New rear tyre but same old one on front - any potential handling issues?

[Paul the 6th]

edit: selling my bridgestone bt014 (rear = 160/60 17") due to the feedback/help from fizz et al I wanted avon storms originally and i can only see a mix of d220 front and bt014 rear eventually having me off in the wet murky winter we have for 10 months of the year...



Original post:
Took the sv in for an mot on friday last week - turns out it should have been done in april but I only just found the v5c... whoopsie.

Anywho, all it needed was a new rear tyre - i was planning on getting some avon storms front and rear next month but the suzuki york centre said "nah the front one is fine mate, plenty more left in it yet, we've got a bt014 in stock for the rear and they're a good tyre, so you might as well save yourself some money and wait till the front needs replacing in another 4000 miles or so and then get them changed to avons together"...

I asked about the issue with mixing a bt014 rear with my standard 4k mile front tyre which is from when the bike was first sold new. He said "ah dont listen to that hype, its just the tyre companies trying to keep money in the pot bleh bleh bleh."

Now I'm sure I've read enough info about not mixing tyres for it to be more than just a 'sales' issue. If I'm heading round a corner at 65% capability and the rear is lovely & warm and sticky, but the front is a shiiite standard tyre with not much grip, surely the bike won't be as balanced as it could be?

any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Also, are the 014's any good? Anyone had experience with these?

oh and I only took the bt014 because it had just started snowing outsid, the bike runs out of tax on sunday and I don't know when I'd be able to get it to woosters (or anywhere else) for some avon storms fitting... And I'm not sure about the law on whether mot station would let me drive away with an out of mot vehicle? anywho, feel free to offer advice and p1ss taking if you think I've been done

[fizzwheel]

So standard D220 Front with BT014 rear is what you're running now ?

If so you have a totally IMHO inappropriate rear tyre for this time of year. I had 014's on my GSXR and they were sh*te when it was wet, let alone wet and cold...

[Paul the 6th]

if a d220 front is what comes with a sk5 as standard, then that's what's on the front, yep... sounds serious fizz?

[Paul the 6th]

so I have a super slick sunny sunday willy waving tyre by the sounds of it?

[fizzwheel]

OK, IMHO I wouldnt not be running that tyre combo.

You've got a Sport Touring front, with a Sport Rear. So on a warm day, you'll have more grip on the rear than the front. From what I've always understood and done. Is run a Stickier front than rear.

Also 014 is a pure sport tyre. It's very good on a hot warm summers day. I found when it got cold or wet then didnt give a huge amount of feedback or a lot of grip.

Also I was told by the tyre expert at Micheldever Tyres, that Dunlop specifically say not to mix and match the D220 even with another Dunlop.

I think the tyre place have sold you what they have in stock rather than the right tyre. As said above I wouldnt be running that on my bike, in the summer let alone the winter. But this is just my opinion and I'm not an expert in this kind of thing, I'm just drawing on my own personal experience.

i have heard 014 on the front and 021 on the rear is a good combo

and is what i will be trying next

[Paul the 6th]

thanks for the info fizz

Anyone want to buy a brand bt014 with about 20 miles on it? Proceeds will go towards a new complete set of avon storms. ta!

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

thanks for the info fizz

Anyone want to buy a brand bt014 with about 20 miles on it? Proceeds will go towards a new complete set of avon storms. ta!

what size?

+1 with that.

i used to mix an 014 front with 020 rear on my hornet - and tbh it was a great combination.

the other problem you have is that the profiles on the two makes will be very different which could give you some unwanted handling characteristics.

[Paul the 6th]

i was impressed with the york suzuki centre as well - nice set of guys and I've only heard good things about them. Shame they couldn't have just been honest with me as I would probably have bought the front 014 as well, instead of mixing with (imo) a shiite front tyre. I have no confidence in the d220's whatsoever.

The good thing is that I only use the sv on dry days anyway - no slippery commuting for me. Just if I ever get caught short in a bit of a shower then I could be in for a bit of wet weather riding skill development...