Only changing one tyre?

Hi this maybe a silly question but I'll go ahead and ask anyway. I recently had a front fork service and the mechanic told me afterwards that my front wheel a continental has an understanding ever wear ridge on it. As I look down at the wheel he showed me a clear lip where it is not round. He told me that would obviously affect handling and that I should replace it with a better quality front tyre. Should I do that straight away or should I purchase both front and rear together. He said I should move away from the continentals as they are not great quality.

Check the rear, if thats worn then change em both. If not just change the front.
Mate at work has a kwak 750 and was moaning about the handling. Found out why, his rear tyre is worn flat in center about 2.5 inches across.

[rictus01]

generally I used to get through 5 rears to 3 fronts in a year,(but that ratio depends on the way you ride especially into corner,) so changing just one is fine, just remember to get profile compatible tyres, as some really don't work well together.

[johnnyrod]

Change it for anything you like. People will tell you a mismatched pair will kill you on your first outing, it's not true. Worth getting a sticky front as they last for ever and you don't want it to let go.

Can anyone suggest a sticky front then please?

[Swin]

I have recently had Michelin Pilot 2's fitted, not sure if they are classed as "sticky" as such but they are easily the best I've used

[johnnyrod]

I like the feel of Bridgestones, so the S20. I'm not really up on the current range -anything described as sports/super sports rather than sports touring.

[sev]

imo I would keep matched front and rear tyres if not only to keep your insurance happy if anything happens.
your tyre choice will depend on how you ride your bike. if you mainly use it for commuting then a sports tyre is not really needed, most sport/touring are well up to the job.

I replaced the OEM D220 rear with a BT020, with the D220 still on the front it was horrible. Had other mixtures of tyres on the SV with no problems.

I'd immediately question your mechanics advice if he says that Continental are a crap tyre. They are a premium tyre, have a big motorcycle range, and I'd say they are better than Bridgestones or Avon, as good as Pirelli, and nearly as good as Michelin. All in my experience of course, but I don't think many people would call Continental a crap tyre. I hate it when a mechanic talks crap because you then start to question everything he's said or done.

I've never known an insurance company to insist on matched tyres. Which company was that? So long as they are the correct tyres for the bike two different brands shouldn't be an issue from an insurance perspective.

The most important thing to consider, and the thing that most influences your perception of the tyres performance, is your confidence! Its psychological. If you don't trust the tyre combination you have on there you won't be happy. So if your gut says you want matched tyres, then stick to matched tyres.

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Thanks all. I have no interest in one person opinion ie the mechanic but he did show me that my front tyre has uneven wear in a lip in the right side. In the dry the contimotions feel fine but in the wet they make me very nervous cornering. Part of me wants to put a pilot road 3 on the front and keep the back contimotion. Would that work? If it does not I will just buy the rear one too. I commute all weather 30 mile trip each way a roads and motorway.