Tyre help please.

[robby boy]

The rear tyre on my Sprint is needing replaced, it's a Pirelli Angel st, I don't really like the feel of it but it was on the bike when I purchased it and was too good to throw off, my question is can I leave the half decent Angel on the front and fit a Michelin on the rear or am I better to replace both to Michelin, my brother says he read somewhere that I must have same tyre front and rear but I don't know so need your input.

[Freck]

I've often kept the same make of tyre front and rear on my bikes but I think it's largely a psychological thing. Confidence in your tyres has always played a big part in riding, justified or not for us mortals 
My Fazer currently has a Bridgestone on the front and an Avon on the rear (dealer I bought it from put a new rear on when I bought it) and it rode fine.
Can't say I've ever read anywhere that you MUST have the same front and rear, certainly don't for an MOT. The only stipulation I know of is that you can't have a radial and a crossply together but that hardly applies these days 

[stevierst]

I've done this a few times with various brands, doesn't seem to make a difference imho.

Freck is pretty much spot on with the psychological side of it.

Shouldn't be a problem.

[nickodemon]

You guys may be right that it is psychological, but i have the same tyres on all my bikes. Head thoughts when riding are is the front as warm as the back etc.... :eek

[darrsi]

I've NEVER had the same tyres on any of my bikes before.
I've always read plenty of reviews before buying and over many years have found that sometimes one will out perform the other so i've always mixed them up.
In fact now is the first time i've ever had the same brand of tyres on my bike, both Bridgestone, but a BT023 on the front and a T30 on the rear.


My mate lived in Germany for a few years recently and over there it is actually law to have the same tyres front and back.


The PR3 seems to be the most rated tyre of choice on here as a very decent all rounder with longevity as well.

[Dead Eye]

I remember talk of the PR4 last year I think - are the PR3's still preferred?

[Jamieg285]

Matching tyres are exaclty that - matching. They have been designed to work together optimally. 

That said, I don't think that mixing them up would make that much difference to most people and/or normal road riding.  Track days or overriding for conditions and it may be more noticeable.

Ultimately, it's up to you. If you are happy and comfortable mixing them, then go for it.  If you'd prefer matching, then you'll have to pay more to change them both.

[darrsi]

Matching tyres are exaclty that - matching. They have been designed to work together optimally. 

That said, I don't think that mixing them up would make that much difference to most people and/or normal road riding.  Track days or overriding for conditions and it may be more noticeable.

Ultimately, it's up to you. If you are happy and comfortable mixing them, then go for it.  If you'd prefer matching, then you'll have to pay more to change them both.

They may be classed as matched by the manufacturers, but it's the reviews I take notice of.
On my last bike I had a tyre on the rear which had positive high reviews but the matching front got terrible reviews, from wearing unevenly to being shite in wet weather, and it was consistent wherever I looked.
So it makes sense to me to buy tyres which have individual higher reviews and are a good all rounder, regardless of whether they end up being matched or not.
Always worked well for me.

[darrsi]

Manufacturers will tell you anything to make their product look good, but with tyres for instance they simply cannot produce the same riding conditions EVERY day as if you were using them yourself.
This is why bikers reviews count so much.
People will generally be quite honest about things, if the product is good or bad they will blatantly say so.

[robby boy]

Cheers guys, have decided it would probably be safer (in my head) to buy a pair, I had Michelin Pilot power 2ct's on the Fazer and really liked them, so will give them a try on the Sprint.

[chunk166]

I have a Maxxis front & Pirelli Angel St on the rear on my 600 I very comfortable with mixing tyre brands.