Mixing tire brands
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Valrico FL
Mixing tire brands
The other thread about using Michelins over Goodyear RFs lead me to think...
I need rear tires but the fronts are good. Any forseeable issue with putting new Michelin RFs on the rear with the existing Goodyears on the front?
Aside from looks any issues?
Thoughts?
I need rear tires but the fronts are good. Any forseeable issue with putting new Michelin RFs on the rear with the existing Goodyears on the front?
Aside from looks any issues?
Thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I was in the same boat so to spead, I seem to go through 2 rear sets to 1 front set, I needed rear tires and the front have about 60% left and want to change tire brands, So what I did was buy the same rear tires as the front and figure when it comes time to replace the rear agian the front will need to be replaced also, There is no way I want to run 2 different type of tires on my car, Looks alone won't work for me, As far as drive abilty I believe there is a difference the way 2 different tires handle the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Not really,,as long as they match on each axle. I did the reverse for a while,,fronts were gone but rears were still good. Even ran it at the strip a few times and took it on some moderate length trips.The only oddity was on the highway on expansion strips the Michelin's were quiet and got a real thump from the Goodyear's
!! No serious problems on handling,,just better once they all match!!
---Dang bill,,you type a lot faster than I do!! Nothing there when I started,,bam you're in there before me LOL!!
!! No serious problems on handling,,just better once they all match!!---Dang bill,,you type a lot faster than I do!! Nothing there when I started,,bam you're in there before me LOL!!
Last edited by itzza427; Sep 6, 2009 at 10:34 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
It's a common thing to do. I'll stop short of saying everybody does it. 
Like mentioned though run the same tire in pairs. Front or rears. There is some advice out there that says don't mix run flats with non run flats. I also wear out rears at twice the pace of the fronts. What could cause this phenomenon? Just kidding. The cause is probably the same for everybody. A heavy right foot. I've never had a matched set of 4 but I think in a month or so I will do the fronts with a pair that match the rear.
Like mentioned though run the same tire in pairs. Front or rears. There is some advice out there that says don't mix run flats with non run flats. I also wear out rears at twice the pace of the fronts. What could cause this phenomenon? Just kidding. The cause is probably the same for everybody. A heavy right foot. I've never had a matched set of 4 but I think in a month or so I will do the fronts with a pair that match the rear.
Last edited by Camjamsdad; Sep 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,285
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From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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A matched set-they look better oh so cool. LOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 2 cents have the same kind and size tire per axle, don't
worry about looks. The tire companys are the only one's that
worry about looks and the BLING crowd.
My 2 cents have the same kind and size tire per axle, don't
worry about looks. The tire companys are the only one's that
worry about looks and the BLING crowd.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario
Never,ever mix tire brands or even treads within the same brands. You may not notice a difference while driving to the local McDonalds but you will when you make that sudden lane change to avoid that idiot in the ricer cutting you off on the freeway.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
I don't know if I would agree with this, people who go racing often use different rated tires between the front and rear in order to better fine tune the handling. Just something to think about.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 501
From: Rio Rancho NM
no probs for me on the track or street and I see others saying the same. So that's incorrect
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 4
From: WA
for street driving, mixing similarly rated tires between axles is OK. for road course usage, this will upset oversteer/understeer balance and the way it changes with temperatures - the car will be a lot less predictable and will require constant driving style adjustment. while I have seen it done, it is always because the driver had no other options (i.e. corded fronts from one set and had to use something else to finish the day)
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 2
From: Keystone, I.T.
I've done it a couple of times without incident, but then again I'm not running at Le Mans either. I think the main reason they tell you it's not good is that they want to sell you a set of tires instead of a pair. I don't think I would mix from side to side though.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
no they don't. there are other, correct ways, to tune the handling. mixing tires is not it.
for street driving, mixing similarly rated tires between axles is OK. for road course usage, this will upset oversteer/understeer balance and the way it changes with temperatures - the car will be a lot less predictable and will require constant driving style adjustment. while I have seen it done, it is always because the driver had no other options (i.e. corded fronts from one set and had to use something else to finish the day)
for street driving, mixing similarly rated tires between axles is OK. for road course usage, this will upset oversteer/understeer balance and the way it changes with temperatures - the car will be a lot less predictable and will require constant driving style adjustment. while I have seen it done, it is always because the driver had no other options (i.e. corded fronts from one set and had to use something else to finish the day)
"The 2009 Hankook Farnbacher Racing Ferrari F430 GTC will be equipped with Hankook racing tire Ventus F 200 slicks, Ventus Z 207 rain tire as well as tailor made intermediates all in the sizes 280/650 R 18 at the front axle and 280/710 R 18 in the rear, fitted on BBS rims sized 11 x 18 inch. According to each track condition the team can select from different tread compounds offered for each axle and condition. To find a good compromise between the car’s balance as well as the tire’s durability, for the basic tire setup it is intended to use a one step softer compound at the front axle compared to the rear. Reflecting the different tracks that will see the new Hankook shood Ferrari in 2009, the choosen tire will probably tend to be more soft at Nuerburgring (Ger) or Spa (Bel) and more hard at Algarve (Por) or Catalunya (Esp). Due to the circuit, for Silverstone (UK) even an asymmetric use (different compound on left and right side) is considered."
Last edited by jaguar5822; Sep 6, 2009 at 09:58 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 4
From: WA
you can live in your fantasy world and give all the internet advice you want, but it will not change the reality. while there may be professional racing tires available in different grades for the same brand and type of tire, none of them are accessible to us.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Here's a website with a wide selection of Hoosiers, please tell me why we wouldn't be allowed to buy them? https://www.rsracing.com/hoosier/hosindx.htm
Last edited by jaguar5822; Sep 7, 2009 at 01:35 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
Forget racing tires guys, the OP never said anything about using or needing those. I have to assume he meant normal street usage, and for that, I don't see anything wrong with mixing, as long as the tires match on each axle. I'd rather have mixed tires front and back that are in good condition than 4 matching tires with any of them in questionable shape.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I'm not sure where you shop, but I can assure you that tirerack and other websites sell more than one type of racing tire. And slicks don't have tread patterns so you can mix and match as you see fit, though I would probably stick with one tire design that's available in more than one compound.
Here's a website with a wide selection of Hoosiers, please tell me why we wouldn't be allowed to buy them? https://www.rsracing.com/hoosier/hosindx.htm
Here's a website with a wide selection of Hoosiers, please tell me why we wouldn't be allowed to buy them? https://www.rsracing.com/hoosier/hosindx.htm
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Forget racing tires guys, the OP never said anything about using or needing those. I have to assume he meant normal street usage, and for that, I don't see anything wrong with mixing, as long as the tires match on each axle. I'd rather have mixed tires front and back that are in good condition than 4 matching tires with any of them in questionable shape.
The plot thickens...hahaha