how bad is mixing tires
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
how bad is mixing tires
I am installing new tires in the back that won't match the front. The front tires have very good tread, is why I don't want to get rid of them. Does anybody think this is bad or no big deal?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
I have Bridgestone Potenza 275s up front (used to be mounted on the stock rears). Firehawk 295s are on the rear. I have no problems at all driving on the street. The 295s stick a whole lot better too... So for me mixing tires has not been a problem... I have never raced the car nor plan to, but drives great on the highway... I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in with a better answer...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,253
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley CA
So long as your not racing the car or plan on doing aggresive wet weather driving, you should be fine. The difference in grip and handling characteristics is only going to come into play in the last 10% of the tires grip. I have driven my 94 LT1 on a road race course with Hoosier GAC tires on the front and Nitto 555 Drag Radials on the rear. It really wasn't that bad until you got to the limit.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
If the tires are of similar quality and traction characteristics, no worries. I had one rather hard (cheap) pair of tires though that I was trying to use up because they had good tread. On the front they plowed and I nearly went off a corner once because of it. On the rear, I actually spun the car in a corner when it shouldn't have been a problem. Needless to say, they came off the car for good after that.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by GIJoe
So long as they are the same size and traction, it doesnt hurt a thing. Poor people like me do this quite often 
BTW, I love your avatar, it cracks me up everytime I see it. Maybe I identify with it, having come to the internet party late, with the trepidation so common to us 'mature' folks who didn't grow up with it. 
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
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From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
So do poor people like me who require a lot of forward traction but don't wish to run DRs in the front too! BTW, I love your avatar, it cracks me up everytime I see it. Maybe I identify with it, having come to the internet party late, with the trepidation so common to us 'mature' folks who didn't grow up with it.
BTW, I love your avatar, it cracks me up everytime I see it. Maybe I identify with it, having come to the internet party late, with the trepidation so common to us 'mature' folks who didn't grow up with it. yeah I had DRs in the back once, and good tires up front. Then I fell on hard times when the DRs ran out so I rotated my good front's to the back, and started buying el-cheapo kuhmo's ..
Luckily, I learned about this used tire place in town that sells "brand new tires" for like $50/ea with mounting/balancing
I saw a set a buddy got on his T/A... they looked BRAND NEW (still had the little rubber spines sticking off the sides) and he paid almost nothing for them. Aparently, this place buys all the take off's from the dealership that people don't want (I hear those C5 guys get snobby with their "road noise" and immediately remove their brand new factory tires, and put quieter tires on)... so this place buys stuff like that with little to no miles on them and sells them cheap since they are considered "used". I will be getting my next set from them. $250 for high performance tires all the way around
yeah, i love my avatar
