Mixing Tyre Manufactures !!
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:06 am
I don't recall if this has been discussed before on this forum so here goes.
Over a long and varied motorcycling life there have been a number of occasions where I have run a bike with Front and Rear Tyres from different manufactures.
"Sound of Alarm Bells and Warnings of Impending Doom, Highsides, Lowsides etc,etc." Some might ask why on earth would you want to run different makes of tyre. Well the first time I decided upon this route was when I had an Aprilia Pegaso 650. The bike came new with Michelin semi off road style of tyres and although they did work reasonably well I always has a feeling that the front (or should I say no feeling) steered very vague with a distinct lack of grip. Taking advice from a great guy who ran a small dealership in Kirby Moorside, North Yorkshire (sadly now defunct) We fitted a Continental road tyre to the front and the difference was amazing.
Another time was when in deepest Provence our K1200LT decided to destroy it's rear Bridgestone by suddenly wearing down to the cords in less than 500 miles. ("there was plenty of tread when we left home officer"). The only tyre we could locate from a dealer in Orange was a Metzeler Me880 and this was duly fitted. No problems at all over the next 3000 miles when a Metzeler was also fitted to the Front.
Presently I am running a Michelin rear with a Dunlop Roadsmart front and have been doing so for the last 1000 miles. The previous front was a horribly worn Michelin which was the "matched" pairing to the rear. Then I managed to pick up very cheaply a pair of Roadsmarts so the "orrible" Michelin front was replaced with the new Roadsmart. Once again a marked improvement over the so called "Paired" Michelins.
All of which brings us up to date, except that now there does seem to be a resurgence of "mixed tyre warnings" prevalent in the media and that in the unfortunate event of an accident Insurance Companies are taking a dim view of such deadly practices.
So then this morning my rear wheel is loaded in the car together with a spanking new Roadsmart which will be fitted to keep things in compliance.
Any Comments ?.
Over a long and varied motorcycling life there have been a number of occasions where I have run a bike with Front and Rear Tyres from different manufactures.
"Sound of Alarm Bells and Warnings of Impending Doom, Highsides, Lowsides etc,etc." Some might ask why on earth would you want to run different makes of tyre. Well the first time I decided upon this route was when I had an Aprilia Pegaso 650. The bike came new with Michelin semi off road style of tyres and although they did work reasonably well I always has a feeling that the front (or should I say no feeling) steered very vague with a distinct lack of grip. Taking advice from a great guy who ran a small dealership in Kirby Moorside, North Yorkshire (sadly now defunct) We fitted a Continental road tyre to the front and the difference was amazing.
Another time was when in deepest Provence our K1200LT decided to destroy it's rear Bridgestone by suddenly wearing down to the cords in less than 500 miles. ("there was plenty of tread when we left home officer"). The only tyre we could locate from a dealer in Orange was a Metzeler Me880 and this was duly fitted. No problems at all over the next 3000 miles when a Metzeler was also fitted to the Front.
Presently I am running a Michelin rear with a Dunlop Roadsmart front and have been doing so for the last 1000 miles. The previous front was a horribly worn Michelin which was the "matched" pairing to the rear. Then I managed to pick up very cheaply a pair of Roadsmarts so the "orrible" Michelin front was replaced with the new Roadsmart. Once again a marked improvement over the so called "Paired" Michelins.
All of which brings us up to date, except that now there does seem to be a resurgence of "mixed tyre warnings" prevalent in the media and that in the unfortunate event of an accident Insurance Companies are taking a dim view of such deadly practices.
So then this morning my rear wheel is loaded in the car together with a spanking new Roadsmart which will be fitted to keep things in compliance.
Any Comments ?.