have the same grip characteristics. A front and a rear are different even on the same trade or model, the sizes are different, the weight on front and rear axel are different so you have different grip on both.
I’m not telling you to mix tires if you have an option but on the needed come the discovery. I have used a Pirelli Scorpion AT on the front and Avon Gripster on the rear and worked very well on tarmac even wet and fast also on some dirt. Now I’m using Metzeler Karoo on the front and Conti TKC-80 rear very goods on the dirt and ok on asphalt.
Don’t be obsessive, if you need to buy both buy the same model if you need only the rear take some similar to the front.
My two cents
Javier…
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Old 7 Apr 2006
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Don't be afraid to mix them up...i've never heard of an accident caused by using diferent tires. That being said, i rolled into a BMW dealership in Oregon in desperate need of a front tire. I picked out the cheapest they had, an Anakee 21". The parts manager grabbed both a front and rear and began to ring them in when i pointed out that i only required a front, i had a new Enduro 3 on the back. He told me that BMW doesnot allow single tires to be sold for their bikes, they must be a matched pair! I had to beg him to sell me a bloody tire, and told him for all he knows, i'm putting it on a Honda! He then offered to mount it for the extra service fee, which i declined. I then parked my bike in the lot in front of their garage door and replaced the tire myself, feeling both amused and pleasantly justified.
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Old 7 Apr 2006
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Thanks for you replies! MR Ron your anecdote made me laugh!!
I think I will replace both tyres this time for my summer trip to Morocco. However, next year, when I hit South America, I will certainly feel better, now I read your comments, that I can mix tyres safely!
Cheers,
Maria
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  #8  
Old 7 Apr 2006
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The only negative thing I have seen is mounting a front tire on the rear. With some of the cruzer type bikes you can have a faily wide tire that is supposed to fit the front but is also the same size as the back. It will fit and seemingly work ok but the tread life can be shocking....like about 2k km. kind of a waste of money. If any traveler wants to work on their bike at the shop where I work they are welcome and they might also get a place to stay the night.
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  #9  
Old 8 Apr 2006
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About using front tires on the back, if you run a front on the rear mount it so the directional arrow is reversed. The cords are alined so when on the front the tire is set up for braking, flip the direction for the rear and its set to take power.
Metzler used to give certifacates for tire purchace in AHRMA racing for podium placings.The suitable racing tire range was limited so 200+ 250 size bikes would use soft compound Lazers reversed on the rear It worked pretty good with small bikes,anything to save money for the after race and long trip home.

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Old 8 Apr 2006
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On my old Triumphs, from choice I would use an Avon on the front, and dunlop on the rear...
The truth is tyres and their compounds are constantly changing, so you will never really know how apair will act on your bike until you try them.
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  #11  
Old 8 Apr 2006
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As long as you dont put totally different tyres (racing slick and MX knobbly) I dont think there is a major problem. With BMW GSs the anakee front and tourance rear is fairly standard.
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  #12  
Old 9 Apr 2006
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At the Vancouver bike show ,I asked an Avon rep about fitting a front tyre on the rear of my Norton Commando , which has 19 inch rims front and back [ 19 inch rears are VERY hard to find ].
The tyre in question was an Avon Distanzia .He replied that on a bike of moderate horsepower ,it would be fine .But to reverse the tyre to compensate for acceleration forces .
I have mixed makes of tyres for years and haven't had any problems , so if you are stuck in the back of beyond and can't get the tyre you would like then I would say it's OK to improvise ,although a ribbed tyre on the rear might give interesting handling !
All the Best
Dodger

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