Mismatching Tires

Liist · March 29th, 2012, 01:22 PM

About a thousand miles ago, I had to immediately replace my tire because I had a piece of metal wire sticking into it and it was very close to hitting the tread bars. Today I just replaced the front tire with a Michelin dual-compound tire. The rear is still the Dunlop OEMs because that's the only tire the mechanic's shop had in inventory for that size, and I needed it right then.

The front-end grip felt completely different and it's more grippy. Hard to get used to at first but now I want the Michelins on the rear.

My main concern is if this is a safety issue having a much grippier front tire than the rear tire.

cbdallas · March 29th, 2012, 01:31 PM

I just replaced my OEM rear with a Dunlop. OEM Bridgestone is still on the front. Other than being slightly easier to lean now because the center section is round instead of flat, it made no difference in handling.

csmith12 · March 29th, 2012, 01:36 PM

Running matching compounds is preferred and considered to be safer.

Jiggles · March 29th, 2012, 01:38 PM

Just be sure the tires are either both radial or both bias ply

Liist · March 29th, 2012, 01:53 PM

So I'm pretty sure it's a radial in the front and bias ply in the back. What kind of problems arise from this?

alex.s · March 29th, 2012, 01:54 PM

as long as your front tire has grip, who cares.

you arent going to drop the bike from your rear tire slipping. you are going to drop the bike from your front tire slipping

Jiggles · March 29th, 2012, 01:59 PM

http://pnwriders.com/motorcycle-talk...ial-tires.html

alex.s · March 29th, 2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

http://pnwriders.com/motorcycle-talk...ial-tires.html

a lot of people repeating what they have heard without questioning reasoning or method. there's one guy who knows what he is talking about.

radial = better contact patch under compression = better grip vs bias ply.

bias ply slips more than radial. nobody cares about a slipping rear tire. everyone should care about a slipping front tire (muuuuch harder to recover from)

a burnt radial wont have as much grip as a brand new bias-ply.

so like i said, as long as your front tire has more grip than your rear tire does, who cares.

CZroe · March 31st, 2012, 11:10 PM

If your Dunlop has life left, I'm always lookin' for another.

Liist · April 1st, 2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CZroe

If your Dunlop has life left, I'm always lookin' for another.

It'll probably only have about 2,000 miles when I replace it. Just don't have the money to match the front. I'll definitely let you know if you still want it

CZroe · April 1st, 2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liist

It'll probably only have about 2,000 miles when I replace it. Just don't have the money to match the front. I'll definitely let you know if you still want it

Might be worth getting for practice mounting and dismounting considering that I might actually get some use out if it.

March 29th, 2012, 01:22 PM	#1
Liist ninjette.org guru Name: David Location: Florida Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 357	Mismatching Tires About a thousand miles ago, I had to immediately replace my tire because I had a piece of metal wire sticking into it and it was very close to hitting the tread bars. Today I just replaced the front tire with a Michelin dual-compound tire. The rear is still the Dunlop OEMs because that's the only tire the mechanic's shop had in inventory for that size, and I needed it right then. The front-end grip felt completely different and it's more grippy. Hard to get used to at first but now I want the Michelins on the rear. My main concern is if this is a safety issue having a much grippier front tire than the rear tire.

March 29th, 2012, 01:36 PM	#3
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Running matching compounds is preferred and considered to be safer. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 29th, 2012, 01:38 PM	#4
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	Just be sure the tires are either both radial or both bias ply __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

March 29th, 2012, 01:54 PM	#6
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	as long as your front tire has grip, who cares. you arent going to drop the bike from your rear tire slipping. you are going to drop the bike from your front tire slipping __________________________________________________

March 29th, 2012, 01:59 PM	#7
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	http://pnwriders.com/motorcycle-talk...ial-tires.html __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

March 29th, 2012, 01:31 PM	#2
cbdallas ninjette.org guru Name: Charlie Location: Wylie, TX Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: 317	I just replaced my OEM rear with a Dunlop. OEM Bridgestone is still on the front. Other than being slightly easier to lean now because the center section is round instead of flat, it made no difference in handling.

March 29th, 2012, 01:53 PM	#5
Liist ninjette.org guru Name: David Location: Florida Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 357	So I'm pretty sure it's a radial in the front and bias ply in the back. What kind of problems arise from this?

March 31st, 2012, 11:10 PM	#9
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	If your Dunlop has life left, I'm always lookin' for another.

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