Hi all,
I had a similar discussion over at the Griso - Bellagio forum and just wanted to expand here.
Basically it's about using say, a Michelin on the front and a Pirelli on the rear or any other branded non matched pair and what to expect.
Both tyres are within specifications, by that I mean new, correct profile, width, designated use (front or rear, road use etc) and modern.
Modern meaning they both have delta maps that are extraordinary (you know, that polygon that rates comfort, wear, grip in the wet, grip in the dry etc) and its doubtful that road use will ever fully explore those mapped limits.
Now we all know that manufacters say it's best to use their own matched pair and every tyre test I have read echoes that but it's based on what, marketing and sales strategies?
Have the testers ever done a blind test mixing brands and scientifically logged results to prove that a mismatch is bad?
A test like randomly having whatever brand installed on a test bike, the rider not knowing before testing and only then comments being made as it seems like all the comments are made prior and biased or tainted by prejudice.
Personally, I have used whatever tyre fits as replacements never minding if it's the same brand or not and never had an issue.
And I highly suspect that it's more the 'knowing' that the tyres don't match is the cause of worry much more than the actual use.
Much of the 'don't mismatch' theory seems to come from dual track car use where more than one tyre is used per axle line and even then it seems more pertinent for steering rather than driven wheels.
So, have any riders here ever mismatched brands and had a real, not perceived problem?
Look forward to replies on this and wonder if matching tyres in the modern era is more of an urban myth than truth.
Chris.
I had a similar discussion over at the Griso - Bellagio forum and just wanted to expand here.
Basically it's about using say, a Michelin on the front and a Pirelli on the rear or any other branded non matched pair and what to expect.
Both tyres are within specifications, by that I mean new, correct profile, width, designated use (front or rear, road use etc) and modern.
Modern meaning they both have delta maps that are extraordinary (you know, that polygon that rates comfort, wear, grip in the wet, grip in the dry etc) and its doubtful that road use will ever fully explore those mapped limits.
Now we all know that manufacters say it's best to use their own matched pair and every tyre test I have read echoes that but it's based on what, marketing and sales strategies?
Have the testers ever done a blind test mixing brands and scientifically logged results to prove that a mismatch is bad?
A test like randomly having whatever brand installed on a test bike, the rider not knowing before testing and only then comments being made as it seems like all the comments are made prior and biased or tainted by prejudice.
Personally, I have used whatever tyre fits as replacements never minding if it's the same brand or not and never had an issue.
And I highly suspect that it's more the 'knowing' that the tyres don't match is the cause of worry much more than the actual use.
Much of the 'don't mismatch' theory seems to come from dual track car use where more than one tyre is used per axle line and even then it seems more pertinent for steering rather than driven wheels.
So, have any riders here ever mismatched brands and had a real, not perceived problem?
Look forward to replies on this and wonder if matching tyres in the modern era is more of an urban myth than truth.
Chris.
