600rr Stock Tire question

[Toadfart]

I have stock tires on my 600rr with 4k miles on it. The rear has squared off and needs replacement, but the front tires look brand new. What is the replacement tires for the Dunlop Sportmax D218? Can I run a totally different tire in the rear or would it be better if I rode similar tires front and back? Thanks in advance.

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[MSchu]

Yes you can... although I prefer to change out for a set(f/r) myself.

whether or not that set is a matched or marketed set(I might choose to use two different tires), I like changing both

[typerfit]

Up to you really, if your front tire still looks new and your rear is thrashed then you might want to think about going to a harder compound tire, pilot makes a tire called a 2ct, it is a softer compound on the outside and a harder compound in the center, and always make sure you keep up on tire pressure, if they are not checked a lot it can kill a sportbike tire pretty fast

[Toadfart]

I bought the bike off a friend and i believe he mostly did highway riding. So it would be safe to ride the Dunlops in the front and the Pilot Power 2CT in the rear?

[Toadfart]

Originally Posted by MSchu

Yes you can... although I prefer to change out for a set(f/r) myself.

whether or not that set is a matched or marketed set(I might choose to use two different tires), I like changing both

How difficult is it to change the tires? Or is it worth $90 for a shop to change them for me.

[MSchu]

dismounting and mounting is something you can do at home... what you can not do is balance the tire. You might be able to static balance them, but not high speed balance

[MSchu]

Originally Posted by Toadfart

I bought the bike off a friend and i believe he mostly did highway riding. So it would be safe to ride the Dunlops in the front and the Pilot Power 2CT in the rear?

i've mixed makers before... but it's not willy nilly, you need a base of knowledge to do so. best stick to one make and compound for now.

[Toadfart]

I guess I'm gonna get another Dunlop until the front tire wears down some more. Would the Qualifier series be the replacement for the sportmax d218?

[CarsAddict]

id reccomend getting another dunlop tbh.

[The Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Toadfart

I guess I'm gonna get another Dunlop until the front tire wears down some more. Would the Qualifier series be the replacement for the sportmax d218?

if the back tire is squared off pretty bad, the front tire is probally squared off too, just rub your finger over it and check it out.

if its not, id just get a cheap replacement, like a shinko.

if the front is squared too, id get a set of bstone bto16s, best tires ive used on the street, and there very affordable.

[Toadfart]

Thanks for the help guys. The front is in really good condition with tons of tread left. I bought a Dunlop Q2 tire for the rear. Thanks again.

[rd91sib18c5r]

My f4i had simlar tires, rears seem to wear way faster.

I do alot of freeway also and I went with the dunlop

roadsmart tire on the rear, has dual compound and seems very sticky.

They have a tread simlar to the old metzler me1 I used to run on my vfr.

Very happy with the tire and will put one on the front when needed.

[WreckedTeggie]

BE CAREFUL about mixing tires! If one is stickier than the other, you will be in for some trouble.. If the front is a harder compound it's not going to heat up or react the same to temperature or weather conditions.. if you're rear is sticky and the front is not, you're going to push the front and may crash. It's much better to have a stickier front for the street as the rear moving around a little is controllable and save-able.

[Blindstuff]

Originally Posted by WreckedTeggie

BE CAREFUL about mixing tires! If one is stickier than the other, you will be in for some trouble.. If the front is a harder compound it's not going to heat up or react the same to temperature or weather conditions.. if you're rear is sticky and the front is not, you're going to push the front and may crash. It's much better to have a stickier front for the street as the rear moving around a little is controllable and save-able.

Thats not entirely true IMO, you are limited by the tire that has less traction, the fact that there is a stickier tire on the other end of the bike wont mess up the handling, it the fact that you have a shitty tire.
What I mean to say is that:

if you're rear is sticky and the front is not, you're going to push the front and may crash.

The problem is not the fact that the rear is sticky and the front is not IMHO, it just that the front is not sticky.

But I do agree, sliding the rear end of the bike > sliding the front.

On my GS500, that I mainly ride on the street and freeway on dunlop GT501's (sport touring tire), I can get away with going through 2 rears for every front.

[typerfit]

You always have to remember as well that the rear is your drive tire so obviously it will wear faster unless your gangster and draggin knees, the Q2 is a solid tire toad, imo still a little on the soft side for compound, good luck with the tire,

Oh yeah, be careful for about the first 30 miles or so, new tires are real slick, they are sprayed with cosmolene, (protects tire from drying out during shipping and storage)

[Toadfart]

Thanks guys. I'm hoping they'll both wear at the same rate and i'll end up replacing both front and rear the next time around.