Mixing tires?
 

Two years ago I put a set of Bridgestone BT 021 on my '93 Kawasaki ZR1100

It's time for a new front tire ( the back still has plenty of life left in it ) but it seems the BT 021 has been discontinued. The front tire is 12/70-18 ( kawasaki thought an oddball size was a good idea? )


http://www.bikebandit.com/bridgeston...otorcycle-tire

BT 021
http://a2.bikebandit.com/assets/prod...BT021FrtLG.gif


BT 023
http://a2.bikebandit.com/assets/prod...eBT023FtLG.gif


I don't race, rarely go over 80 mph but like to corner ( within reason on a 1993 cycle ). See any problems?

Here's the product description from Bike Bandit
Looking for consistent performance between touring and sport riding? Bridgestone's BT-023 has a new tread pattern and rubber compound that deliver long mileage, a high level of wet performance, a comfortable ride and good grip. The rear tire's 3LC (Dual Compound) technology provides good stability and wear life in center and strong grip and bump absorption in shoulder of tire. Silica plus RC polymer (assists silica effect and controls rubber properties) enhances wet performance and wear life.


Between my AMA discount ( 10% ) and a $10 BB gift card I got with my AMA renewal, I can get the tire for $107 shipped.

Thanks
Jeff

I always just replace both. The front may not be as worn out as the rear but it's just as dried up and cracked as the rear.

If its the same brand/profile I would swap it. a lot of track guys will use two rears to every front tire.

It's the front that wore out before the rear.

Thanks Tommy.

This. I've replaced fronts first and vice versa with same brand and profile though it's rare for the front to go first

I'll tell you from experience that using vastly different tires on the front and back can have devastating consequences on handling. A few years ago, possibly 02 or 03 I had a pair of DOT race tires on my ninja, the front tire was fine and I was broke so I replaced the rear with the cheapest decent tire I found in the right size with the expectation that in a few months I would be able to afford the $300 Dot race rear. The tire I put on wasnt a no name brand tire, if I remember correctly it was a dunlop sport touring tire.

The handling was super sketchy, it felt like the back end would way over rotate in every corner, almost like it was washing out on me. the bike would twitch, become unstable jerk around and became very unpredicatble. I was told by others that it would wag back and forth a 6 inches in either direction mid turn. I thought it was just the new tire curse and took it easy for a while, but it never went away. Basically the bike was next to unrideable.

I wound up asking online and the general consensus was to dump one of the tires and put on a matching tire. So I dumped the front for a matching tire and was fine.

Now this is a very extreme example, super grippy up front and long lasting and harder in the rear, two tires with vastly different profiles. To say it was just plain dangerous is an understatement. It was a big lesson learned and since then I have always put on matching tires. But i have heard of people who put on similar performance and profile tires and been fine, but my experience was bad, and it was a stupid thing to try on my part.

Key here is that it's the same brand/profile. I think derf highlighted this best. I'm about due for a new rear tire. Stock front is still okay, but I don't want to stay with the stock tires. May buy another stock rear just to get me through till next tire change, though. But I really want a better tire, both front and rear.

The previous two owners went thru fronts faster than rears. Maybe it's the nature of the bike or all three of us use the front brake heavily.


Thanks derf. I'm thinking in addition to different styles ( race vs sport touring ) you may also have been mixing radials and bias. Doing that in any vehicle ( two or four wheels ) makes for an interesting (ie, butt puckering ) experience.




There are same brand and profile. I'll need to check more but I think the BT 021 was replaced by the BT 023

yeh it was almost a decade ago so my memory is shot on this one, but it sucked, just regular riding was very difficult, anything spirited was downright impossible.

It was also a good lesson on how much tires actually slide around on the road

Don't mix radial with bias and you'll be OK. And yes, those '93's were weird for eating front tires.

I can't say for sure, but that sounds like a good possibility. The handing characteristics of bias plys and radials are vastly different.

I mixed brands and different profiles with varying degrees of success when I was vintage racing. You pretty much had to, as not many manufactures make sticky rubber for rims nobody runs anymore. A lot of guys actually ran front tires on the rear, with excellent results. Obviously, I'm not suggesting you do this on your bike, but the point is, yes, you can mix tires.

