diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/importer/support.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/importer/support.go
index 4f013f4a515..cac87745fe2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/importer/support.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/importer/support.go
@@ -129,16 +129,5 @@ func (t anyType) Under() types2.Type      { return t }
 func (t anyType) String() string          { return "any" }
 
 // types2.aType is not exported for now so we need to implemented these here.
-func (anyType) Basic() *types2.Basic         { return nil }
-func (anyType) Array() *types2.Array         { return nil }
-func (anyType) Slice() *types2.Slice         { return nil }
-func (anyType) Struct() *types2.Struct       { return nil }
-func (anyType) Pointer() *types2.Pointer     { return nil }
-func (anyType) Tuple() *types2.Tuple         { return nil }
-func (anyType) Signature() *types2.Signature { return nil }
-func (anyType) Sum() *types2.Sum             { return nil }
-func (anyType) Interface() *types2.Interface { return nil }
-func (anyType) Map() *types2.Map             { return nil }
-func (anyType) Chan() *types2.Chan           { return nil }
 func (anyType) Named() *types2.Named         { return nil }
 func (anyType) TypeParam() *types2.TypeParam { return nil }
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/assignments.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/assignments.go
index 6caa4863d5b..00495f39761 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/assignments.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/assignments.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (check *Checker) assignment(x *operand, T Type, context string) {
 	// x.typ is typed
 
 	// A generic (non-instantiated) function value cannot be assigned to a variable.
-	if sig := x.typ.Signature(); sig != nil && len(sig.tparams) > 0 {
+	if sig := asSignature(x.typ); sig != nil && len(sig.tparams) > 0 {
 		check.errorf(x, "cannot use generic function %s without instantiation in %s", x, context)
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/builtins.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/builtins.go
index 591a22f814c..763122bc5bc 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/builtins.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/builtins.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 		// of S and the respective parameter passing rules apply."
 		S := x.typ
 		var T Type
-		if s := S.Slice(); s != nil {
+		if s := asSlice(S); s != nil {
 			T = s.elem
 		} else {
 			check.invalidArgf(x, "%s is not a slice", x)
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 
 	case _Close:
 		// close(c)
-		c := x.typ.Chan()
+		c := asChan(x.typ)
 		if c == nil {
 			check.invalidArgf(x, "%s is not a channel", x)
 			return
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 
 		// the argument types must be of floating-point type
 		f := func(x Type) Type {
-			if t := x.Basic(); t != nil {
+			if t := asBasic(x); t != nil {
 				switch t.kind {
 				case Float32:
 					return Typ[Complex64]
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 	case _Copy:
 		// copy(x, y []T) int
 		var dst Type
-		if t := x.typ.Slice(); t != nil {
+		if t := asSlice(x.typ); t != nil {
 			dst = t.elem
 		}
 
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 
 	case _Delete:
 		// delete(m, k)
-		m := x.typ.Map()
+		m := asMap(x.typ)
 		if m == nil {
 			check.invalidArgf(x, "%s is not a map", x)
 			return
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ func (check *Checker) builtin(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr, id builtinId) (
 
 		// the argument must be of complex type
 		f := func(x Type) Type {
-			if t := x.Basic(); t != nil {
+			if t := asBasic(x); t != nil {
 				switch t.kind {
 				case Complex64:
 					return Typ[Float32]
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ func makeSig(res Type, args ...Type) *Signature {
 //
 func implicitArrayDeref(typ Type) Type {
 	if p, ok := typ.(*Pointer); ok {
-		if a := p.base.Array(); a != nil {
+		if a := asArray(p.base); a != nil {
 			return a
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/call.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/call.go
index 72a33b50b17..10db701324c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/call.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/call.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (check *Checker) call(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr) exprKind {
 		case 1:
 			check.expr(x, call.ArgList[0])
 			if x.mode != invalid {
-				if t := T.Interface(); t != nil {
+				if t := asInterface(T); t != nil {
 					check.completeInterface(nopos, t)
 					if t.IsConstraint() {
 						check.errorf(call, "cannot use interface %s in conversion (contains type list or is comparable)", T)
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (check *Checker) call(x *operand, call *syntax.CallExpr) exprKind {
 		// function/method call
 		cgocall := x.mode == cgofunc
 
