Author Topic: Is it OK to use 2 different sets of tires? (Read 1889 times)

32vtec · « **on:** July 28, 2005, 05:16:45 pm »

Is it ok to use a different set of tires for the front then the rear?

keithb · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2005, 06:01:59 pm »

In theory , best way to go is same 4 all round. Practically, it depends. For example, if you are driving around town and have one set of CTC all seasons on the front and a different CTC all season set on the rear then it probably won't make alot of difference. After all, the traditional winter practice for rear wheel drive cars was to put snows on the drive wheels and leave the summer tires on the front- and cars survived the winter.
However if you drive on the highway in ,say, very wet conditions then mixing a rain tire (eg Michelin Hydroedge) on one end with a winter tire on the other will give you TROUBLE. This is an extreme example to make the point.
My 2 cents

davidm · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2005, 06:34:23 pm »

It makes the car less stable and predictable. If you have sticky tires on the front, and bald tires on the back, then the car will be more prone to bad oversteer, if you switch the tires, you are prone to bad understeer. In slippery conditions (wet, snow, etc.) every flaw/mistake is amplified and harder to deal with (and also happens at surprisingly low speeds - the oversteer drill in the BMW driver training was done at 20kph on a wet skidpad and we had no problems spinning the cars 180*)

Car was designed to have 4 decent tires on the car. Can it be done, yes, is it a good idea, no.

(Message edited by davidm on July 28, 2005)

32vtec · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2005, 08:27:04 pm »

how about having 2 sets of brand new tires on the car?..

I bought a pair of BfG KDW2's, was planing to replace all4, and found out the kdws are a little wide for the front, so i was thinking of getting some goodyear f1 gs-d3 for the fronts.

Is it ok to have 2 different sets if they are both new and similar perfomance level?

AVToller · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2005, 08:53:17 pm »

I would say that it is not a very good idea, unless the handling characteristics are EXTREMELY similar. I never stint on tires. Remember, they are the only contact between the car and the road. If you drive very conservatively, it should make little difference, but if you drive in a spirited fashion, you could be in for a major surprise when close to the edge. Don't forget, performance ratings and handling characteristics are not the same thing.

articsteve · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2005, 12:51:17 pm »

I might help to know what cat this is?

It wouldn't stop me to run two different makes as long as the speed rating is the same. I have two cars on the road now with wider tires on rear than the front.

84im · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2005, 09:19:15 pm »

Play it safe....sell/trade in the BFGs and get 4 Goodyear F1s, which are an excellent tire. As Ross mentioned, tires are the only contact between you and the road.

vz64 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2005, 12:27:48 am »

It is like wearing two different shoes; ask yourself - is it ok?

morty · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2005, 01:42:15 am »

As mentioned in the other thread...consider rolling the fender before changing tires. Should be less expensive and give you the result you need. Of course this is assuming that tires are rubbing on the fender.

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