Tyre Types

[maph3rs]

Hi there,
So my Metzeler front tyre needs changing now.
Is it best to replace with the same tyre type or is there a better/cheaper one to use.
I use the bike for commuting and also day trips out. Not track days. Need's to be all weather purpose due to our fickle UK weather!
I have a Suzuki GSX600F Katana. Any helps appreciated

[Dave70]

I've heard/read that it's best not to mix different makes of tyre on your bike. However, I also read that others say it doesn't really matter. So I guess that's not really any help to you is it?

[maph3rs]

[Dave70]

I've recently been looking at getting a new front tyre myself and have been looking online. I found a decent site the other day, that gave good reviews on what type/style of riding the tyres were made for. Just tried to find the site again to post you a link but, I can't find it at the mo.

If I can find it again, I'll post up a link. Although, a lot of sites seem to give reasonable reviews/descriptions.

[RhynoCZ]

All I know is, there are tires and tyres. I'd never use tyres, so I use tires.

The only things to look for are dimensions, speed coefficient, tube only/less. Also, avoid unknown brands, just to keep yourself alive.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Rowey]

[chickenstrip]

The Michelin PR series are very good all-round (cue crappy puns ) tyres. I use the 2s on my Fazer thou, never been tempted to upgrade to the 3 or 4 as the 2 has never let me down and are now cheaper due to being superceded. Most modern tyres have good dry weather performance, so consider how a tyre will perform in the wet as a more important guide to what you go for.
The last time I changed these tyres as a pair, the front AND rear both lasted 6000 miles of mostly recreational (as opposed to commuting) use, so lots of hard braking on the front. You'll get more out of them for more general use, and of course, your 600 won't put quite the demands on them that a heavier litre bike will.

Mixing tyres - it CAN work, but it takes experimentation - a very costly approach - to find what does. Generally, I don't think there's a problem with it if your riding isn't, shall we say, "sports" riding. But one thing you might want to be careful of is that you don't put a front on that takes longer to warm up than the rear cos if you do push it thinking the rear is gripping fine, you may find in a corner that the front isn't and doesn't grip when you need it to. But there are caveats with everything, and if you're careful about warming them up, or don't tend to put heavy demands on your tyres, even this shouldn't be a problem. (Have I covered all the bases? ).

[Pete.]

The difference in feel and turn-in between a new tyre and a worn out one is more than the difference between two new tyres of different makes so if you're only changing one fit what you want, it's going to feel weird and handle with more sensitivity anyway.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Copycat73]

I`ve mixed and matched tires ..still here to tell the tale.. don`t mix cross ply with radial though..

see what your local stealer has on pair deals/ offers ..
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Conzar]

Ive got a Bridgestone BT023 and there GREAT!
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[beardface]

[mudcow007]

[RhynoCZ]

[RhynoCZ]

Here's one for you, this year is the very first year I bought brand new tires for a motorcycle. Every bike before had used tires for around 13 pounds and I am alive. I must say, I got a bit concerned about used tires on the ZXR so I got fresh ones. The ZXR is way way faster than the CB-1 and GPz, so it is reasonable to get new tires. I still buy them on sale though.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Rowey]

I tend to go for what ever is new at the time. Generally I have found there to be very little improvement in dry grip through the iterations of tyres. I've gone through Battleaxe 014's 016's and 016pros. The noticeable difference through the versions were better feedback and better wet grip. All three of those sports tyres were fine for knee downs in the dry when warmed up.

On sports tourers tyres, I found the Battleaxe 021 pretty skittery, but the 023 improved this. Warmed quicker, responded and gripped better in the dry and wet.

The biggest "leap" were with the pilot road 3's. They felt great from day one. Good in the dry and the best I've tried in the wet. Saying that the pilot power 2ct's were great too.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Hetzer]

Pilot Road 3, got one on the back and it rules. I think I have a PR2 on the front and have had no issues but it needs replacing now and will be with a PR3.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"