Another tyre thread!
Discussion
Sorry to do this to you - I know there seems to be a new tyre thread everyweek - but I have had a quick look through the archives and cannot find what I am looking for!
For some reason I have it stuck in my head that I should not run different tyres on the bike. No idea logically why I think this, but I do!
I currently have BT-014's on my GSXR600 K4, and I know that I always get approx 3000 miles on a rear (I have had BT014's since they first came out - and have never tried another tyre!). When I changed the rear tyre at 6000 miles I checked the front tyre and seemed to have plenty of wear in it - and thought it would last me til I next needed a rear (9000). How wrong I was - I need a new front tyre ASAP as I have just reached 7500 miles.
Ideally I would like to try a new tyre (I know there are plenty of threads I can look up what I want) - and was thinking about the 2CT's.
I don't want to bin a BT014 that has another 1,500 miles on it, so I can keep the tyres the same. But I do want to try a different tyre. So after all that rambling the question is:-
Am I ok to run two different tyres for another 1500 miles (realistically another 6 months as I am riding the Bandit mostly during the winter)?
For some reason I have it stuck in my head that I should not run different tyres on the bike. No idea logically why I think this, but I do!
I currently have BT-014's on my GSXR600 K4, and I know that I always get approx 3000 miles on a rear (I have had BT014's since they first came out - and have never tried another tyre!). When I changed the rear tyre at 6000 miles I checked the front tyre and seemed to have plenty of wear in it - and thought it would last me til I next needed a rear (9000). How wrong I was - I need a new front tyre ASAP as I have just reached 7500 miles.
Ideally I would like to try a new tyre (I know there are plenty of threads I can look up what I want) - and was thinking about the 2CT's.
I don't want to bin a BT014 that has another 1,500 miles on it, so I can keep the tyres the same. But I do want to try a different tyre. So after all that rambling the question is:-
Am I ok to run two different tyres for another 1500 miles (realistically another 6 months as I am riding the Bandit mostly during the winter)?
You'd probably get away with it, but it's really not advised. I'm not sure as to the legality of it, but I wouldn't run it.
On a Bandit I'd be running touring tyres rather than sports ones anyway - i'm currently running Continental Road Attacks tourers on my R1 and whilst it doesn't turn in as sweetly as it did on 2CTs, ive done 1000 miles on them and the rear is barely worn! A 2CT would be half worn by now!
On a Bandit I'd be running touring tyres rather than sports ones anyway - i'm currently running Continental Road Attacks tourers on my R1 and whilst it doesn't turn in as sweetly as it did on 2CTs, ive done 1000 miles on them and the rear is barely worn! A 2CT would be half worn by now!
Chilli said:
TBH mate, I'm not sure, but I just wouldn't. For the sake of £100 or so I'd rather have piece of mind, especially in this kinda weather.
Having said that, I don't know why it's not a good idea, just been brought up thinking that....so over to the experts!!
That is my point - I cannot see why you have to keep the front and rear tyre in sync! Logically it does not make any sense.Having said that, I don't know why it's not a good idea, just been brought up thinking that....so over to the experts!!
When I lean the bike today with same tyre on - one newer than the other - I have to feel for the front and the rear anyway. Why would this be any different with different makes of tyre? Surely I would still have to feel for front and rear?
I await the experts as well!
I would not run a Bridgestone BT014 with a Michelin Pilot Power 2CT, they are completely different tyres. The BT014 is a single compound tyre the 2CT is a dual compound tyre. The balance, i.e. handling, of the bike will be all over the place if you mix a new 2CT with an old BT014. From what I understand from your post you want to put a 2CT on the rear and leave the BT014 on the front? If this is the case your bike will handle like a pig. Believe me when I say your bike will be transformed on the 2CT's, I'm on my sixth front and eighth rear with a new front & rear going on next month. (I do a good few miles a month). For the sake of another £100 get a pair put on and keep the Bt014's for when you come to sell the GSXR.
Fats25 said:
Chilli said:
TBH mate, I'm not sure, but I just wouldn't. For the sake of £100 or so I'd rather have piece of mind, especially in this kinda weather.
Having said that, I don't know why it's not a good idea, just been brought up thinking that....so over to the experts!!
That is my point - I cannot see why you have to keep the front and rear tyre in sync! Logically it does not make any sense.Having said that, I don't know why it's not a good idea, just been brought up thinking that....so over to the experts!!
When I lean the bike today with same tyre on - one newer than the other - I have to feel for the front and the rear anyway. Why would this be any different with different makes of tyre? Surely I would still have to feel for front and rear?
I await the experts as well!
Steve.
Andy OH said:
From what I understand from your post you want to put a 2CT on the rear and leave the BT014 on the front?
Other way round - front has gone now so plan on replacing immediately with a 2CT - rear will go in around 1500 miles. It would effecively be a new front 2CT, and a nearly new BT014 on the back.AdeTuono said:
6000 miles from a rear! You're not trying hard enough. 
