Is it OK to run two different brands of tires on a bike ME880 & D404? I need to replace the rear tire and am thinking of getting a Dunlop D404 to replace the ME880 that's worn out.
Yes it is... I run an Avon front with the D205 on the back.
Jeff
The short answer, sure you can.
Many of the experts recommend against it due to different tire characteristics.
On my 3rd gen I ran a Metzeler front with a Dunlop rear with no problems. Len finished those tires off after he bought the Magna from me.
Curtis
Personally I would not mix tyres and have always fitted matching sets front & rear whether it be on a car or a bike.
Whilst mixing them might not be illegal I would not advise it since different brands have different handling characteristics.
It might be worth asking your insurance company if mixed tyres are acceptable to them. Have heard of cases in the UK where a claim has been rejected or the payout greatly reduced due to different front and rear tyres having being fitted.
The difference in handling characteristics between front and rear is what has prompted some of us to mix brands. I've never heard of an Ins company being able to dictate what type or brand tire you run as long as they pass inspection and are rated for highway use.
1999 Valkyrie: Avon Venom rear, Dunlop D206F front (noisy tire tread).
No handling problems, but I'm glad that Dunlop is worn out. I'm ordering an Avon Cobra to replace it.
I believe the only concern is mixing radial and bias ply tires. Brand doesn't matter as long as the front and rear are of the same type, both radial or both bias.
The front and rear tires function other than keeping the metal and plastic parts off the pavement are as different as night and day. The rear tire is primarily used to push the bike down the road, the front tire is used to cause the bike not to travel in a straight line all the time. By that I mean that by turning the handlebars you disrupt the bikes equlibrium causing the bike to lean onto a smaller diameter of the tire which in turn causes the bike to track either left or right.
Hope this clears the air without clouding the issue. :-?