Tires

[Guzzidad]

   I finally wore out the rear tire on my 2020 V7Racer. Never liked that tire anyway. It's a Dunlop Arrowmax Street Smart and an internet search revealed that tire is mostly available in Italy. Due to the unusual size of the rear rim my choices were very limited. 130-80/17. I ended up buying a Metzler Roadtec in the correct size. I like to keep matched pairs of tires on a bike but the front tire has no signs of wear yet. Typical, two rear tires for every front tire.

[Dirk_S]

I feel matching tire sets AND sticking to the exact tire size are both overrated. I ran a couple 130/90-17 tires on my V7 II—neither for many miles, mind you, but I never felt like I would be ejected from my bike or explode. In fact, the 130/90-17 HELPED with the steering when I took the V7 on the track, AND also gave me a hair more ground clearance when I took it off-pavement. Stick to similar tire tread style and purpose, and experiment with different sizes—staying within the appropriate threshold for that rim size and making sure you can clear the mudguard/swingarm, etc..

But then again, I guess my younger cousins did call me ‘Dirk Dangerously’ for a reason…

…though my average lean angle would suggest otherwise.

(Disclaimer: the previous mention of cousins giving me a cool nickname in the above was strictly fictitious and in no way reflects any factual evidence)

[Moparnut72]

My V7 needed tires last fall. Selection was pretty bad at the time. I finally put a pair of Avons on the bike even though they were different models, they work just fine, far better than the crappy Sport Demons it came with.
kk

[DoubleGuzzi]

Mitas MC50 are off to a good start on my V7III - time will tell.
 

[faffi]

I have used lots of mismatched tires during my 45 years of riding, and never had any particular issues. My CB1100 would corner on rails scraping pegs at 125 mph with a Michelin front and Metzeler rear.

[Tkelly]

What would be the traffic fine in Norway if you got caught going 125?

[faffi]

What would be the traffic fine in Norway if you got caught going 125?

In the 50-zone where I rode that corner? A month or two in prison and 3-5 years without a license and a minimum of half a month's salary in fine.

[Perazzimx14]

I ran a TKC-80 on the front of my R1200GS with a 170 series (OEM is 150) car tire on the rear. About the fartherest apart mix and match wise and the rear was a 170 verses the OEM of 150. It handled far better than you'd expect. The biggest limiting factor was the TKC-80 knobbie.

[Dirk_S]

I ran a TKC-80 on the front of my R1200GS with a 170 series (OEM is 150) car tire on the rear…..

You little devil, you 

When I bought the custom-built sidecar, it was attached to an F800GS that I was loathe to be in possession of—I mean, how could I possibly own a SECOND bike?? <cough> Anyway, the F800GS was equipped with a rear car tire. I pulled the sidecar off the bike and decided to ride it as a solo 2-wheeler. My riding mate is an airhead enthusiast, owned many bikes in 30+ years, has a sidecar rig, 200,000+ miles on his bikes collectively, been through two operations as a tank driver, and a hardcore punk in his mid-50s. He was simply gobsmacked that I felt OK riding this thing with a rear car tire and couldn’t understand when I told him how it felt.

[Perazzimx14]

I have a video I made when I 1st tried the darkside. Gopro punted to teh skid plate then aime at the tire. Unfitunatley I do not know how to posts videos so it stuck in my phone. A later video I bought an angle finder and mounted it as well as the GoPro to the skidplate so the camera could capture the lean angle and rear tire.

In any event the darkside did not handle terrabily different than a straight up MC tire set up (road riding, not track day) with a few nuassances.
 

[red stripeguz]

Just replaced the original Dunlop Arrowmax tires on my '23 V7 with Avon Spirit STs. Haven't been able to get a lot of miles on them (partner was in a motorcycle accident on Easter so I'm playing caretaker for now) but the little I have done has made me very happy. Bike feels much more happy to lean into the corners. Look forward to really giving them some tests

[Moparnut72]

I have an Avon Spirit on the front of my V7. I couldn't find one for the rear though, I mixed and put an Avon Road Rider on the rear. It handles very well. It no longer follows all the ridges and grooves in the road like the Sport Demons did. I am thinking about them for my Mandello but also the new T133 Bridgestones but they are a lot more expensive.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I had that same tramlining issue with the Pirelli Sport Demons on my V7 850. Hated them as a replacement for the Dunlop Arrowmax, but they were what a dealer could get in quick while I was touring and ran out of rear tire. The front Pirelli Sport Demon I had also gave a wobble from 35-55 mph that drove me crazy. I just got Michelin Road Classic tires on the bike as a replacement and so far so good, they only squirm a little on deep rain grooves and are generally way better and most importantly make me enjoy riding the bike again! There was a long wait for them as the dealer had for some reason tried ordering them in the "H" speed rating models which Michelin have discontinued in favor of the "V" rated ones (which is the OEM spec anyway). Found that out through a different shop when seeing how long it would take them to get the tires, so I had the dealer cancel their order, I bought the V-rated tires online and had them shipped to the shop.

[DoubleGuzzi]

I concur: Pirelli Sport Demons and Moto Guzzi do not play well. Truly awful experience with them, which goes against Dragon Corsa/Diablo Rosso that I've used on other bikes.
Avon Roadrider II were terrible on my Street Twin..
Certain bikes with certain tyres can be combinations that just don't work.