Mixing Tyres?

[Faceplant]

I don't suppose a bike with the weight and torque of the Rockster is going to go easy on sports rubber (Pilot Sports) - but 1,000 miles tyre life!

Of course I don't want another one of those and as the front is good my question is...can I mix a sport touring rear with the sports front to get the longevity without messing up tyre profiles and affecting the handling?

[DJ Downunder]

I say...no problems...but I'm no expert.

DJ

[fnfalman]

1,000-miles for the rear tire life? Holy cow, how hard are you on the throttle?

I regularly get 4000+miles out of my rear and I cruise at 90-MPH all the time. I just don't get on the gas that hard except in the canyons which I ride a lot, but still, 1000-miles for the rear tire?

Maybe you should consider running the tires at higher pressures.

[Faceplant]

Tyre pressures okay and the roads are not warm here yet. I think the problem is with the type of riding: lots of short leisure runs ridden enthusiastically - so not clocking any miles on a steady throttle.

The Boxer twin is a bit lifeless until opened up then the thrust of the bike is staggering. It should be possible to exercise more self restraint... but, it just pulls and handles so well...I can't help myself!

[fnfalman]

I'm definitely not too gentle with the throttle either, but 1000-miles on a rear tire?

Try the new sport touring tires like the Metzler Z6 or the Pirelli Diablo Strada. I got about 4000-miles out of sport tires and double that from sport touring tires.

However, if you are going to ride enthusiastically, I wouldn't recommend mixing the tires.

[Faceplant]

Thanks fnfalman, think I'll give some of those Metzlerellis a try.

The tyre dealer said sports tyres had no place on a bike with the weight, torque and engine braking of the Rockster...and I've enrolled on a Police training course to deal with the other wear issues

[houndog]

I don't know too much about anything so I cannot recocomend this to anyone. I just want to brag and see if anyone else has had this luck.
I just changed my tired and I got just shy of 10k on my Avon Azaro's. The cord was allmost showing at change time. I have been gentile and rough on the tires evenly. I don't know why I got that much life, but I can tell you this, I am gonna keep Avon tires on it from now on.

Tommy

[rockster.ch]

I think mine came with BT012s which are wearing well at 3500km; much of my commute is highway (and I don't think 41mpg at around 85mph is bad ).

Tyres are still showing plenty of tread. I am happy with this rubber.

[vas2grny]

Not recomended to mix and match tires. For one thing the front and rear tread patterns are made to work in conjunction with one another. In the rain the front clears a path for the rear preventing hydroplaning and allowing the tire to grip.
Example : Dunlop had a problem w/ theD207's wrong direction on the tread pattern on the front tire.

Try the dual compound sets such as Michelin 2CT Pilots

[riceburner]

I don't suppose a bike with the weight and torque of the Rockster is going to go easy on sports rubber (Pilot Sports) - but 1,000 miles tyre life!

Of course I don't want another one of those and as the front is good my question is...can I mix a sport touring rear with the sports front to get the longevity without messing up tyre profiles and affecting the handling?

If you're pushing hard then be careful, but I#ve never had problems with sensibly mixed tyres. IE keep the front grippier than the rear and of roughly the same standard.

M1 Sportec front and Z6 Roadtec rear works pretty well.

I'd also recommend Diablo Stradas - I love em, they last me around 5,500-6000 on the rear and are the best mix of grip/feedback/longevity I've found.

I hated the OE Pilot Sports, killed em in about 3k on both my bikes that had them.

[leno]

Your dealer is right too sporty a tyre is going to be a waste on a bike like this. Also don't mix the tyres because the profiles will be differant which will have an effect on the handling.