Mixing Tires

draftgear · 03-13-2009, 11:13 PM

I have been searching the boards for an answer with no luck. I have stones on my bike and am in need of a front tire. I am wanting to go to Avon Cobras, would it hurt to run avon on front and stone on rear for awhile. Any ill effects on handling ect.

cactusjack · 03-13-2009, 11:24 PM

I have a Metzeler ME880 on the front and a new Cobra on the rear. I don't notice any problems with handling. rides just fine. When the ME880 wears out, I'll throw a new Cobra on the front.

audiogooroo · 03-13-2009, 11:26 PM

I have Dunlop on the front and Metzler on the rear. No problems.

sakirider · 03-14-2009, 12:19 AM

I have a Metzler bias on the front and Metzler Radial on the rear. No problems so far, I have about 2,000 miles on the clock with this arrangement.

**jmorrow** · 03-14-2009, 01:34 AM

I never have been able to tell any difference in how the bike handled with mis-matched tires.

faxxxy · 03-14-2009, 06:01 AM

The only situation I can think of where tire matching is critical would be on a 4 wheel drive.

I think you'll be just fine.

gopjohnny · 03-14-2009, 07:36 AM

done it for years

markw · 03-14-2009, 07:45 AM

Guess I would have to be the exception here. When I bought my 1500 it hd a Dunlop in the rear and a Stone in the front. It seemed to me that in cornering I would set a line in the curve and about halfway thru the tires would squirm and I'd have to readjust my steering line. maybe it was just because of wear. I replaced both with Metzler ME 880's and it was night and day difference in the handling especially in the curves. I could now lean into a curve and the tires would stick to the same line all thru the curve. I just put on a new set of Metzlers after about 15,000 on the 1st set. It looked like I could have possibly gotten more miles out of them but I did find a spot on the rear where a bubble or separation was just starting to appear.

**glwilson** · 03-14-2009, 08:11 AM

I also have two separate brands of tires. No problem in any way.

**Top Cat** · 03-14-2009, 08:25 AM

I have a Metzeler ME880 on the front and a new Cobra on the rear, no problems.
markw, I think your problem is the stone on the front not mixing tires. I couldn't hold a line in a curve with the stock stones.
Metzlers were alot better but didn't like the way they wore.

johnb · 03-14-2009, 09:29 AM

I have the Bridgestone on the front and a Dunlop on the rear. No problems.

lw · 03-14-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by draftgear

I have been searching the boards for an answer with no luck. I have stones on my bike and am in need of a front tire. I am wanting to go to Avon Cobras, would it hurt to run avon on front and stone on rear for awhile. Any ill effects on handling ect.

I switched to a Dunlop on front and rode for a few months while getting the wear out of the Stone on the back. No problems.

MarkG · 03-14-2009, 12:01 PM

There is something about bias in front, radial in the rear is okay. Radial in front, bias in the rear is not. I think the preferred method is bias/bias or radial/radial. I read it someplace and can't remember where at the moment. Maybe some of the others will chime in on this part of it.

landman · 03-14-2009, 05:56 PM

mixing brands is okay but i wouldn't mix bias with radials.keep
them both either bias or radial and you 'll be fine.

03-13-2009, 11:13 PM	#1
draftgear Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Belton, Texas Posts: 7	Mixing Tires I have been searching the boards for an answer with no luck. I have stones on my bike and am in need of a front tire. I am wanting to go to Avon Cobras, would it hurt to run avon on front and stone on rear for awhile. Any ill effects on handling ect. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-13-2009, 11:24 PM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Mixing Tires I have a Metzeler ME880 on the front and a new Cobra on the rear. I don't notice any problems with handling. rides just fine. When the ME880 wears out, I'll throw a new Cobra on the front. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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03-13-2009, 11:26 PM	#3
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Mixing Tires I have Dunlop on the front and Metzler on the rear. No problems. __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad
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03-14-2009, 12:19 AM	#4
sakirider Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 22	Mixing Tires I have a Metzler bias on the front and Metzler Radial on the rear. No problems so far, I have about 2,000 miles on the clock with this arrangement.
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03-14-2009, 01:34 AM	#5
jmorrow Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beech Grove, Arkansas Posts: 1,884	Mixing Tires I never have been able to tell any difference in how the bike handled with mis-matched tires. __________________ Jim (Dooley) Morrow Stanford, Arkansas 2004 Kawasaki Nomad 1500 VBA #146 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-14-2009, 06:01 AM	#6
faxxxy Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bentonville, Home of Wal-Mart Posts: 142	Mixing Tires The only situation I can think of where tire matching is critical would be on a 4 wheel drive. I think you'll be just fine.
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03-14-2009, 07:36 AM	#7
gopjohnny Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Moulton Alabama Posts: 304	Mixing Tires done it for years
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03-14-2009, 07:45 AM	#8
markw Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NE Okla Posts: 91	Mixing Tires Guess I would have to be the exception here. When I bought my 1500 it hd a Dunlop in the rear and a Stone in the front. It seemed to me that in cornering I would set a line in the curve and about halfway thru the tires would squirm and I'd have to readjust my steering line. maybe it was just because of wear. I replaced both with Metzler ME 880's and it was night and day difference in the handling especially in the curves. I could now lean into a curve and the tires would stick to the same line all thru the curve. I just put on a new set of Metzlers after about 15,000 on the 1st set. It looked like I could have possibly gotten more miles out of them but I did find a spot on the rear where a bubble or separation was just starting to appear.
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03-14-2009, 08:11 AM	#9
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Mixing Tires I also have two separate brands of tires. No problem in any way. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
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03-14-2009, 08:25 AM	#10
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Mixing Tires I have a Metzeler ME880 on the front and a new Cobra on the rear, no problems. markw, I think your problem is the stone on the front not mixing tires. I couldn't hold a line in a curve with the stock stones. Metzlers were alot better but didn't like the way they wore. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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03-14-2009, 09:29 AM	#11
johnb Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Yonkers, NY Posts: 271	Mixing Tires I have the Bridgestone on the front and a Dunlop on the rear. No problems.
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03-14-2009, 12:01 PM	#13
MarkG Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,255	Mixing Tires There is something about bias in front, radial in the rear is okay. Radial in front, bias in the rear is not. I think the preferred method is bias/bias or radial/radial. I read it someplace and can't remember where at the moment. Maybe some of the others will chime in on this part of it. __________________ Mark Griffin 2021 Manhattan Metallic K1600GTL 2016 Silver K1600GTL - sold 2015 Red/Blk Cross Country Tour - sold 2008 Red/Blk Nomad - sold KE7HG VBA 00176, IBA 65686, MOA 211564 Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Maggie Valley '11\|Kanab '12\|Estes Park '13\|Red Lodge '16\|Custer '18
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03-14-2009, 05:56 PM	#14
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	Mixing Tires mixing brands is okay but i wouldn't mix bias with radials.keep them both either bias or radial and you 'll be fine. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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