-		sig := x.typ.Signature()
+		sig := asSignature(x.typ)
 		if sig == nil {
 			check.invalidOpf(x, "cannot call non-function %s", x)
 			x.mode = invalid
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/conversions.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/conversions.go
index 90c08fb72f6..c9603b263c1 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/conversions.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/conversions.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func (check *Checker) conversion(x *operand, T Type) {
 	switch {
 	case constArg && isConstType(T):
 		// constant conversion
-		switch t := T.Basic(); {
+		switch t := asBasic(T); {
 		case representableConst(x.val, check, t, &x.val):
 			ok = true
 		case isInteger(x.typ) && isString(t):
@@ -140,26 +140,26 @@ func (x *operand) convertibleTo(check *Checker, T Type) bool {
 }
 
 func isUintptr(typ Type) bool {
-	t := typ.Basic()
+	t := asBasic(typ)
 	return t != nil && t.kind == Uintptr
 }
 
 func isUnsafePointer(typ Type) bool {
-	// TODO(gri): Is this typ.Basic() instead of typ.(*Basic) correct?
+	// TODO(gri): Is this asBasic(typ) instead of typ.(*Basic) correct?
 	//            (The former calls typ.Under(), while the latter doesn't.)
 	//            The spec does not say so, but gc claims it is. See also
 	//            issue 6326.
-	t := typ.Basic()
+	t := asBasic(typ)
 	return t != nil && t.kind == UnsafePointer
 }
 
 func isPointer(typ Type) bool {
-	return typ.Pointer() != nil
+	return asPointer(typ) != nil
 }
 
 func isBytesOrRunes(typ Type) bool {
-	if s := typ.Slice(); s != nil {
-		t := s.elem.Basic()
+	if s := asSlice(typ); s != nil {
+		t := asBasic(s.elem)
 		return t != nil && (t.kind == Byte || t.kind == Rune)
 	}
 	return false
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/expr.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/expr.go
index 9889e3113dd..07b23c9effe 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/expr.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/expr.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (check *Checker) overflow(x *operand) {
 	// Typed constants must be representable in
 	// their type after each constant operation.
 	if isTyped(x.typ) {
-		check.representable(x, x.typ.Basic())
+		check.representable(x, asBasic(x.typ))
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func (check *Checker) unary(x *operand, e *syntax.Operation) {
 		return
 
 	case syntax.Recv:
-		typ := x.typ.Chan()
+		typ := asChan(x.typ)
 		if typ == nil {
 			check.invalidOpf(x, "cannot receive from non-channel %s", x)
 			x.mode = invalid
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ func (check *Checker) updateExprType(x syntax.Expr, typ Type, final bool) {
 	// If the new type is not final and still untyped, just
 	// update the recorded type.
 	if !final && isUntyped(typ) {
-		old.typ = typ.Basic()
+		old.typ = asBasic(typ)
 		check.untyped[x] = old
 		return
 	}
@@ -1396,7 +1396,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 					duplicate := false
 					// if the key is of interface type, the type is also significant when checking for duplicates
 					xkey := keyVal(x.val)
-					if utyp.key.Interface() != nil {
+					if asInterface(utyp.key) != nil {
 						for _, vtyp := range visited[xkey] {
 							if check.identical(vtyp, x.typ) {
 								duplicate = true
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 		}
 
 		if x.mode == value {
-			if sig := x.typ.Signature(); sig != nil && len(sig.tparams) > 0 {
+			if sig := asSignature(x.typ); sig != nil && len(sig.tparams) > 0 {
 				// function instantiation
 				check.funcInst(x, e)
 				return expression
@@ -1498,7 +1498,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 			x.typ = typ.elem
 
 		case *Pointer:
-			if typ := typ.base.Array(); typ != nil {
+			if typ := asArray(typ.base); typ != nil {
 				valid = true
 				length = typ.len
 				x.mode = variable
@@ -1536,7 +1536,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 				case *Array:
 					e = t.elem
 				case *Pointer:
-					if t := t.base.Array(); t != nil {
+					if t := asArray(t.base); t != nil {
 						e = t.elem
 					}
 				case *Slice:
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 			x.typ = &Slice{elem: typ.elem}
 
