Is there any benefit to changing both tyres

Originally Posted by dclifford

I need to replace the rear tyre as it has become worn. It is a K4 and still has the stock tyres. Is there any gain to changing out the front tyre at the same time even though it is not worn.

I wasn't asking about which tyre to get. I was wondering if there was any benefit in having a matched front and rear tyre.

, yes there are good reasons to change both front and rear tyres; either at the same time for wear reasons or just to keep a matched pair!

I found that after putting a pair of 014's on me bike and wearing the rear faster than the front than having that changed I was soon (under 200miles) having cornering problems. This was due to bad wear on the front. now the tyre was still legal but I would argue DANGEROUS. The bike was running wide in corners and not turning in without a huge tug and forced steering on the bars. i changed the tyre and this cured the problem.

As for running matched pairs, well, the tyre manufacturers dont design their compounds in line with each other, so nobody will vouch that a dunlop will safely(ie no handling problems) run with a metzler and so on. You will also find that tyres are built differently according to the conditions that they are aimed at. so a 020 pair will work better in the wet than an 020 rear and 010 front. this is due to how the tread pattern is designed to move the water.

there is loads more to say but i have run out of steam hth

Thanks all.
Exactly the type of info that I was looking for.

I always keep matching tires, BUT I don't believe all the hogwash about the reasons you shouldn't mix tires, I think its a big conspiracy in the tire industry to sell more tires.

if you mix tires, sure it will handle different, so what, you have a brain and can adapt, the combo wouldn't be any different than putting on a different set of matching tires, you would have to adapt to their differences in handling too

[northwind]

Personally I'd have concerns about putting different profile tyres on each end, and I'd want to have a stickier/equally sticky tyre on the front as the back (so that it slides from the rear first, not the front) but that's as much for peace of mind as for any real concern about safety. These are 2 of the classic reasons to not mix tyres and they're logical enough that I give them some credence.

Realistically, you'll burn a rear tyre far faster than a front if you use the same compounds and it'll cost a fortune to always change them at the same time... Frexample, checking my receipts my bike's previous owner got through a Sportec front half as often as the rear.

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

Isn't that what I said

No-one likes a smart **** Cloggsy!

I was obviously typing at the same time. If any of you have seen the speed I type, you will understand)

I can understand arguements about not mixing tyres (although I have done it with no obvious problem).

If you are keeping to the same tyre, it seems a total waste of money to replace a tyre with plenty of life left in it for the sake of replacing both at once.

I ran a fairly worn but legal stock MEZ 4 front tyre and a SPORTMAX on the rear all the way through Spain, doing some serious cornering.

People had a few things to say about that.

I now run the 020, 010 combination.

The rule of thumb as many have already said, is always make sure that the front is of a softer compound than the rear. Even the exact same type of tyre for front and rear, the front will be of a softer compound than the rear. That's the way they are designed.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by BigApe

I ran a fairly worn but legal stock MEZ 4 front tyre and a SPORTMAX on the rear all the way through Spain, doing some serious cornering.

Maybe that's what you're doing wrong mate, while you had the Mismatched Tyres From Hell on you were fine, but on a matched set you're a danger

pot, meet mr kettle :P

[northwind]

I'm in a better position to understand these things than most Would you take advice on crashing from someone who'd never come off? No. Come straight to the experts!