Mixing Tires
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
I think if I were going to mix tire types, I would do it the other way around (runflats on the front). The one good thing that runflats have going for them is that the stiff sidewalls provide excellent turn-in response. The only way you will retain that with non-RFs is by going to lower profile tires (which probably means new wheels). Also, since most of the "road noise" transmitted to the cabin is from the rear, non-runflats there might offer some slight improvement (reduction) in cabin noise level.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I would not mix the tire since all tire have different handling and response characteristics 
just my .02
just my .02
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,699
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Originally Posted by Vette-Dream
The local tire shops won't take the time to explain why, but they defnitely get up in arms when I ask them about running diferent rears from the front. I figure it's a liability issue perhaps?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
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From: Guelph, Ontario
I've been running with non runflats up front for about 9000 miles now with no noticeable problems. I've got the stock runflats in back and Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S up front. When the runflats wear out I will be getting a pair of the Pirellis for the back though.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 597
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From: You want HOW much for that Corvette part??? Atlanta GA
i have goodyear run flats up front and goodyear non run flats in the rear. i haven't noticed any problems with this setup and i'll go to all non run flats when the front tires need replacement.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Kinston N.C.
Mixing tires
Thanks for the respones. I plan to change the rears when they wear out to non ren flats. I'm just tired of the car pulling from side to side on uneven roads. I'm just hoping that the non runflats on the front will help that. What do you think?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 815
Likes: 75
From: Lincoln CA
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'19
I would not mix tires on your car, at least not without realizing what the result in handling might be. First, I should tell you that I have not experimented with mismatched tires on my vette, but I have done quite a bit of experimentation with mismatched tires on motorcyles -- not exactly the same thing, but some common lessons to be learned. The GY runflats have a quite rigid sidewall and, therefore, a fairly shallow "slip angle" (the difference in the direction that a wheel points versus the direction of the actual tire patch with turning force applied). Selecting tires with different sidewall rigidity, front to rear, will change the oversteer/understeer characteristics of your car, perhaps dramatically. You may notice, with your runflats in the rear and non-runflats in front, that you're car requires a bit more steering input than with runflats all around. It may also understeer noticeably at the limits of adhesion. Your setup might work ok for you under normal driving conditions, but please realize a possible handling limitation -- be safe out there.
Ernie
Ernie
