I need a new back tyre for my 900 Sprint (1996). Current tyres are pirelli, road angels. Front tyre has a decent bit of tread, but the rear is getting close to the wear bars. Probably a couple of mm from the indicators. I have always used metzeler in the past. Not sure about mixing makes front and rear though, grip characteristics and all that. Would you swap as a pair, or be happy to put new on the back? If that was the case, would it be best to fit the same make of tyre to the rear as on the front? I like the metzelers....this is why Im asking now.... If you reckon its best to fit a matched set, then I'll want 2 metzelers and I need to save up! In the past I would have just fitted what I could afford, part worn, you name it. Bit older now, and maybe wiser? Haha, yeah right.... Older anyway.
I'm kind of thinking that myself. In the past I wouldn't of worried about it. Aaaaah. The innocence of youth. Or is that ignorance? Bike has 36000 miles, tyres were on when I bought it. There's part of me that wonders if they were original fit, or replaced as a set. I never managed to get more than 12 - 15000 out of a tyre in the past. Apart from some Arrowmax I had once, but they had awful grip!
A few years ago I bought a 650 Bandit from a dealer with a fresh 12 month MOT and a very well worn front tyre different model but a Dunlop same as the rear. I reckon the front was illegal. Anyway I got a new front tyre fitted exact same type as the rear and it made a world of difference to the road holding, I could tell the difference as soon as I rode away from the tyre fitters. So my advice is fit a matched pair, it's standard advice anyway but in my experience it does make a difference.
Time to start pricing things up then I guess. I think I had already convinced myself...but just needed a couple of nudges in the right direction. Tyres are a personal choice I reckon. As I say, I like metzelers, but it's been a few years since I had bike tyres fitted. Are they still as good, or old hat now?
A pair of new tyres always feel good, but if cost is the priority only replace the rear like for like and save for the pair you like
What you don't want is a better rear tyre then front. Your asking for trouble and a front end slide !!! So just replacing the rear with brand new rubber is not a great choice. Either go pair of new or replace rear with same. The Pirelli's, if they are the Angel GT's , are a great tyre. Only Metzeler's ive had, were the OE piece of shit on the America. So from personal experience is rather ride Pirelli's then Metzelers. p.s Pirelli owns Metzeler, I always thought them a 'lower' brand, but maybe that's just me Heard good things about sports tyres (M77r iirci), but not about their touring tyres. Seems like the Michelin PR5's are the best of the current sports /touring tyres.
I had a Suzuki gsx 600 once upon a time and ended up with an Azarro rear with a Michelin front. It handled sweet and you could confidently slide the cold rear no worries. Front went bald and so I matched them up. It spoiled the handling as it slowed the steering down so I regretted it. That's the problem mixing makes though, unpredictable results without testing and expense, so far safer to keep front and rear same. What do you find wrong with the Angels? A good mate of mine has them on his 675 ST and likes them. He's a fast road rider and has used them on fast group track days
I can only agree with the above 2 posts, I had PR3s on my Sprint but went down the Angel GT route when the rear wore out and find them great in all conditions plus they wear well too
Unless you are Marc Marquez you won't notice you're running different brands of tyre , I have in the past with no problem that said I do run matching pairs , so change the back then the front when it's worn out unless you have the money to change both now
Miss matched pairing with no regard is not great, as I said before you shouldn't have a touring tyre on the front and a sports on the rear! Careful consideration is required if you are doing it.
Thought we were talking different brands not types wouldn’t run a slick on the back and a knobbly on the front!
Different brands present different profiles, compounds etc. how do you then pick out (unless you're some tyre guru Rocker?) a pair that will run together nicely? Hit and miss? yep as I noted above, some work but I didn't predict it otherwise I would have stayed mis-matched. That is unless you have capabilities far above and in excess of the tyre research departments. I trust my comment/opinion meets your criteria for disagreeing with your post
It does My mate, yes I have one raced semi pro he’d turn up for a race scrounge a fecked rear tyre from the “quick” boys run it backwards and still win In a blind test you couldn’t tell if you were running unmatched tyres although the blind bit might not help
I also have a Beta 300 Factory trials bike and a friend has a new Vertigo 250 all singing and dancing (heap of sh1t). I can't remember the last time I bought a rear tyre (Michelin X1) as I cadge his knackered ones then beat him on sections with poor traction He loves it!
I was using exaggeration to make a point. Some touring tyres are closer to sports tyre's whereas others are for miles. A different brand may lead to this situation. In fact , even same brand can have the same effect. I tried cheap Pirelli touring tyre before I switched to the Angel GT's on my SV650, the difference between them was night and day. The safest way it to fit a pair. Bikes bought with worn tyres feel sooooo much better with a fresh pair of tyres, and then worn to the way you ride. Someone else's riding style and wear will be different. Bought a Gixxer with part worn tyres, good brand, but they were horrible. Fresh tyres transformed it from unstable lump into a weapon. Fresh tyres are lovely I like tyre debates, loads of opinions and everyone has the best tyres on their bikes. (and don't listen to me, I run a Michelin PR5 on the rear and a Michelin Power RS on the front !!! Works brilliant for me on the Tuono !!! )
You could run knobblies on the Tuono and it'd still be the best handling twin you can buy (don't tell anyone )
