You have a 1250GS; a very expensive bike - just put on a matching pair you cheapskate
P.S. welcome to the mad house
Is it ok to have different makes of tyres front and rear?
- Thread starter Alison1
- Start date
You have a 1250GS; a very expensive bike - just put on a matching pair you cheapskate
P.S. welcome to the mad house
Yes. I do know that. However, I wanted to get everything done this month. Anyhow, whose to say they don’t have the same problem in Europe
Who do you mean by "they"? People like me and my GF who both ride BMWs and have no problems getting tyres of our choice here in France?
Did you know that BMWs are made in Germany and tyres are made all over Europe?
They, being the importers in Europe. Whose to say they don’t have the same problem
Many of the tyre factories are in Europe, nothing to import then. It is the UK who has left the EU and might have problems.
Understood. But according to one of the tyre dealers the problem is down to manufacture, not import. So if they’re not making them you won’t have them either.
Had always heard you could have mismatched tyres (and indeed rode from home to Marrakech with TKC80 on front and Torrance on back, on the 1150).
However when it came to new tyres for the Goldwing, both the tyre fitters (Micheldever) and the Honda dealer (Doble) strongly advised to have matching tyres (either Bridgestone or Dunlop) given the weight and load on them.
So I did.
A few years back all my BMW dealer would supply was Michelin tyres and service guy had a dig because my bike had Dunlops fitted, I pointed out they may not be on his recommended list from BMW but they were recommended by Dunlop.
Last time I was in dealer was pushing Dunlop tyres as the tyres to go onto BMW motorcycles and not recommending Michelin tyres..... more a case of better profit margins or availability of stock
Last time I was in dealer was pushing Dunlop tyres as the tyres to go onto BMW motorcycles and not recommending Michelin tyres..... more a case of better profit margins or availability of stock
So you prefer to ask a UK tyre dealer who's interest is in making a profit, rather than looking on the internet to see what is available in Europe. Very sad.
Here in France there are all sorts of tyres everywhere.
Try looking at our mail order places:
https://www.allopneus.com/liste/pneu-moto?d1=110&d2=80&d3=19&d4=59&d5=V - tells you on the right what is in stock.
Another one. Most in stock.
Or look at Dafy moto a chain of bike shops all over the country. If they don't have it in stock then they can get it, they also fit mail order tyres for about €10.
I would suspect that the tyre situation is the same in all EU countries, they are nearly all in stock.
It’s not sad at all, I’m not taking a chance by hoping to get tyres on a tour, then not getting them. It appears that I’m right to. Tried your first link, and guess what
I can have a Dunlop front and a Bridgestone rear. But not a matched pair of either
.I’ve just looked at the second link and there’s plenty in for a little bike, like a GS. But nowt for a wing.
After saying that, it looks like Dafy have both Bridgestones in stock. Now trying to find out if they deliver to uk
Bet they don't, but if they do then expect to pay a large UK duty bill for them as you are not part of the EU, probably the cause of all your problems in the first place.
I only gave you a couple of links, but I could have given you 20 if I wanted.
Well done Bob.
71 replies and no sign of Alison 
Thanks for all of the replies, I went back to the dealer to have the front tyre fitted this week (they also said I needed brake pads too, bike has done 3000 miles so far!) and when I got there, I spoke to a different person, who said I would definitely need a matching pair (which I prefer obviously!) and I don`t need brake pads yet. Not had the bike long, bought used from another dealer. Anyway I had a new front tyre to match the rear. I just wanted it checked over really as i`m doing 4000 miles to Norway and back next week
Thanks for all of the replies, I went back to the dealer to have the front tyre fitted this week (they also said I needed brake pads too, bike has done 3000 miles so far!) and when I got there, I spoke to a different person, who said I would definitely need a matching pair (which I prefer obviously!) and I don`t need brake pads yet. Not had the bike long, bought used from another dealer. Anyway I had a new front tyre to match the rear. I just wanted it checked over really as i`m doing 4000 miles to Norway and back next week
If you’ve got 4000 miles ahead of you perhaps you should have had a new rear as well.
