| Author | Message | ||
     Fltwistygirl |
Sorry for the long post. Picked up a nail in the rear tire of the X this morning. The good: -The bike was at the mechanics when the flat occurred -I was 8 miles from home not the 53 I sometimes am when teaching -The rear tire has (had) about 1,000 miles left on it vs. only having 1,000 miles on it The bad: -It's December, work slows down this time of year -No $$$ budgeted for tires for a few weeks -The beemer's fuel pump is whining, needs to be replaced. The ugly: -It's December. It's already an expensive month. So, my question: is the handling going to be horrible if I run the current front tire (Pirelli Angel) with a new back tire (prolly a PR2 or PR3)? I've never mixed tire types between front and back because I've heard it negatively affects the handling. My new tire(rear)/old tire (front)experience on the city X with two scorpion syncs left the handling feeling "notchy". When we put the new front tire on, it felt like a whole different-in a good way- bike. We'd prolly live with it for a few weeks, but I don't want to be missing out on good riding 'cuz I hate the way it handles. Opinions please? Thanks. BeLinda. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
New front tire is always going to make the bike feel great but if it has plenty of life left and isn't cupped then you'll be just fine with just a new back tire. No worries. I run at least two rears or more per front tire change. Tires aren't cheap so to me at least, never change out a perfectly good tire that has life left in it. Unless you are going on a long trip and then it might make sense. | ||
| Paul56 |
If it's just a nail and not in the sidewall you could have it patched (or plugged) for cheap and run out the normal life. Otherwise, mixing types might be noticeable but certainly wouldn't be dangerous. You'd adapt to the new feel quickly. I love the PR2's on my 06. I'm about to run out the second rear and have been running with a patch for the last 2000 miles. | ||
| Etennuly |
You live in Florida. What kind of handling problem are you looking at? Stopping or starting?  I lived in Florida for many years, unless you are flying jughandles there are few corners upon which to handle! They do handle best with two new tires on them, but I have used the last dollars worth out of many front tires with a mismatch. The most important thing is input. Not like you do not know it is there, so ride accordingly.  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks for the input, guys. "You live in Florida. What kind of handling problem are you looking at? Stopping or starting?" Sadly, this sums up the handling necessary for most roads here. I realized after posting that "good" was probably too strong of a word for Florida riding compared to where some of y'all live. But, no icy roads, usually, and year round riding. Those are good things. Don't much care for August and it's stinkin' heat. Or May and September with the nasty love bugs that turn your hi viz work shirt into a potential connect the dots backdrop under a mesh jacket. And the fancy moves by confused tourists at any given moment. Oh and the snowbirds with their monstrous slow moving RV's from November thru April. Yeah, I really should apply for that chamber of commerce job. I'd be a shoe in!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
As long as they are black, round, and rubber, you should be good for 99.9% of everything in Florida. | ||
| Thejosh |
I have to admit, after reading what Vern wrote I think I peed a little. I was stationed in Florida for a year and don't remember any curves either. | ||
| 7873jake |
Hey Belinda, I've got a Pirelli scorpion sync with more than a few miles left in it that you're welcome to. If I had to estimate, it has about 60+% still remaining on it. Its free if you need it. I'm up in Deland but working 6 days a wk in Sanford. PM me if I can help. Cycle Gear in Sanford will mount/balance it for around $30. I can also show you where some curves are too. And some hills. And some hills with curves. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Wow, Jake, that sounds great. I will PM you later today. Thanks. BeLinda. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
I mixed a Dunlop sportmax qualifier 2 with a Metzeler z3 and had a terrible feeling, the handling was fine but didn't feel confident in the front end of the bike, got a z3 for the front and the front end feels perfect, much more confidence. | ||
| Ratbuell |
BeLinda - down in the land of the "straight and flat", you should really look into something like a PR2 or PR3. Dual compound will double your treadlife, easily, even on those Florida roads that are like sandpaper. That hard compound down the middle will help postpone the flatspot-of-death and actually let you keep a tire long enough to get a little wear on the edges before you have to pitch it And, my folks are in St Augustine...so I know how roads are down there. If you want a hill, find a bridge. If you want a curve, find an interchange. And that's...about it. lol That said, though, I don't think you'll put yourself in a ditch running a "mismatch". I had a 616 blow on the way home from Buelltoberfest last year and ended up with a ContiMotion rear. Ran 400 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway with that setup (10,000 miles on the front 616; brand new Conti rear) and by the time I got home there were no chicken strips; handled fine. I pulled the Conti to put a proper 616 on it once I got home (cue Froggy's grumbling about the "crappy" 616's) and kept it; I just put it (the Conti) on my 1125 with the OEM Pirelli front. Seems to be handling fine so far. Once that is cooked, the front will be due, and that bike will get PR3's just like my S1W. Biggest thing to look at concerning a "mismatch" is the profile. Some tires are round all the way from bead to bead; some have square sidewall-to-tread transitions; some are "pointy" with a noticable ridge down the centerline of the tread. As long as you stick with a similar profile, chances are you won't notice any difference. | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
