When you first purchase a bike, it comes with a set of two tires. So naturally, you may think you need to use the same tires.
However, at some point in time tires need to get changed and it’s not necessary that both the tires need to be changed at the same time.
So, is it necessary for you to substitute the required tire with exact same match of the other one?
According to the manufacturers, bike tires need to match, as tires are developed in pairs and are untested with other tires, this is in the case of on-road bikes. However, in the case of off-road bikes, mixing and matching tires is quite common and tires need not be in exact same pair.
Mixing tires depends on what kind of bike you use. For some bikes, mixing tires is encouraged, but it is best avoided with others. Even for bikes where mixing tires are fine, some factors must remain the same.
With this article, we will be considering which bikes allow mixing tires. Along with that, we will also see which factors are changeable and which are not.
Can You Mix And Match Tires?
As discussed earlier, tire manufacturers advise against it. But many motorcyclists believe that this is just a marketing tactic to boost the sale of their own tires.
However, there seems to be a logical explanation behind their advice too. All the tires are developed in pairs and are tested for their traction and handling ability with the exact same pair of tires over a single bike.
So, this bike is untested with any other tire combination. So they can’t suggest that you use any other tires as they don’t know if that will be 100% compatible or not (Even you don’t know for sure).
However, in the case of offroad bikes, things are quite different. In some bikes, like mountain bikes, mixing is not only permitted; it is encouraged! For these bikes, mixing tires can enhance your performance quite a bit.
Let’s consider the mixing and matching of bike tires in a bit more detail.
Can You Mix Different Tire Brands?
Front and rear tires tend to vary quite a bit, even when they come from the same manufacturer. These distinctions will typically be in the width and tread patterns. However, the diameters tend to be pretty similar.
As long as you get tires that are similar in diameter, mixing tires of different brands should be no problem. Ensure, however, that they come from a quality brand.
A critical point to remember about tire brands is not all of them are manufacturers. Think of it like this; Pirelli, Michelin, and Bridgestone get their tires from a specific plant. The same plant may produce tires for other unrecognized brands too.
However, the quality between those known brands and the unrecognized ones is incomparable. Why? Well, because the former companies invest a lot of money in the quality control of their products.
It’s not just the raw materials that matter. The technique used to manufacture the tires plays a huge role and these brands spend a humongous amount of money to ensure that the final product matches all the quality standards. And those finished tires that fail to meet the quality are discarded from the final batches.
Can You Mix Tires In Mountain Bikes?
If you ride a mountain bike, you are free to experiment with tires and find what suits you best. Mixing brands, types, and even sizes is more than alright.
Most bikers perform best with a front wheel with more traction and a rear wheel with less rolling resistance. The only factor you cannot alter in these tires is their diameter.
Of course, using the same tires for both the front and rear ends of your bike is fine too. This option is best suited for those who like the same surefootedness all over.
Can You Mix Dirt Bike Tires?
Dirt bikes run on terrains where grip is critical. So mixing and matching tires is encouraged to find the perfect combination of handling and traction.
As in other cases, you do not want to overdo the difference between the front and rear tires. Why? Well, each tire has a specific level of traction. If you go for tires that vary greatly, it will affect your bike’s handling and compromise your safety.
Can You Mix Street Motorcycle Tires?
When it comes to street motorcycles
, the manufacturer’s advice is not to mix and match tires. Of course, a few cynics among the bunch might feel that this is nothing more than a sales tactic.
Still, others believe that it does not matter, and any tires will do. However, the tires on your bike have a significant impact on bike handling, maintenance, and more.
Most motorcyclists know just how critical maintenance is for a bike. Besides replacing the brake pads when needed, they also need to balance and rotate the tires. If you overlook any of these steps, it may hamper the performance and safety of the bike.
It is likely far more convenient to balance and rotate a matched set than mismatched pairs in terms of tires. Remember also that it is quite dangerous to ride a bike with different tires on the front and rear ends.
The reason being, they will wear unevenly and deal with damage differently, too. So if you damage only one tire, your best bet is to replace it with one identical to it.
