Mix 'n' match tyres
 

I'm after a bit of advice

Last service I popped a new rear tourance on – I've been happy with the general wear on the tourances, and the grip from the rear even on the loose stuff. Now the front is up for renewal. The one thing that disappointed me was the front tourance off-road. Even on gravel it never really inspires confidence and anything looser is a bit more exciting than I like my riding to be. Road performance has been fine (though it's got a bit sketchy now)

What's the general consensus on running different brand tyres front and rear? I'm thinking of swapping to either a pirelli scorpion or an avon distanzia for the front rather than another tourance. I can't really consider anything more off-road-biased due to the road mileage I have planned over the next 6 months.

As usual thanks for any and all comments and experiences

Cheers

Lee

I am not a fan of mix n match, I have always matched the tyres to each other, if I were to change I would do both at the same time.

In the olden days before risk assessments and the need to have blame for every little act of misfortune we used to mix and match with out much care and (it was pre internet) we used to take what was available at the time.. These days insurance companies will screw you if you so much as fart without thier written permission.
So will the bike be any worse for it ? maybe and maybe not but will your insurance company have a kind eye if it goes arye ? probably not. Ps my old 660z was a little twitchy on 1/2 worn siracs but it was probably more due to the squared off rear rather than the front as it was the same on T63s allround.

Hmm � maybe I'd be better off with a new Tourance then. I guess it wasn't too bad when it was new (that was 7500 miles ago so perhaps I've just got a poor memory for what it was like back then). The new rear only went on about 800 miles ago so it's too new to swap out to be honest.

As discussed, the amount of road miles I've already planned to do in the coming months means I'll probably burn through a new set of tourances before the winter anyway, so I'll fit a new one and look at something a bit more aggressive for next winter.

Cheers all

I doubt a Distanzia will feel any better than the tourance offroad.

I prefer them on tarmac to the tourance and they are cheaper.

I've paired a tkc80 front with a Distanzia, a Mitas CO2 and tkc80 (using up my stock of part worns)over the winter with the roads being so muddy around my way.I'd say a tkc would be a good front choice without compromising tarmac grip and longevity too much.

I tried the tourances off road for the first time last year on the XTR at the lakes meet and found them to be not too bad on the hard stuff, but anything with a bit of looseness and you had to be on your guard.

I cant really see the avons or others really changing the feelings as its the thread deepth and the size of the gaps in the front that really allow you to feel the front.

The only option i would say is similar to gregor would be something like a tkc 80 front or similar. Ive used a front TKC 80 for a good 4-5 thousand miles and it doesnt even look used. :HappyRoll_ANPIUI:. It does make the front feel a wee bit heavier to turn but the road grip isnt really effected.

No problem with having different brands on. As a previous poster has said, pre internet there was no problem.

If you are going off road, I would be thinking T 63. You would like them or a Hiedenau ? No probs with mixing rubber on a trail bike man. :057:

My only word of caution for road use would be to avoid a knobblie front with a road rear.
You want as much grip as possible on the front. It's not so bad if the back slides and washes out, but if the front does you are generally FUBAR.

I mix whatever I have left. Now K60 front and Battle Wing rear :tongue11:

But riding on gravel is very different from sand or rocks. When you are not drifting it feels very unstable, it feels like your front end will slide away any time. When you drift, your back tire will push you in the right direction, which feels more stable. But ask the Scandinavian boys/girls, they know the best.