 		case *Pointer:
-			if typ := typ.base.Array(); typ != nil {
+			if typ := asArray(typ.base); typ != nil {
 				valid = true
 				length = typ.len
 				x.typ = &Slice{elem: typ.elem}
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ func (check *Checker) exprInternal(x *operand, e syntax.Expr, hint Type) exprKin
 				case typexpr:
 					x.typ = &Pointer{base: x.typ}
 				default:
-					if typ := x.typ.Pointer(); typ != nil {
+					if typ := asPointer(x.typ); typ != nil {
 						x.mode = variable
 						x.typ = typ.base
 					} else {
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/issues_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/issues_test.go
index 9a73a46d116..5a32fa590ac 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/issues_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/issues_test.go
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ func TestIssue28005(t *testing.T) {
 		if obj == nil {
 			t.Fatal("object X not found")
 		}
-		iface := obj.Type().Interface() // object X must be an interface
+		iface := obj.Type().Underlying().(*Interface) // object X must be an interface
 		if iface == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("%s is not an interface", obj)
 		}
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ func TestIssue28282(t *testing.T) {
 	it := NewInterfaceType(nil, []Type{et})
 	it.Complete()
 	// verify that after completing the interface, the embedded method remains unchanged
-	want := et.Interface().Method(0)
+	want := et.Underlying().(*Interface).Method(0)
 	got := it.Method(0)
 	if got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("%s.Method(0): got %q (%p); want %q (%p)", it, got, got, want, want)
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/lookup.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/lookup.go
index 5dfb8bfee71..df25c9cf701 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/lookup.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/lookup.go
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ func (check *Checker) missingMethod(V Type, T *Interface, static bool) (method,
 		return
 	}
 
-	if ityp := V.Interface(); ityp != nil {
+	if ityp := asInterface(V); ityp != nil {
 		check.completeInterface(nopos, ityp)
 		// TODO(gri) allMethods is sorted - can do this more efficiently
 		for _, m := range T.allMethods {
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ func (check *Checker) assertableTo(V *Interface, T Type, strict bool) (method, w
 	// no static check is required if T is an interface
 	// spec: "If T is an interface type, x.(T) asserts that the
 	//        dynamic type of x implements the interface T."
-	if T.Interface() != nil && !(strict || forceStrict) {
+	if asInterface(T) != nil && !(strict || forceStrict) {
 		return
 	}
 	return check.missingMethod(T, V, false)
@@ -452,8 +452,8 @@ func deref(typ Type) (Type, bool) {
 // derefStructPtr dereferences typ if it is a (named or unnamed) pointer to a
 // (named or unnamed) struct and returns its base. Otherwise it returns typ.
 func derefStructPtr(typ Type) Type {
-	if p := typ.Pointer(); p != nil {
-		if p.base.Struct() != nil {
+	if p := asPointer(typ); p != nil {
+		if asStruct(p.base) != nil {
 			return p.base
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/predicates.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/predicates.go
index b8fa15cdb83..a7972c6928b 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/predicates.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/predicates.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func isConstType(typ Type) bool {
 
 // IsInterface reports whether typ is an interface type.
 func IsInterface(typ Type) bool {
-	return typ.Interface() != nil
+	return asInterface(typ) != nil
 }
 
 // Comparable reports whether values of type T are comparable.
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/sizes.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/sizes.go
index 9945dcd10c3..9d8f3ae5ad2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/sizes.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/sizes.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func (conf *Config) offsetsof(T *Struct) []int64 {
 func (conf *Config) offsetof(typ Type, index []int) int64 {
 	var o int64
 	for _, i := range index {
-		s := typ.Struct()
+		s := asStruct(typ)
 		o += conf.offsetsof(s)[i]
 		typ = s.fields[i].typ
 	}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stdlib_test.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stdlib_test.go
index 0477e549983..34925687e35 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stdlib_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stdlib_test.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func typecheck(t *testing.T, path string, filenames []string) {
 	// Perform checks of API invariants.
 
