mixing tyres

since everyone seems to be talking tyres again,thought it might be a good idea to pick peoples brains on the subject.ive noticed in recent weeks that come spring my bish will be ready 4 a new f/tyre{currently stored up 4 the winter}as its down to the last 2mm.at the moment its running on the standard d220s,thinking of going 4 the z6s or pr2s.problem is i recently read that mixing tyre makes is abad idea 4 handling purposes{fact or myth?}.also do different manufacturers tyres require their own psi?,or should the sv still run at 33f/36r whatever the tyre? help please.

[jambo]

you can mix tyres, if you're on a tight budget and not pushing the bike hard it can tide you over for a month or 2. Personally I would recommend that you stick to the same tyre model on both wheels, at a recommended pressure. At best it's likely that different manufacturers use different shaped carcasses and profiles meaning the bike steers in an unusual way. The compounds are likely to be different too meaning one of your tyres will always have more grip than the other. This can obviously lead to you coming unstuck.

There are some exceptions, the Pirelli Diablo Strada and Metzler Z6 Roadtec for instance are the same tyre, so mixing them wouldn't be an issue....

i went from d208r's to z6's and although you carnt push your nails in them when there warm the seem to have more grip but apparently they do go from having loads of tread left to the steel band within a 100 miles

[jambo]

Originally Posted by SmudgeK3

i went from d208r's to z6's and although you carnt push your nails in them when there warm the seem to have more grip but apparently they do go from having loads of tread left to the steel band within a 100 miles

Pushing your nail into a tyre has very little bearing on how well it grips a road surface. The Z6 does not go from having loads of tread to the steel band any faster than another tyre, though as it does not have any tread in the centre 15% or so of the tyre you need to keep an eye on the profile as there are no wear markers in the centre.

James

although my f/tyre still has 2mm tread left,how many miles do u antisipate might be left on quite hard riding?

maybe i should quote that its the tread in the centre lines of the tyre that has the 2mm the grip on the outer tread is a bit more....doh

[fizzwheel]

When Liz and I went to change the D220's on her SV she only needed a rear, and we were going to keep the front D220 and mix it with something else.

The guy in the tyre place advised against this as he said the Dunlop dont recommend that you run the OE D220 with any other tyre ( he was probably just trying to get us to shell out for a pair of tyres, but I trust the guys at Micheldever as they always give good advice IMHO )

So she swapped for a pair of 020's

If you are laying your bike up for the winter, then leave both D220's on whilst its sat doing nothing and then in the spring change the front and rear and have a spring / summer / autumns worth of fun riding without having to worry about your tyres.

I'd recommend the Metzler Z6 as they work really well in all types of road conditions and weather IMHO.

As for pressures 33front and 36 rear is the standard and thats what I run and I've never had trouble with those pressures. However a few peeps have played with the pressures and improved how the bike feels to them, which is the most important thing.

has anyone got rid of the chicken strips on Z6's i still have 7mm on mine and Ive had my knee down n not ridiculously hanging off either

[Richie]

Originally Posted by SmudgeK3

has anyone got rid of the chicken strips on Z6's i still have 7mm on mine and Ive had my knee down n not ridiculously hanging off either

Fronts. yes , rear No 3mm left.
bridgestone are the same.


ps, well done mega poster

[pmapp]

Originally Posted by SmudgeK3

has anyone got rid of the chicken strips on Z6's i still have 7mm on mine and Ive had my knee down n not ridiculously hanging off either

Yes

Trackday at Mallory sorted that