3000 from a rear....... 7,500 from a front!I'm too tight to bin a half used rear tyre - so looks like it will be another new BT014 for the front, and wait another 7,500 miles till they both expire together!
I can only relate this to car tyres but running different makes really affects handling in odd ways. At a recent handling day I went to a guy in the same car as me had mixed F/R tyres and his handling was pretty unpredictable, I assume as different makes/compounds have different characteristics one tyre will break away in the dry/wet at a different point to another.
Personally I wouldn't mix like this, its not worth the risk if something happens on the bike and you could end up getting spat off.
Mags
Personally I wouldn't mix like this, its not worth the risk if something happens on the bike and you could end up getting spat off.
Mags
ive run odd tyres on the RF in the past. in all honestly with the right mix it handled better than one pair of matched tyres. its all down to how they act together. as said above dont mix touring & trackday tyres for instance.
depends how hard you ride too, i freely admit i cant ride anywhere near the limits of my bikes. so i never really need to worry about different grip limits for the tyres. i'll be far from the limits 99% of the time it doesnt matter.
depends how hard you ride too, i freely admit i cant ride anywhere near the limits of my bikes. so i never really need to worry about different grip limits for the tyres. i'll be far from the limits 99% of the time it doesnt matter.
Finally went to get this done, and made the decision to not mix the tyres after the tyre blokes said the same thing as was said on here.
Decided to just get the BT014 on the front, and when the back goes on the GSXR will swap the set for the 2CT's. Will keep the front BT014 for the next front tyre for the Bandit.
The difference is unbelievable on the new tyre and that being whilst taking it easy and wearing the tyre in. The bike actually leans into corners, rather than refusing to!
Stupid thing is I only knew to replace the front as Steve Jordan told me to when he recently set up my suspension. I wouldn't have a clue how to tell the tyre was squared off! If I had known I would have got the tyre changed ages ago. Next time I wont be so tight on new tyres, and will ensure that I get the front changed every 2nd rear tyre regardless of whether it has tread or not.
Decided to just get the BT014 on the front, and when the back goes on the GSXR will swap the set for the 2CT's. Will keep the front BT014 for the next front tyre for the Bandit.
The difference is unbelievable on the new tyre and that being whilst taking it easy and wearing the tyre in. The bike actually leans into corners, rather than refusing to!
Stupid thing is I only knew to replace the front as Steve Jordan told me to when he recently set up my suspension. I wouldn't have a clue how to tell the tyre was squared off! If I had known I would have got the tyre changed ages ago. Next time I wont be so tight on new tyres, and will ensure that I get the front changed every 2nd rear tyre regardless of whether it has tread or not.
Basically I've run different tyres front and rear at times when necessary, however I've only ever done so if my tyre place says its ok and will fit it for me without question. I've generally run the same brands front and rear but traditionally gone for softer front tyres in the manufacturers range.
In the past 010 front with 020 rear on my falco, BT56 front with BT57 rear on my ZX6, diablo corsa front with diablo rear on my gsxr600, this bike had dragon corsas std..so I ran a diablo rear with the orig front for a bit too.
Only bike I've really had to play mix and match was the R6 I had.. it came with 020 tyres on all round and yet had them fully abused with track day use from the previous owner (???) my tyre place commented that the tyres were an odd choice for an R6 but as I was using the bike for commuting suggested they'd be ok.. the 020 rear then picked up 3 punctures over the space of a couple of month and had to be binned, I ended up buying a preused michelin mcadam off them for £20 to use with the 020 front to wear it out first. Once that was done I stuck diablos all round.. mainly as the don't make corsas with a 60 profile which the orig R6 had.
So basically my advice check with a decent tyre place!!
I'm looking at the new Diablo Rossos as my next potential tyres.. these appear to be the replacement for the std diablos.
In the past 010 front with 020 rear on my falco, BT56 front with BT57 rear on my ZX6, diablo corsa front with diablo rear on my gsxr600, this bike had dragon corsas std..so I ran a diablo rear with the orig front for a bit too.
Only bike I've really had to play mix and match was the R6 I had.. it came with 020 tyres on all round and yet had them fully abused with track day use from the previous owner (???) my tyre place commented that the tyres were an odd choice for an R6 but as I was using the bike for commuting suggested they'd be ok.. the 020 rear then picked up 3 punctures over the space of a couple of month and had to be binned, I ended up buying a preused michelin mcadam off them for £20 to use with the 020 front to wear it out first. Once that was done I stuck diablos all round.. mainly as the don't make corsas with a 60 profile which the orig R6 had.
So basically my advice check with a decent tyre place!!
I'm looking at the new Diablo Rossos as my next potential tyres.. these appear to be the replacement for the std diablos.
Hooli said:
its easy to tell if its squared off, look at it!
a square tyre will have less tread in the center so the profile goes flatter (or squarer)
You would have thought so - but obviously I can't!a square tyre will have less tread in the center so the profile goes flatter (or squarer)
I check the tyres weekly for damage, wear and pressure - and I never noticed the tyres were squared off!
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