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Hi all,

I picked up a used SV650S a few weeks ago and while I'm doing some other work it seems like a good time to get the front tire replaced. Currently the front and rear are Dunlop Sportmax. The rear is almost brand new, maybe a few hundred miles on it. The front is getting really close to the wear bars, maybe 500 miles left on it.

Of course, they don't make this tire anymore and I'd prefer to switch to a longer life sport touring tire, trying to choose between the BT-021's and Pilot Road 2's currently. Only problem is, can I put one of those on the front with a sticky performance tire on the back? I'm generally not picky about tires matching, but when I've mismatched I've always stuck with the same type of tire (i.e. touring on both, or performance on both). Right now my options are:

1) Get another sportmax equivalent on the front, deal with lower mileage

2) Get a ST tire on the front, hope bike handles ok

3) Replace the almost new rear with a ST tire as well

Any suggestions?

I should mention, the tires on there currently Are Dunlop Sportmax D220F ST which aren't made anymore. So if I just want to replace the front with something comparable now, not entirely sure what that would be.

If it were me, I'd replace both, unless I was reasonably assured that the tire being swapped in is of similar compound and therefore traction in wet and dry. On a car I would take the risk, on two wheels, for the sake of $150, I don't think so. Anyway that's me, I'm a bit a*n*a*l when it comes to tires though.

Also, how old is the rear tire? Because even a tire in (apparent) good condition should be replaced if older than 5 years.

debtman7 wrote: Only problem is, can I put one of those on the front with a sticky performance tire on the back?

If you are going to have different compound the one on the front should be stickier, not the rear.

If you're going to do that make sure the company is at least the same. Some companies use a soft carcass with a harder compound, while others use a hard carcass with a softer compound. It's recommended both are the same model so that they both have the same turn-in characteristics and stickiness though.

Ok, I went in and talked to the guys at the shop I trust the most (Triumph/Hyosung/Kymco dealer, he he, but they know their stuff). When I told them what I had they immediately said Dunlop Roadsmarts. From what I've been able to gather, these are the closest thing to a replacement for the D220 (which everyone seems to agree suck) but are much improved. Reviews around seem good, and at least it'll be the same manufacturer and the same style of tire. Seems like the best best currently.

I'd be tempted to just swap the rear out too, but honestly I'm not an aggressive rider so I doubt it will make much difference to me, and I'd rather not lay out the cash currently. Since the D220's seem to wear out pretty quickly I figure by next spring the rear will probably be due for a replacement and I can swap a roadsmart back there.

Reading your first post above the Roadsmarts immediately popped into my mind. The old D205 was superseeded by the D220 and the D220 was superseeded by the Roadsmarts. All Dunlop sport touring class tires. I wouldn't expect any problems with the Roadsmart front and an older D220 rear. The Roadsmarts are the first dual compound tires of the lot though and it could be the stickier of the two, not sure if the front is dual compound too, sometimes it's the rear only.

http://www.dunlop-tires.com/dunlop_euen ... x_d220_st/