The problem is, there is no "data base" concerning which tires work together, and which ones don't, so it's a bit of a crap shoot. If you ask ten riders at the track what the "best" combo is, you'll get ten different answers, so trial and error is the only sure fire way to figure out what works for you.

I know that's absolutely no help at all, but that's how it goes. :lol:

JC

Pretty sure the -023 replaced the -021, replaced the -020. The newer ones are supposed to be dual compound I think.

I finally changed out my Pirelli Diablo front and Pilot Power rear. That was a weird feeling.

Is your front end lowered?

I'm lucky to get 3 months outta my medium Bridgestone race tires from just canyon riding. And at 310 a pop...shit is not cheap.

The front and rear tires are designed to work together...you shouldn't mix them if you're riding at any good clip.

what were you doing with dot race tires on a street bike anyway?

At the time I was operating under the mindset that I needed the biggest and baddest tires around. Turns out its a waste of money and they suck going to and from the store, they also have a tendancy to flat spot pretty fast

Gotcha, Thats like at the track seeing guys in beginner group running tire warmers and that sort of stuff. I am stilll using pilot powers and not any issues.

yep thats pretty much it

I only run DOT race tires on the street...but I don't go puttin around either and never commute. I've tried running street tires and under the heat they get greasy and slide around; not to mention they will spin up on corner exit. Granted, we run a 3.5mile street course..which is like our own little track (cept there are cars, cliffs and mountains lol).

Try running in 95 degree heat at a upper intermediate pace...those PPs will get greasy real fast and start sliding around. Yes riding at the street track pace is probably OK.

And yes warmers IMO are a waste unless you're racing. Two track days and most race tires are going to someone who wants takeoffs.

I have one bike with bias-ply tires (and tubes), and one with radials. I don't think anyone here would mix the two. I think the problem with mixing brands is the difference in tire cross-section. Some are round and some are triangular. Mixing these types could cause a problem.

Almost have done that, just the upper intermediatre pace up at loudon on a set of the michelin 2cts and they started spinning on me later in the day but I was also running with advanced guys and trying to keep pace with soem of them.

For me dot's are a waste on the street since we have to travel a lot of miles just to get to the good twisties, plus the priller is about 70-80% commuting now.

Front end is stock height.

It's like mixing her birth control pills with aspirin. You really want to take that gamble?

Truck ur bike to the twisties?redflip

I have considered trailering the buell given how painful the seat is LOL

only if I get to kick her in the stomach on the asprin days

Stopped at Blackman's Cycle in Emmaus Pa today to see what they thought. The parts guy looked at it and first question was air pressure. He didn't like the way it looked and suggested I talk to service.

The service guy guy looked at it, asked about air pressure ( always checked and kept at factory recommended pressure ) then asked how many miles. I said it had about 3500 on it.

When I asked what might have caused that ( inferring to a possible mechanical problem ) he said "it's those crappy bridgestones" :lol

I found a lot of reviews where people were complaining about low mileage with the front tires with these Bridgestone BT-021's.

I asked about putting a BT023 on the front and he said that would be fine. ( I hope they figured out what the problem was that makes the 021 tire "pyramid" and wear funny. I'd hate to have the exact problem on the new 023 )

$116 for the tire ( should be in Wednesday ) and $24 to mount it ( dropped off ).

Thanks for all the help and comments, it's greatly appreciated. :cheers:

Jeff

I found out you can use jack stands if you have engine guards :lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...0/DCP_5563.jpg

New tire ( BT-023 ) is on and ready for less than 100 degree weather for a test ride.

Thanks again for all the replies :beers:

they work if you have rigid footpegs or run a piece of rebar through the swingarm pivot

I've been wanting to put Anakee 2's on my strom but I don't really need both tires. Only need the rear right now and decided against mixing. Simply bought a new trail wing for the rear and will buy the Anakee 2 for front and rear next year.

When I had my R6 the rear was done but the front still had lots of life it in. I didn't really like how it was wearing but it had more life in it. My dealer wanted over $350 from what I remember for another stock rear. I almost fell on my ass when I heard the price. They had a deal on for close to the same price for a set of Michelins. I bought them and gave my rear to a guy I knew stunting an R6 but had a bald front tire.

I would look for a deal on a set before buying another stock tire. I was going to buy one because I thought it would be cheaper then buying a good set.

James