Riding with mistmatched tires... is it really bad?

[drinmotoracer]

Hi,
So, my rear tire is worn out, but the front tire is good to go (60%). My question is, is it really that bad to buy another tire with different tread patterns, and ride around? I want to get a tire that is very well priced off of ebay and a good performer (according to the threads on the forum), but it doesn't match the front. The Dunlop website claims this... however, I am pretty sure I remember in the 4 years I have been riding, seeing people with mismatched tires. Does anyone have an opinion on this?
Thank you,
Drin

[DefTrap]

In my opinion it doesn't really matter awfully - for road riding anyway. Brand new & matched tyres always seems best. I've tried all sorts of combinations of Michelins/Bridgestones/Pirellis and after half a dozen miles I can't tell the difference really. I've never had the opportunity to test brand new mismatched tyres so my testing isn't exactly conclusive. I think the Hawk/Bros is fairly forgiving, tyre-wise.

No-one. especially tyre companies, are going to advise you to do this, mind.

[MrDude_1]

the bike will feel diffrent with diffrent front/rear tire combos...just like any tire brand/model change..... although no modern tire front and rear is going to be unridable... like anytime you try new tires, just be careful at first and get a feel for it.

[motorcycleman]

What you don't want to do is mismatch radials with biasply. That could present handling problems.

[Kilter]

I'd also be a little more cautious in the rain, as the tread patterns of matched front/rear are designed to work together to improve grip in the wet, mis-matched tires won't

[Tusk]

What you don't want to do is mismatch radials with biasply. That could present handling problems.

+1

I've done it on my Concours and had no problems. When they wore out and I changed to a matched set (bias/bias) I immediately wondered "What was I thinking?!". It's a much better "feel" with the same construction tire on both front and back. My Concours does highway duty and 2 up most of the time.

[bk94si]

I've mixed tires and even radials/bias. I don't ride very hard but haven't really noticed any problems. The only problem I have ever had tire-wise was a Metzeler that didn't grip very well but that had nothing to do with the fact that I mixed tires.

[jaysun0ne]

i have always stuck with one brand but for every front i go throu two rears.