Mixing tire brands does make a difference
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Mixing tire brands does make a difference
A few weeks ago I raised the question about the advisability of mixing tire brands, front to rear.
I replaces worn BFG Radial T/A's in the rear with Firestone Indy 500's, leaving rather good BFG's in the front.
Bad idea. Car was real squirrely, and it got worse the faster I would drive. Over 85 and it was scary.
So, went ahead and replaced fronts with Firestones also and real stable now.
The Indy 500's are real nice tires. Rated best tire for 255/70x15 on Tirerack.
I replaces worn BFG Radial T/A's in the rear with Firestone Indy 500's, leaving rather good BFG's in the front.
Bad idea. Car was real squirrely, and it got worse the faster I would drive. Over 85 and it was scary.
So, went ahead and replaced fronts with Firestones also and real stable now.
The Indy 500's are real nice tires. Rated best tire for 255/70x15 on Tirerack.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: Mixing tire brands does make a difference (Larry82)
Wow! I never thought about this but it makes sense. I bought a 94 Burb last October for $1500:
http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/...ase.yahoo.com/
It had 4 different brands of tires on it when I bought it!! And it still does. However, I don't get this dayum bus over 65 so I haven't had the problem you mention.
Brett :thumbs:
http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/...ase.yahoo.com/
It had 4 different brands of tires on it when I bought it!! And it still does. However, I don't get this dayum bus over 65 so I haven't had the problem you mention.
Brett :thumbs:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: Mixing tire brands does make a difference (Larry82)
I know what you mean. I have driven a car like that in the WET. VERY exciting.
It also applies to different years of the same tires. It turns out my BFGs on the front are a different tread pattern then the rear. They are 5 years older on the front. Looks like I am off to tire rack too!
It also applies to different years of the same tires. It turns out my BFGs on the front are a different tread pattern then the rear. They are 5 years older on the front. Looks like I am off to tire rack too!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Mixing tire brands does make a difference (Larry82)
I wanted to replace my rear mustang tires that were originally BFG with something else and the deal would not sell me a set of something else. Rather then make the sale he refused to only sell me different back tires to go along with my still good BFG fronts.
He is well respected in the area as a tire man and he said I would get weird handleing problems mixing the front and back tires. If pushed they would respond differently and cause me problems.
So even knowing it would cost him a sale he told me to go back to a BFG dealer and get a matching set for the existing fronts.
He is well respected in the area as a tire man and he said I would get weird handleing problems mixing the front and back tires. If pushed they would respond differently and cause me problems.
So even knowing it would cost him a sale he told me to go back to a BFG dealer and get a matching set for the existing fronts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Mixing tire brands does make a difference (norvalwilhelm)
That's always been my understanding, that you don't want to mix (and you definitely don't want to mix radial with bias ply--though I don't know if you can even buy bias tires anymore). I think it has a lot more to do with the sidewalls and how they flex than the tread pattern.
JB
JB