 	// All Objects have a package, except predeclared ones.
-	errorError := Universe.Lookup("error").Type().Interface().ExplicitMethod(0) // (error).Error
+	errorError := Universe.Lookup("error").Type().Underlying().(*Interface).ExplicitMethod(0) // (error).Error
 	for id, obj := range info.Uses {
 		predeclared := obj == Universe.Lookup(obj.Name()) || obj == errorError
 		if predeclared == (obj.Pkg() != nil) {
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stmt.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stmt.go
index bab56b22ef8..9d74e0e588c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stmt.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stmt.go
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ func (check *Checker) stmt(ctxt stmtContext, s syntax.Stmt) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		tch := ch.typ.Chan()
+		tch := asChan(ch.typ)
 		if tch == nil {
 			check.invalidOpf(s, "cannot send to non-chan type %s", ch.typ)
 			return
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ func rangeKeyVal(typ Type, wantKey, wantVal bool) (Type, Type, string) {
 	case *Slice:
 		return Typ[Int], typ.elem, ""
 	case *Pointer:
-		if typ := typ.base.Array(); typ != nil {
+		if typ := asArray(typ.base); typ != nil {
 			return Typ[Int], typ.elem, ""
 		}
 	case *Map:
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/type.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/type.go
index 7e51a138b5f..f90abba8da3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/type.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/type.go
@@ -27,24 +27,6 @@ type Type interface {
 	// String returns a string representation of a type.
 	String() string
 
-	// Converters
-	// A converter must only be called when a type is
-	// known to be fully set up. A converter returns
-	// a type's operational type (see comment for optype)
-	// or nil if the type is receiver is not of the
-	// respective type.
-	Basic() *Basic
-	Array() *Array
-	Slice() *Slice
-	Struct() *Struct
-	Pointer() *Pointer
-	Tuple() *Tuple
-	Signature() *Signature
-	Sum() *Sum
-	Interface() *Interface
-	Map() *Map
-	Chan() *Chan
-
 	// If the receiver for Named and TypeParam is of
 	// the respective type (possibly after unpacking
 	// an instance type), these methods return that
@@ -61,21 +43,6 @@ func (aType) Underlying() Type { panic("unreachable") }
 func (aType) Under() Type      { panic("unreachable") }
 func (aType) String() string   { panic("unreachable") }
 
-// Each type is implementing its version of these methods
-// (Basic must implement Basic, etc.), the other methods
-// are inherited.
-func (aType) Basic() *Basic         { return nil }
-func (aType) Array() *Array         { return nil }
-func (aType) Slice() *Slice         { return nil }
-func (aType) Struct() *Struct       { return nil }
-func (aType) Pointer() *Pointer     { return nil }
-func (aType) Tuple() *Tuple         { return nil }
-func (aType) Signature() *Signature { return nil }
-func (aType) Sum() *Sum             { return nil }
-func (aType) Interface() *Interface { return nil }
-func (aType) Map() *Map             { return nil }
-func (aType) Chan() *Chan           { return nil }
-
 func (aType) Named() *Named         { return nil }
 func (aType) TypeParam() *TypeParam { return nil }
 
@@ -256,18 +223,6 @@ func NewTuple(x ...*Var) *Tuple {
 // but add all because missing one leads to very confusing bugs.
 // TODO(gri) Don't represent empty tuples with a (*Tuple)(nil) pointer;
 //           it's too subtle and causes problems.
-func (*Tuple) Basic() *Basic     { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Array() *Array     { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Slice() *Slice     { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Struct() *Struct   { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Pointer() *Pointer { return nil }
-
-// func (*Tuple) Tuple() *Tuple      // implemented below
-func (*Tuple) Signature() *Signature { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Sum() *Sum             { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Interface() *Interface { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Map() *Map             { return nil }
-func (*Tuple) Chan() *Chan           { return nil }
 
 func (*Tuple) Named() *Named         { return nil }
 func (*Tuple) TypeParam() *TypeParam { return nil }
@@ -408,7 +363,7 @@ func unpack(typ Type) []Type {
 	if typ == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if sum := typ.Sum(); sum != nil {
+	if sum := asSum(typ); sum != nil {
 		return sum.types
 	}
 	return []Type{typ}
@@ -594,7 +549,7 @@ func (t *Interface) iterate(f func(*Interface) bool, seen map[*Interface]bool) b
 	}
 	for _, e := range t.embeddeds {
 		// e should be an interface but be careful (it may be invalid)
-		if e := e.Interface(); e != nil {
+		if e := asInterface(e); e != nil {
 			// Cyclic interfaces such as "type E interface { E }" are not permitted
 			// but they are still constructed and we need to detect such cycles.
 			if seen[e] {
@@ -661,7 +616,7 @@ func (t *Interface) Complete() *Interface {
 
 	for _, typ := range t.embeddeds {
 		utyp := typ.Under()
-		etyp := utyp.Interface()
+		etyp := asInterface(utyp)
 		if etyp == nil {
 			if utyp != Typ[Invalid] {
 				panic(fmt.Sprintf("%s is not an interface", typ))
@@ -775,18 +730,6 @@ func (check *Checker) NewNamed(obj *TypeName, underlying Type, methods []*Func)
 // Obj returns the type name for the named type t.
 func (t *Named) Obj() *TypeName { return t.obj }
 