FWIW,I'm running a Pirelli Trail on the front(better traction on dirt roads)and a Michelin PR2(longer tire life) on the back and the combo has been fantastic! I've seen no issues on the twisties,dirt roads or straights..Hope this helps...  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Wow, its great to know that it's generally no big deal to mix n match in a pinch for the type of riding we generally do. Glad I posed the question. Jake-pm sent. Ratbuell-Yeah, mostly I live for the exit and entrance ramps for my FL curve fixes. Unfortunately I usually end up behind a line of Orlando traffic or some Lake County yahoo that is doing 15 on a 35 mph exit ramp, so no fun for me. Few of the elevated bridges in our area, gotta head to the coasts for those. St. Augustine is hands down our favorite place in Florida. If Florida were to be our "forever home", that is our first choice as a place to live. However we are realists and realize that the best opportunities for job growth and better schools, and more fun roads may eventually lead us outside this state. However, if you ever make it down here for a visit the folks, let us know. It's a couple hour zip thru the woods and along the beach and we'd love to meet up with ya. BeLinda. | ||
| 46champ |
I personally feel the mismatch tire controversy is so overblown as to be ludicrous. Will new matched tires handle best, yes. Are miss matched tires a death wish prone to hunting out drainage ditches at the drop of a hat I hardly think so. The best advice I can give is put a new rear on and take it easy while you find the limits. | ||
| Bike_pilot |
It will not be ideal, but yeah not dangerous or horriable. If you ride mostly in FL and aren't particularly aggressive you might not even notice. It'll be no worse, and probably better than it was just before the flat with the worn out rear tire (I'm assuming its worn out just in the middle from all the straight roads). | ||
| Uly_man |
"I personally feel the mismatch tire controversy is so overblown as to be ludicrous. Will new matched tires handle best, yes. Are miss matched tires a death wish prone to hunting out drainage ditches at the drop of a hat I hardly think so. The best advice I can give is put a new rear on and take it easy while you find the limits." I once had a set of Dunlops fitted to a bike and unknown to me they fitted one wheel with a different compound tyre. I have NEVER, EVER been so Sh+t scared on a bike before or since. Try it sometime if you dare. If the tire is a bit worn in the middle its not unsafe but changing them in pairs is the best idea if you can. Long runs on the highway will always wear the middle first. Pick the right rubber for what you do most. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Well, thanks to Jake, a new to us scorpion sync is on the rear. While I finishing putting up the Christmas decorations outside, Greg took it for a spin around our as good as it gets for Florida twisties neighborhood (five curves in 1.3 miles). Jake, thanks a bunch, we enjoyed meeting you and hope we can get together for a ride while the weather is still cool. BeLinda and Greg. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
PS. I've run several sets of "ditch finders" without issue. These include Tomahawks and Shinko. I think the vast majority of the folks here can't outride even the crappiest of tires. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Are miss matched tires a death wish prone to hunting out drainage ditches at the drop of a hat I hardly think so. Maybe not, but I had a rear go out near Roswell NM and the only tire I could get was a BATTLAX BT-016 to go with the front Sync I was running. Definitely a set of tires that simply don't work well together. I made it the nearly 500 miles home on the set, but replaced the BT-016 as soon as the new set of tires came in. I plan to buy a front to match the BT, so we'll see if I have any better results with it. Wayne | ||
| 7873jake |
BeLinda,  Glad I could help improve your day and chances to ride. My boss came out and wanted to know which truck you were interested in buying after you guys left. I told him one of these:  He said "good, at least she's trying to match her boots to her truck" (Message edited by 7873jake on December 06, 2011) | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Jake- Your boss has a fabulous knack for accessorizing! That vehicle matches my boots perfectly! p.s. You have a really cool job! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Damn Jake...nice truck! Got any Chargers ready for retirement? You can leave the LED's in place... | ||
| 7873jake |
there's several of them running around the DC area some where and soon, there will be five of the big mobile command vehicles keeping pace with them up there also (that's one in the background). http://www.mbfindustries.com |
