When it comes to tires used on street motorcycles, most experts will agree that it’s not a good idea to mix them around. Although this might look like a sales tactic, it’s mostly not about that. Manufacturers produce tires in sets, knowing that the qualities and defects of each tire balance out in a way that makes them work well together.
However, when you pair some tires that weren’t meant to be together, you might run the risk of them not having enough grip amongst them, for example. The same thing applies when you try to mix tires of different ages. The front tire may be gripping better than the back tire, and in certain situations, this can lead to you losing control of the motorcycle, as you don’t know what to expect from it.
Things are different when discussing tires used for offroad motorcycles. This is because offroad rides are always looking to improve the balance between grip (or traction) and control (or handling ability). In offroad situations, you need to have enough control over the motorcycle but at the same time let it get to its full power potential quickly. That’s not really an option when you’re out on the streets, where you always want to keep things safe.