For an optimal bike riding experience, it is best to opt for matching tires. The simple reason behind this is that the designers paired them to work together. A pair of mismatched tires will, therefore, never be able to provide such superior performance.
If you think replacing only one tire is the more affordable option for you, consider this table. Understanding the differences between the different tires will help you in coming up with an ideal match.
| Category | Radial Ply Tire | Cross-ply Tire | Belted Bias Tire |
| Ply Arrangement | Run radially straight from bead to bead | Arranged diagonally opposite from bead to bead | Run diagonally across the tread area |
| Stiffness | Less, more comfortable at high speeds | More, less comfortable at high speeds. | Moderate |
| Steering | Hard | Easy | Moderate |
| Grip | Firm | Less | Sufficient grip and safety as it holds the tire flat. |
| Tread Life | Greater | Lesser | Greatest |
| Braking Grip | More | Less | More |
| Price | Costly | Cheap | Costliest |
Do tire diameter needs to match ?
With tire diameters, there is no leeway whatsoever. You need to either get a perfect match or not buy a tire altogether. The tire diameter needs to be an exact match.
The tire diameter of your bike is generally visible on its sidewall. You will often find the tire width and its outer diameter side-by-side, but not necessarily in the same order.
Different bikes have different ways of displaying these numbers. So you may find one, two, or even three sets of numbers on your tire sidewall.
When purchasing a new tire, you need to ensure that it matches one of these sets. If not, it just won’t fit your bike. Here are the sizes you want to look out for:
- On A Mountain Bike: 27.5×2.2, with the former being the outer diameter and the latter being the width.
- For A Road Bike: 700x32c indicates an outer diameter of 700mm and a width of 32mm.
- With A Mountain Or A Road Bike: You may find a third tire size that appears on both of these bikes. The International Standardization Organization (ISO) has its method of denoting tire size.
If we consider the 700x32c example above, the ISO will represent it as 32-622. The system signifies the 622mm inner diameter instead of the 700mm outer diameter. The reason being, they want to ensure that the two diameters align.
You need not pay much attention to ISO numbers unless it is the only size you have to go off. That is because while you do find them on tires, you won’t find them anywhere else. So they don’t factor in much when you have to make a purchase.
Can you put different width tires on a bike?
When it comes to tire width, you have the choice of minor variations. For instance, opting for a wider tire might make for a more comfy ride.
That said, you do need to consider factors like rim size, fork size, and frame tolerance. So it is advisable to get in touch with experts at a bike shop before choosing a specific tire.
While the width of bike tires does give you some wiggle room to play with, you should not go overboard. That means getting tires that are excessively wider or narrower than the original ones is a big no-no.
So you may then wonder, what’s the best tire width? The truth is that this depends on the style of bike you will be riding. However, here’s a quick table of the differences between wide and narrow tires to make your choice simpler.
Compare these with your bike and the terrain you usually ride on to find the ideal tire.
| Category | Wide Tires | Narrow Tires |
| Comfort | More comfort | Less comfort |
| Grip | Greater grip | Less grippy |
| Rolling Resistance | Lower rolling resistance | Higher rolling resistance |
| Weight | Heavier, slow bikers down | Lighter, more aerodynamic |
| Pinch Flat Resistance | Better resistance to pinch flats due to high volume within the tire | Can resist pinch flats, but you must have them at a high pressure to do so |
Wrap Up
To wrap it up, let’s consider the question that was the basis of this article. Do you need to match bike tires? In simple words, the answer to this question depends on the type of bike you ride.
If you are on a bicycle or a dirt bike, go ahead and get experimental! However, if you ride a street motorcycle, you may want to avoid mixing wheels.
Also, when you do choose to mix, keep the standard guidelines and recommended sizes in mind. For instance, don’t go for a tire that’s widely disproportionate to your original one.
As a rider, it is more than natural for you to want your bike to look good. However, when it comes down to mixing tires, remember that safety, control, and performance take precedence.