Different tread front to back OK?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Muskogee, Oklahoma
Different tread front to back OK?
I cannot find the tire sizes I want in the same tread pattern. The closest I have found is the same make, TOYO, but different patterns. Think it'll be ok? I was thinking people run drag radials on the street with regular tires on the front - I dunno.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Eh, I'm not a big fan of mixing and matching tires like that. If the fronts have different holding characteristics than the rears, you're going to potentially have some additional squirrely handling problems that could crop up in a panic situation and they might even adversely affect your handling during normal driving conditions.
Like I said, I'm just not a fan.
Like I said, I'm just not a fan.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,385
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I think I would try and get a matching set of tires for the front and rear. Just wouldn't want to take the chance that it affects the handling at all.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 0
From: Clanton AL
I had the same problem (bought fronts two months before rears and couldn't get the fronts in the rear sizes). I've got different pattern on the front than rear (falken ze 512's on front, and falken fk-somethings in the rear, rears have more of that forward v look, while fronts seem to have a more all-season performance look), I have been riding them for 3k or so w/ no problems. Most of my go fast time is done in bursts in a straight line. I don't tend to try to hold curves at the ragged edge of performance and grip so I don't think you will have to much trouble, but I am not an expert by any means, just real-life seat time with this situation. 
Last edited by VetterGetIt; Dec 13, 2006 at 11:29 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 0
From: Spring TX
It will probably drive fine but tire companies spend alot of money to optimize thier tires and you might lose somthing at the extremes, and if you are planning to sell the vette it can be a turnoff and you won't be able to get top dollar.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,794
Likes: 0
From: Freezing in the Midwest. Fort Wayne IN. Global warming my azz.
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I had the same problem with My TOYO's three years ago. Bought the front tires about 6 months before the rears. Lots of twisty roads wore them out first. When I went back to get the rear ones they were a different pattern. I got lucky and found a set of rears with the same pattern at a different shop. This spring I'm getting GY GSD3's on all corners. Not going to go through that again. TOYO seems to do this alot with their tires. I do agree with the everyone that it could effect your handling. GL
TOYO seems to do this alot with their tires. I do agree with the everyone that it could effect your handling. GL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
did you ever wonder why a NASCAR car dosen't run off the track when they only change 2 tires?? Or F1? Or Champ Car? Surely the tread patterns MUST be different, and forget about grip characteristics.Those guts really must be great drivers or, just maybe, this "matching tires" stuff is not all that important.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
