Mismatch tires?
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 14
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From: Ont.Canada
Mismatch tires?
Hi all,,, what is your take on different tire brands,, My ride is an 07 streetglide. Currently have stock HD tires on front and rear.. Front still has some good life on it,but rear is overdue for changing, This is my second set of tires on the bike. But this time the rear wore much quicker than the front, most likely from alot more 2 up riding, and I would like to try a different brand, any feed back would be great thanks.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There shouldn't be any problems mixing brands. Over my 40+ years there have been a couple of occasions when they haven't got on with each other, for some reason, in which case just change the older tyre. As for more wear when 2-up, increase tyre pressures both ends! H-D is very bad IMHO not recommending increased pressures when riding 2-up, but I always have done, 2psi extra in the front, 4 extra in the rear.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: UT
Hi all,,, what is your take on different tire brands,, My ride is an 07 streetglide. Currently have stock HD tires on front and rear.. Front still has some good life on it,but rear is overdue for changing, This is my second set of tires on the bike. But this time the rear wore much quicker than the front, most likely from alot more 2 up riding, and I would like to try a different brand, any feed back would be great thanks.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I'm running bias front, radial rear, which is fine. That way around is ingrained in my mind from way back, it is the other way around that is not good - although I don't recall why!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I suspect it's a bit more technical than that! Radial tyres certainly do not throw us off - I have them on my Buell and they are common across the bike world. Some Harley models are now using radials, so we will see more of them in time.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: UT
LOL you don't think the way a sidewall flexes under load matters? Do some research. Most all sportbikes run radials. Both front and back. Not just front or just back. All 10 of my last sportbikes ran radials. It isn't about radials it's about running bias with radials. They perform different. Harleys have taller sidewalls than sportbikes(Buells) and weigh 100's of pounds more.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I think I've been around bikes and Harleys long enough. There are new Harleys running radials, as well as my 1990 Glide!
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: UT
Yep. Bias with Bias and radial with radial. That's best. You can run what ever you want. As it has been said people do it without any problem. I would stay with radial back and bias front if you're going to mix them not the other way around. It would suck to find out the hard way.