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-   -   Motorcycle Tyres: Replace both as a pair or adhoc based on usage? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/246998-motorcycle-tyres-replace-both-pair-adhoc-based-usage-2.html)

Unlike cars where the rotation happens front<->back every 5k kms bikes don't need such practices and it all depends on the condition of the tyres and the intended use. As the front tyre of a bike is stressed the most it's advisable to replace it sooner than the rear even if there's some treat left.

Rubber hardens overtime irrespective of usage and this leads to less grip even with decent amount of tread left. You can be conservative with the rear unless it's completely bald but never take the chance with the front.

In my opinion the replacement criteria always dependents on the tyre condition rather than a thumb rule of replace both at the same time as certain brands proclaim.

Might come as a surprise to some, but both the front and rear tyres of my bike wear out pretty much equally. At best the front will run a wee bit more than the rear and by some 200-300 kms before showing it's inner nylon tread/belt. My bike is a 200 Duke.

I somehow manage to wear the rear tyre faster than the front tyre. I've owned three 800cc+ bikes over the last 5 years and I have always gotten at least 2-3000km more life on the front tyre (No I don't pop wheelies at all haha!)

I dont have a Bike but a gearless scooter. My TVS Wego of 2011 came with tubed tyres. Although the punctures in the initial years were less, as time progressed, I realised the rear tyre was getting punctured more often. I replaced both tyres and went by the logic of:
1. Getting Michelin tubeless tyres instead of the stock TVS
2. Additional cost was some 1800 for the non damaged tyre
3. Tyres had run 16k kms, but had crossed 7 years by which time, I assume the rubber compound will give way and lead to more punctures.

For me more than the Kms, its the time which will determine if I need to change one or both tyres.

For cars, it s a no brainer- all 4 tyres changed at 45-50k kms or 6 yrs whichever is earlier.

With my two strokes I have experimented with brand tyre combination in the front and rear and have changed the one depending on the condition and life left in them. However, now my usage pattern for the two strokes have drastically reduced and I think the last time the tyre was changed was almost a decade back.

When it comes to big bike I don't think mentally I would be ok to try different brand combination at the front and rear and also if one is planning to change anyone tyre either on the front and rear they should still ideally buy the set (if your prefer to maintain same brand and model at both ends). The reason being the availability of the imported tyres especially when you really need it in the current situation.

Having owned three bikes over last 33 years, I have been changing the tyres based on usage and wear & tear. The rear always gets replaced first, followed by the front. Once the tyre crosses 5 year mark or 25,000 kms keep a close look on their condition.

Other personal yardsticks -

1. After two punctures, replace the tube. If the new tube also develops punctures soon after, it is an indication that the tyre is not reliable. Replace it, irrespective how much tread appears to be left.

2. Past 25,000 kms keep an eye on the braking performance also.

Have always preferred the ribbed tyre for the front wheel (even if the OEM wasn't so).

Zapper tyres seem to lose treads faster - as it is, their tread depth itself appears to be lesser than the regular ones and without tread on the centre of the tyre makes it look vulnerable to sharp objects....

Ad Hoc, and it depends on the type of bikes/tyres too. I had changed my Duke's front and back together from the stock MRFs to Michelin Pilot Streets at 17k, if I remember correctly, even though the front could have gone another 2k whereas my current Himalayan's stock Ceats rear one lasted only 9K and that's a lot more than what others have got. The front was replaced at 14k but road grip could have been fine till 15k. The Aprilia SR 150 that I had before had totally different change intervals too.

Hello,

Need guidance for replacing tires for my TVS Jupiter. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

I completely lost faith in my primary bike at 24k and changed rear stock tvs to zoom xl. The response was a lot better, changed my views completely. The bike has not been in much use during covid time and I'm now looking for outlets both online and offline for zoom xl for the front. I was quite impressed by the change in character. If anyone has any other recommendation, please feel free to suggest. Reason for change of rear was a few punchers and loss of grip.

Also had to change front rubber in another bike in the family, I went with non-ribbed type as the run is less and I feel that it will behave better for the variety of weather conditions appear in that location.

My criteria will be
- ability to retain pressure too low
- grip gone bad (even if tread is present)
- aging/hardening of the compound
- wear

If anyone is met, one should not wait for any other. Also, never move to a less grippy rubber.

My TVS Zest 110cc front tyre is 90/100-10 while rear tyre is 90/90-10. Is it ok to replace replace rear tyre also with 90/100-10 ? What is the advantage/disadvantage of having different tyre sizes for front and rear?

If tyres are referred to as "shoes" and the bike as "babe" (Going by the numerous "Got new shoes for my babe/baby" posts), I do not understand how replacing only one is fair to the "babe" :)

With different tread pattern & sizes and different wear & tear between front and back, an ad-hoc replacement should be fine. More so for people like me who use bikes for convenience and not for long drives.

For motorcycles which need high grip levels especially on tarmac below are my observations.
Ideally the the front tyre lasts for two rear tyres.

For example, in my Street triple a Metz M7RR rear lasts about 10k and the front about 20k so you can change just the rear when it finishes.

I won’t recommend putting different branded tyres front and back for motorcycles like these. There are a lot of ifs and buts that you would be playing around with. There are alot of stuff that can go wrong while riding these high powered machines why get into another headache unnecessarily?

Besides if you love your motorcycle before you think of any upgrade etc, please make sure it wears proper shoes all the time. 😊

Can you expand on some of these ifs and buts please?

Obviously any manufacturer would prefer that you buy two tyres of his and not one, so let's keep any manufacturer linked recommendations aside.

Any objective unbiased neutral sources?

The front tyre will last much longer than the rear tyre. Generally almost double the distance for small displacement bikes, but there may be exceptions if the bike is heavy. I always replace my rear tyre around 25-30k km, and the front around 45-50k km.

But always replace tyre and tube together, however good the existing tube condition is. And always opt the same brand tyres for both the wheels.