-// Converter methods
-func (t *Named) Basic() *Basic         { return t.Under().Basic() }
-func (t *Named) Array() *Array         { return t.Under().Array() }
-func (t *Named) Slice() *Slice         { return t.Under().Slice() }
-func (t *Named) Struct() *Struct       { return t.Under().Struct() }
-func (t *Named) Pointer() *Pointer     { return t.Under().Pointer() }
-func (t *Named) Tuple() *Tuple         { return t.Under().Tuple() }
-func (t *Named) Signature() *Signature { return t.Under().Signature() }
-func (t *Named) Interface() *Interface { return t.Under().Interface() }
-func (t *Named) Map() *Map             { return t.Under().Map() }
-func (t *Named) Chan() *Chan           { return t.Under().Chan() }
-
 // func (t *Named) Named() *Named      // declared below
 func (t *Named) TypeParam() *TypeParam { return t.Under().TypeParam() }
 
@@ -853,7 +796,7 @@ func (check *Checker) NewTypeParam(obj *TypeName, index int, bound Type) *TypePa
 }
 
 func (t *TypeParam) Bound() *Interface {
-	iface := t.bound.Interface()
+	iface := asInterface(t.bound)
 	// use the type bound position if we have one
 	pos := nopos
 	if n, _ := t.bound.(*Named); n != nil {
@@ -884,22 +827,9 @@ func optype(typ Type) Type {
 		}
 		return theTop
 	}
-	return typ
+	return typ.Under()
 }
 
-// Converter methods
-func (t *TypeParam) Basic() *Basic         { return optype(t).Basic() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Array() *Array         { return optype(t).Array() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Slice() *Slice         { return optype(t).Slice() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Struct() *Struct       { return optype(t).Struct() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Pointer() *Pointer     { return optype(t).Pointer() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Tuple() *Tuple         { return optype(t).Tuple() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Signature() *Signature { return optype(t).Signature() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Sum() *Sum             { return optype(t).Sum() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Interface() *Interface { return optype(t).Interface() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Map() *Map             { return optype(t).Map() }
-func (t *TypeParam) Chan() *Chan           { return optype(t).Chan() }
-
 // func (t *TypeParam) Named() *Named         // Named does not unpack type parameters
 // func (t *TypeParam) TypeParam() *TypeParam // declared below
 
@@ -917,19 +847,6 @@ type instance struct {
 	aType
 }
 
-// Converter methods
-func (t *instance) Basic() *Basic         { return t.Under().Basic() }
-func (t *instance) Array() *Array         { return t.Under().Array() }
-func (t *instance) Slice() *Slice         { return t.Under().Slice() }
-func (t *instance) Struct() *Struct       { return t.Under().Struct() }
-func (t *instance) Pointer() *Pointer     { return t.Under().Pointer() }
-func (t *instance) Tuple() *Tuple         { return t.Under().Tuple() }
-func (t *instance) Signature() *Signature { return t.Under().Signature() }
-func (t *instance) Sum() *Sum             { return t.Under().Sum() }
-func (t *instance) Interface() *Interface { return t.Under().Interface() }
-func (t *instance) Map() *Map             { return t.Under().Map() }
-func (t *instance) Chan() *Chan           { return t.Under().Chan() }
-
 func (t *instance) Named() *Named         { return t.expand().Named() }
 func (t *instance) TypeParam() *TypeParam { return t.expand().TypeParam() }
 
@@ -991,19 +908,6 @@ type top struct {
 // theTop is the singleton top type.
 var theTop = &top{}
 
-// Type-specific implementations of type converters.
-func (t *Basic) Basic() *Basic             { return t }
-func (t *Array) Array() *Array             { return t }
-func (t *Slice) Slice() *Slice             { return t }
-func (t *Struct) Struct() *Struct          { return t }
-func (t *Pointer) Pointer() *Pointer       { return t }
-func (t *Tuple) Tuple() *Tuple             { return t }
-func (t *Signature) Signature() *Signature { return t }
-func (t *Sum) Sum() *Sum                   { return t }
-func (t *Interface) Interface() *Interface { return t }
-func (t *Map) Map() *Map                   { return t }
-func (t *Chan) Chan() *Chan                { return t }
-
 func (t *Named) Named() *Named             { return t }
 func (t *TypeParam) TypeParam() *TypeParam { return t }
 
