Mixing Tires

I have always been told to not mix bias and radial tires on the same bike, Why Not? No one has ever given me a good answer.

This is what I am thinking, and please tell me if I'm off base on this.

I drive a 2002 Honda ST1100, I ride about 7500 miles a years and have been riding for over 30 years.

I have been running Metzler Z4's and now the Z6's, great tires, but I only get about 6500 miles out of the rears. I just tour on my ST, I very rarely scrap a peg.

I was thinking about putting a bias Metzler ME880 on the rear and keeping the current Z6 radial on the front.

Will this cause me to spin off into the nearest black hole? Or will I be O.K.?

If anyone has run mixed tires before, I'd like to here about your experience.

Thank you,
Bret  

Basically, the slip angles are different between radials and crossplys/bias tyres.

Think of it as give or flex.

Theoretically it will affect your handling.

Practically -  who knows? It depends on the brand and where you put the "wrong" tyre on the front or the rear.

Remember back in the early 80's when the GP racers were first introduced to radials? Some liked the feel and some did not and a lot of people crashed getting used to the difference.

6500 miles on a heavy bike like the ST ain't too bad.