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Motorcycle tyres: Replace as a pair or adhoc based on usage

Personally, I have been on both sides of the argument.

BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This is a topic that generally divides most motorcycling groups! How do you approach your motorcycle tyre change?

  • As a pair ONLY?
  • Two rear tyres for one front - but only with the exact same replacement?
  • Two rear tyres for one front?
  • Both adhoc based on perceived wear and tear?

Tyre manufacturer CEAT has this to say on the topic.

Personally, I have been on both sides of the argument. When I replaced my first set of Dunlops with Metzeler Roadtec01 - I chose to treat the replacement as a pair because the Dunlops were quite average and I didn't want a clear mismatch with the excellent Roadtec01 at the rear. Now, with the second replacement due - the front tyres clearly have 50% life left and have been giving excellent grip, so I have decided to go ahead with a replacement of the rear tyres alone. The only reasonable choice available currently is from Vredestein, but looking at the reviews - I'm convinced these shouldn't be much of a mismatch! On the scooter - I follow the 'two for one pattern' as well and it has worked properly.

Where do you stand on this topic?

Here's what BHPian Geo_Ipe had to say on the matter:

For car tyres, I always change them as a set of 4. Car tyres can be rotated and the wear will be more or less even after x km!


As rightly pointed out, the front & rear tyres of motorcycles have differential wear. So if the front tyre is not worn out as much as the rear one, I don't see a point in changing them as a set. The rear tyre will need more frequent changes.

Here's what BHPian mp417 had to say on the matter:

In most cases I would change on adhoc based on wear and tear.


In addition to wear and tear, the time duration should be considered as well. Tyres get hard over time and loses the effectiveness. It also form cracks even if the tyre has sufficient thread depth.

Here's what BHPian shyamg28 had to say on the matter:

I would like to bring in the additional factor of the cost of tyres, as well as current income state.


At an earlier stage in my career, I recall replacing only a single tyre when absolutely necessary. Pushing it yes, but that was the immature thought process.

I recently replaced both the tyres for my Himalayan because the sum total came to 6k which I found was extremely affordable given my current income. And I preferred it because not only did I change the tyre company, I also felt more at ease knowing that I would be supported from both ends from the get go.

So ideally, given a choice and circumstances allow, I would look at replacing both at the same time.

Here's what BHPian ebonho had to say on the matter:

It depends on the condition of the tyres, regardless of usage. Some tyres simply do not wear at an accelerated rate because of the rubber compound, so you will find them looking the same year on year. But rubber gets hard and then does not grip as well, so you might still decide to change a tyre with a lot of tread depth remaining.


Other times, as in the case of Doppie, my std 500, you might experiment with a different wheel size (I moved from 19 to 18). In that case, you obviously buy a new set in the new size. And if the old set is good, you clean it, put in tyre spacers to keep the bead in shape, and store it carefully for when you decide to move back to the original wheel set.

Sometimes, as for Bullets. the rear wear is really hard. Ditto for KTM's. High torque and higher power, combined with a heavy rider with a heavy right hand tends to do that. In that case, if the front still has a lot if usable life left, and as for the KTM the tyres are really costly, then you change only the rear.

Sometimes, you go on a big tour (6-7,000+ km) and the cost of the ride and the terrain justifies a change to purpose built new tyres. Like my replacing my Duke 390's Metzelers for a set of Ceat Verygos at the rear and Michelin Siracs for the front for a big ride to North Sikkim. I had used up the rear tyre by the time we returned. Two micro punctures and continually falling pressures along with the mountain terrain did that. The Sirac later went on to the rear of my son's old Pulsar when a petty cheat puncturewalla destroyed his old MRFs.

Sometimes you just want to experiment with the look and feel of a new tread design and are bored of waiting for the existing tyre to degrade to the point of replacement. Like Dunlop Unigrips on the rear and front of my Bullet (in 19). Or the Ceat Secura Sport (the favourite of many old Bullet racers/rallyists, though the jury is out there and the fan club divided between those and the older Dunlops, fauji favourite).

Sometimes the rear is done (wires showing through the center finally), but the front is still going strong, but you get a crazy deal on a new set of Chinese Metzelers. Which you want to try as a long term cheaper alternative. So you clean and store the old front, the old rear tied to a rope tied to a tree branch becomes a swing, and the new set front and rear goes on, like for my Duke 390.

Do not be afraid to mix and match treads and manufacturers. Or even rear tyres for the front. Generations of motorcyclists have been doing that and racing as well, over decades, when tyres were neither easily available, not were people as well off as today. With great results too.

I used to tell the same to a close friend who tours tens of thousands of miles every year and owns many very fancy bikes. For the longest time he was a by the manufacturer's book type of guy, who would look at me with faint horror when I suggested the same. In spite of the evidence to the contrary on rides we did together. Recently I find his bikes shod with different treads from different manufacturers. He claims its the Covid tyre dryout. I just looked at him and smiled broadly.

Cheers, Doc.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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