@@ -1061,3 +965,63 @@ func (t *TypeParam) String() string { return TypeString(t, nil) }
 func (t *instance) String() string  { return TypeString(t, nil) }
 func (t *bottom) String() string    { return TypeString(t, nil) }
 func (t *top) String() string       { return TypeString(t, nil) }
+
+// Converters
+//
+// A converter must only be called when a type is
+// known to be fully set up. A converter returns
+// a type's operational type (see comment for optype)
+// or nil if the type argument is not of the
+// respective type.
+
+func asBasic(t Type) *Basic {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Basic)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asArray(t Type) *Array {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Array)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asSlice(t Type) *Slice {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Slice)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asStruct(t Type) *Struct {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Struct)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asPointer(t Type) *Pointer {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Pointer)
+	return op
+}
+
+// asTuple is not needed - not provided
+
+func asSignature(t Type) *Signature {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Signature)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asSum(t Type) *Sum {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Sum)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asInterface(t Type) *Interface {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Interface)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asMap(t Type) *Map {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Map)
+	return op
+}
+
+func asChan(t Type) *Chan {
+	op, _ := optype(t).(*Chan)
+	return op
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typestring.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typestring.go
index 6b6d7ad2be3..4d778df43f5 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typestring.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typestring.go
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ func writeTParamList(buf *bytes.Buffer, list []*TypeName, qf Qualifier, visited
 	var writeBounds bool
 	for _, p := range list {
 		// bound(p) should be an interface but be careful (it may be invalid)
-		b := bound(p).Interface()
+		b := asInterface(bound(p))
 		if b != nil && !b.Empty() {
 			writeBounds = true
 			break
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ func writeTuple(buf *bytes.Buffer, tup *Tuple, variadic bool, qf Qualifier, visi
 				} else {
 					// special case:
 					// append(s, "foo"...) leads to signature func([]byte, string...)
-					if t := typ.Basic(); t == nil || t.kind != String {
+					if t := asBasic(typ); t == nil || t.kind != String {
 						panic("internal error: string type expected")
 					}
 					writeType(buf, typ, qf, visited)
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typexpr.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typexpr.go
index b67a35ed305..7ee28abac36 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typexpr.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/typexpr.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (check *Checker) ordinaryType(pos syntax.Pos, typ Type) {
 	// are in the middle of type-checking parameter declarations that might belong to
 	// interface methods. Delay this check to the end of type-checking.
 	check.atEnd(func() {
-		if t := typ.Interface(); t != nil {
+		if t := asInterface(typ); t != nil {
 			check.completeInterface(pos, t) // TODO(gri) is this the correct position?
 			if t.allTypes != nil {
 				check.softErrorf(pos, "interface contains type constraints (%s)", t.allTypes)
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ func (check *Checker) funcType(sig *Signature, recvPar *syntax.Field, tparams []
 						err = "pointer or interface type"
 					}
 				}
-			} else if T := t.Basic(); T != nil {
+			} else if T := asBasic(t); T != nil {
 				err = "basic or unnamed type"
 				if check.conf.CompilerErrorMessages {
 					check.errorf(recv.pos, "cannot define new methods on non-local type %s", recv.typ)
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ func (check *Checker) completeInterface(pos syntax.Pos, ityp *Interface) {
 	for i, typ := range ityp.embeddeds {
 		pos := posList[i] // embedding position
 		utyp := typ.Under()
-		etyp := utyp.Interface()
+		etyp := asInterface(utyp)
 		if etyp == nil {
 			if utyp != Typ[Invalid] {
 				var format string
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectTypeConstraints(pos syntax.Pos, types []syntax.Expr
 	// Note: This is a quadratic algorithm, but type lists tend to be short.
 	check.atEnd(func() {
 		for i, t := range list {
-			if t := t.Interface(); t != nil {
+			if t := asInterface(t); t != nil {
 				check.completeInterface(types[i].Pos(), t)
 			}
 			if includes(list[:i], t) {