Mismatched tyres on the rear of a TVR
Discussion
I got a puncture on the rear right tyre of the Tuscan today. A grumpy recovery driver picked me up and more or less refused to take me home, so ended up with a part worn (Yokohama AVS Sport, so a decent enough tyre) with 5mm tread for 35 quid. I intended for it to be a short term fix and replace both tyres on the rear axle asap, but it was surprisingly not sketchy in the damp on the way home. I have checked and turns out the existing tyre on the other side (a Falken Azenis) also has 5mm tread, so matching (but different tread pattern)! Anyone have a view as to whether mismatched brands with equal tread is fine or a risk on a 380bhp ish rwd sports car with no tc...? At 175 to 225 a corner for decent tyres it would be nice not to replace them yet...though if wise ofc will do so.
Only one way to find out 
I imagine at the very limit it might behave differently to with matched tyres, which isn't ideal, but it's not like you've got a trackday slick on one wheel and a LingLong Slidemaster 2000 on the other so you may not even notice.
I drove my Mercedes S600 with a 20" 275/35 Hankook something or the other on one rear wheel and an 18" 275/45 decade old Pirelli winter tyre on the other as a spare and that was quite exciting under heavy braking or acceleration
I imagine at the very limit it might behave differently to with matched tyres, which isn't ideal, but it's not like you've got a trackday slick on one wheel and a LingLong Slidemaster 2000 on the other so you may not even notice.
I drove my Mercedes S600 with a 20" 275/35 Hankook something or the other on one rear wheel and an 18" 275/45 decade old Pirelli winter tyre on the other as a spare and that was quite exciting under heavy braking or acceleration
d, it would annoy me far too much to have different tyres across an axle, so I’d change themI have been known to get a 'part worn' for a car, especially if I'm selling it soon 
even on a Boxster.
That seemed a cheap price to me, and IME, they are often very old. Check the 4 digit date code on the tyre wall (it maybe on the inside of course...) if you can. It will the show the week and year of manufacture, and give you a guide as to its performance.
even on a Boxster.That seemed a cheap price to me, and IME, they are often very old. Check the 4 digit date code on the tyre wall (it maybe on the inside of course...) if you can. It will the show the week and year of manufacture, and give you a guide as to its performance.
I definitely wouldnt run mixed tyres on the rear of a sportscar. On a shopping trolley that never goes above 50mph then fine, but on the rear of a tvr!?! With no abs or traction control? Id get matching tyres for sure.
Ive driven a car with mismatched tyres and its pretty obvious sonething isnt right. Braking and downshifting the back end was jinxing to the right, very unnerving.
Ive driven a car with mismatched tyres and its pretty obvious sonething isnt right. Braking and downshifting the back end was jinxing to the right, very unnerving.
sixor8 said:
I have been known to get a 'part worn' for a car, especially if I'm selling it soon even on a Boxster.
That seemed a cheap price to me, and IME, they are often very old. Check the 4 digit date code on the tyre wall (it maybe on the inside of course...) if you can. It will the show the week and year of manufacture, and give you a guide as to its performance.
I couldn't see a date code, did have a look. Tyre looks okay, bit of wear on outer edge but tread is fine. I totally expected it to be super sketchy in the damp on the way home but it wasnt which is the only reason i wondered if i could get some use out of them before changong them... even on a Boxster.That seemed a cheap price to me, and IME, they are often very old. Check the 4 digit date code on the tyre wall (it maybe on the inside of course...) if you can. It will the show the week and year of manufacture, and give you a guide as to its performance.
In my search for suitable tires for the T350, the unanimous opinion among tire manufacturers, tire service and mechanics was that I should not only go for the same type on the left and right side of an axle, but also that I should not have different types of tires on the front and rear axles. This also meant, for example, that you should not run Conti Sport Contact 5 at the rear and a Conti Sport Contact 3 at the front, or Michelin Pilot Sport or Pilot super Sport front and rear.
I hope the smiley indicates irony. Otherwise, I have to say : not this crap again.
As long as the speed rating is correct and they have legal tread, they can be any make at all.
Incidentally, in some European car safety inspections, the brand of tyres DO have to be the same make on each axle, but the MoT here is not strict in that area.
As long as the speed rating is correct and they have legal tread, they can be any make at all.
Incidentally, in some European car safety inspections, the brand of tyres DO have to be the same make on each axle, but the MoT here is not strict in that area.
I'm no expert , just knowing how insurance companies are looking for a reason not to pay up in the event of an accident. They could view different tyres across and axle as different to supplied on the original car. I certainly had the AA tell me fitting Winter tyres on a BMW would invalidate my insurance because they weren't supplied on the new vehicle !!! Try ringing your insurance company and see what they say .
In reply to OP....
I went through a similar mind debate a few years ago...rears getting low (~3mm), should I change now or after a track day?
In the end I got new tyres before the track day ,,,,about £250 is possibly the price you have to pay for either ending up in a ditch or staying on the tarmac - no brainer for me.
When I had an accident, the insurance assessor only checked the tread and visual appearance of the sidewalls. He didn't note if the tyres were the original supply.
Nick
I went through a similar mind debate a few years ago...rears getting low (~3mm), should I change now or after a track day?
In the end I got new tyres before the track day ,,,,about £250 is possibly the price you have to pay for either ending up in a ditch or staying on the tarmac - no brainer for me.
When I had an accident, the insurance assessor only checked the tread and visual appearance of the sidewalls. He didn't note if the tyres were the original supply.
Nick
I suspect a lot of this comes down to how you actually drive your car on those tyres, not what it is capable of.
I know quite a number of TVR owners who wouldn't dream of thrashing the car on the public road.
I am one of those owners, and that's because personally I feel it is inappropriate to drive in that fashion.
I will go on a country drive with a number of other like minded people, but we always drive to the speed limits and with a modicum of common sense.
My car, my choice. Not preaching ,just saying.
If I want to do some serious speeds and enjoy the handling close to the limit, I take my car on a track day.
But for that I have a separate set of semi-slick track tyres, Toyo R888R.
I know quite a number of TVR owners who wouldn't dream of thrashing the car on the public road.
I am one of those owners, and that's because personally I feel it is inappropriate to drive in that fashion.
I will go on a country drive with a number of other like minded people, but we always drive to the speed limits and with a modicum of common sense.
My car, my choice. Not preaching ,just saying.
If I want to do some serious speeds and enjoy the handling close to the limit, I take my car on a track day.
But for that I have a separate set of semi-slick track tyres, Toyo R888R.
Basil Brush said:
Given how sensitive the Tuscan's somewhat borderline suspension geometery is to different tyres, I personally wouldn't as, even if it's a tiny chance of something happening, I wouldn't want to risk finding out for the sake of 300 quid. I'm also a bit iffy about part worn tyres.
I have used part worn before after a puncture and bought a pair of them (same make/size) while waiting for the new tyres to come into stock, cost about half the new price with 6 mm of tread although one had an annoying slow puncture which the supplier replaced, ideal as a temporary fix, long term would always fit new matching tyres to same axle 
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