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Tires- changing the rear and leaving the front?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bexabarr
  • Start date Start date
B

bexabarr

Guest
It is about time I begin thinking about changing my back tire. My front one looks pretty good. If I were to change the back tire with the same model (in other words, direct replacement) would I still have to switch out the front? I've heard in a few places that you should change both at the same time. How true is this statement?
 
Actually, I go through two new rear tires to one front tire. Every other tire change is both, otherwise I'd be disposing of a perfectly good servicable front tire, and I can't do that.:-D
 
That is exactly my mentality on things... :) question though. Do you usually keep the same model of tire in the front and rear, or switch around?
 
In 37 years of riding, almost 500K miles, I've switched around many times. No appreciable difference. Right now I have a Continental up front, and a Cheng Shin Hi-Max on back. Handles just as well as when I had a Dunlop up front and a Metzeler on back.

Buy whatever you want and mix them up. Purists will disagree, but I don't give a hoot.
 
Grandpa said:
In 37 years of riding, almost 500K miles, I've switched around many times. No appreciable difference. Right now I have a Continental up front, and a Cheng Shin Hi-Max on back. Handles just as well as when I had a Dunlop up front and a Metzeler on back.

Buy whatever you want and mix them up. Purists will disagree, but I don't give a hoot.
Click to expand...
Agreed. that's the way I do it....:-D
 
lol... and that is the way I'm going to do it!! hehe Thanks for the responses.
 
I always change tires as a set -- I've tried changing just the rear before, but I'm never happy with the way the bike feels with a worn front.

With that said, I push the limits a more than most, so riders who don't drag parts on a regular basis might never notice the difference.
 
Grandpa said:
In 37 years of riding, almost 500K miles, I've switched around many times. No appreciable difference. Right now I have a Continental up front, and a Cheng Shin Hi-Max on back. Handles just as well as when I had a Dunlop up front and a Metzeler on back.

Buy whatever you want and mix them up. Purists will disagree, but I don't give a hoot.
Click to expand...

Yep, two or three to one. Some folks claim tread design and brand makes a difference, but darned if I've felt it.

Now, with that said keep an eye on that front tire. Sidewall cracking? There is a bit of cosmetic damage that is acceptable and nothing to worry about. But if the bike has not been properly stored over the winter, left in the weather and exposed to UV, then get rid of it if deep cracks appear.

My Concours is the only bike I've ever owned that could wear out a front tire faster than a rear tire. :shock:
 
I'm with Brian on this. While I'm a bit more aggressive in my riding style, I'm no racer. I attempted to put my Pirelli Sport Demon front through two seasons last year and this was the result 6 months after replacing only the rear.

DSCN3159.jpg


I'd suggest replacing the pair and keep the front for a "spare", just in case you get a flat.

Brad bt
 
A few years ago, oil mfg. started telling you to change your oil every 3000 mi. Then they paid the auto Mfg. to change their recomendations from 7500 to 3000. If I were selling tires, I'd tell you to change both tires at every oil change, but reality says change them when they wear out.
 
2 to 1, I use up two rears to one front all the time, I could probably do three rears, but by then the front would be getting pretty square.
 
rphillips said:
A few years ago, oil mfg. started telling you to change your oil every 3000 mi. Then they paid the auto Mfg. to change their recomendations from 7500 to 3000. If I were selling tires, I'd tell you to change both tires at every oil change, but reality says change them when they wear out.
Click to expand...

:-D The rest of the world changes oil a lot less often than the USA with not much detriment. In fact the MFG recommends it even on the same engine spec. Silly huh...

Company bought a Nissan - interval is 3500 miles. In the Uk I believe it's 12k or maybe 15. Everything is identical....

TPO of my bike reckoned he got about 8k out of a rear & 15k out of a front. It has Elite II fitted at the mo.

Dan :)
 
It just depends on how large the insurance policy the wife has taken out on you.
 
heavier stronger bikes wear the rear out faster, I do 2-1 as well. If your prone to using the engine to slow down rather than the front brakes you will wear the tire much faster.
 
I noticed the Suzuki service manual said to replace the brake lines every two years. How about that for service procedure intervals!

Back on topic, I change my tires as a set. Usually the front has just a smidge more tread than the rear, but at most 500 miles left on it.

~Adam
 
duaneage said:
heavier stronger bikes wear the rear out faster, I do 2-1 as well. If your prone to using the engine to slow down rather than the front brakes you will wear the tire much faster.
Click to expand...

My GK is by definition "heavy and strong". Therefore, my rear tire mileage ain't all that great. I find that using a belted rear tire such as a Dunlop 491 or Continental TK17 or Metzeler 88 will last me considerably longer than nonbelted ones. That's about 7 or 8K, as opposed to 4K or 5K.

Front tires will go for 6K to 10K on my GK. Surprisingly enough, a Cheng Shin Hi-Max up front went for well over 9K, almost 10. Good value for the money.

Off the subject a bit: It's quite convenient to have a spare wheel ready with a tire already installed. Off with one, on with the other, in one easy motion (especially the front). Right now in my garage there's a Dunlop 491 installed on a rear wheel and a Metzeler 880 installed on a front wheel -- each waiting to be installed on the GK at my convenience.
 
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