Mixed tires

I bought my 2005 used about four years ago. The rear was close to needing replacing, so I ended up putting a pirelli diablo strada on the rear about 18 months ago but left the front alone because it seemed fine. I don't ride much; however, I do notice the mixed tires seem to turn/angle differently. Anyway, I was just looking for a diablo strada front to throw on and it seems they don't sell it in the US anymore. Anyone have a substitute recommendation? Regular diablo?

Considering your rear tire is almost two years old, I would just replace both. Many people don't realize that tires do have a shelf life, and they tend to lose it's grip after two years.

Each tire will have a manufacturer date stamp, your rear tire could even be over two years old.

VEGASRIDER said:

Considering your rear tire is almost two years old, I would just replace both. Many people don't realize that tires do have a shelf life, and they tend to lose it's grip after two years.

Each tire will have a manufacturer date stamp, your rear tire could even be over two years old.

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This was just discussed in another thread. Good info here: http://www.600riders.com/forum/tire-tech-talk/35516-when-replace-tire-due-age-alone.html

I bought a K7 Suzuki off the showroom floor a few month ago. After going a little hard on the tires I could see that the rubber 'Curly Q's' I usually get on fresh tires were very dry and sort of powdery. I never saw that before. They were Michelins and they actually held good in the turns but I would not go really hard on them as they were old OEM's. I changed them out.

One of our forum members put the new Bridgestone BT-023's on and they seem to be a good tire. We rode Montezuma Valley Rd. on Saturday and he was fast on those 023's.
I'm running BT-016's but they won't last as long as the BT-023's

I'm sure you can get away with mixing but it is a rule of thumb to match your tires and I think the reasons are very valid.

Guess that's what I get for relying on Google Shopping. Yeah, I should have just gotten both when I got the rear. Thanks guys.