DB9 - Mixing tyres makes front and back
Discussion
Hello all, before I get roasted, let me explain!
A month ago, I got myself a DB9. I had a pre-purchase inspection done and knew what I was walking into with the car but there is one issue that is bugging me...
The car has Bridgestones all round but the rears are dated 2015 and the fronts 2022.
When I found this out I was advised it wasn't "really" an issue as due to the low mileage Astons do, cars with "old" tyres are not uncommon. But...
I'm not happy with the rears being that old (even though they have plenty of tread) and as you can imagine, they drive like they are made of concrete. I want to swap them for some Michelin Pilot 4s (I've always had Michelins on my previous cars and I believe they are a better tyre) but I feel a bit reluctant to bin the front tyres as they have done so little mileage and are only a few years old.
So, can I fit Michelins to the rears whilst leaving the fronts Bridgestones? (until the fronts get replaced with Michelins).
I've asked a few people and some say it will be fine to have different tyres on the rear to the front (as long as they swapped are in pairs - obviously) and others say it will unbalance the car and I should swap all four - which just seems like such a waste of the front tyres.
To the other Aston owners, what are your thoughts?
Should I stop being cheap and replace all four tyres?
or swap the rears and not worry about the front tyres until its time to replace them?
let the debate begin!
A month ago, I got myself a DB9. I had a pre-purchase inspection done and knew what I was walking into with the car but there is one issue that is bugging me...
The car has Bridgestones all round but the rears are dated 2015 and the fronts 2022.
When I found this out I was advised it wasn't "really" an issue as due to the low mileage Astons do, cars with "old" tyres are not uncommon. But...
I'm not happy with the rears being that old (even though they have plenty of tread) and as you can imagine, they drive like they are made of concrete. I want to swap them for some Michelin Pilot 4s (I've always had Michelins on my previous cars and I believe they are a better tyre) but I feel a bit reluctant to bin the front tyres as they have done so little mileage and are only a few years old.
So, can I fit Michelins to the rears whilst leaving the fronts Bridgestones? (until the fronts get replaced with Michelins).
I've asked a few people and some say it will be fine to have different tyres on the rear to the front (as long as they swapped are in pairs - obviously) and others say it will unbalance the car and I should swap all four - which just seems like such a waste of the front tyres.
To the other Aston owners, what are your thoughts?
Should I stop being cheap and replace all four tyres?
or swap the rears and not worry about the front tyres until its time to replace them?
let the debate begin!
Personally I would get rid of those Bridgestone RE050A Potenza's (Assuming you have the "official" tyres on your car) and put a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's on as it. It'll transform the car, it did to mine as even new RE050A's when pushing on just feel like matchbox plastic tyres...
I guess it’s not an expense you really want right now having only purchased your car a month ago but as you’ve asked the question I think you probably know the answer. Imho the best policy would be to change all four tyres at the same time. Any brand new set will feel better than what you have now, but you can’t really go wrong with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. I had a set fitted to my car (not DB9) about eighteen months ago and the ride is definitely better, plus there is less road noise too. As far as I know the vast majority of people in this forum who have fitted these tyres have no regrets. HTH a bit. BRM.
I had nearly new Pirelli P Zeros on my '11 Virage when I bought it. I was relieved when the rears wore out after 12 months because they were useless when cold. I therefore put PS4S's on the rear and have been driving like that for the last couple of years.
The fronts are nearly worn out now so I will replace them PS4S's too but I would say I drive my car harder than most and have had no issues with mixed tyres front and rear.
The fronts are nearly worn out now so I will replace them PS4S's too but I would say I drive my car harder than most and have had no issues with mixed tyres front and rear.
Depends on how you drive.
Slightly (!) different car, but mixing tyres front and rear noticeably affected my old VW Golf when driven spiritedly, to the extent that I crapped myself and soon got the tyres all matched.
I’d imagine in a car like a DB9 with a lot more power, the imbalance front to rear might be exaggerated. Tyrereviews did some tests on youtube where they tested this front / rear mismatch scenario with some high power rear drive BMW’s, the results weren’t pretty.
In your shoes, I would just match the rears to the front Bridgestones and then get 4 new Michelins when all 4 Bridgestones wear down.
But I guess it depends on how you drive. Pootling around town, up and down the motorway, I didn’t notice a difference.
Not saying this is you, but I’d imagine someone who did well with their hairdressing business in a DB9 Volante, permatan and gold medallions on display, cruising around with the top down, might be ok with a bit of tyre mixing too.
Slightly (!) different car, but mixing tyres front and rear noticeably affected my old VW Golf when driven spiritedly, to the extent that I crapped myself and soon got the tyres all matched.
I’d imagine in a car like a DB9 with a lot more power, the imbalance front to rear might be exaggerated. Tyrereviews did some tests on youtube where they tested this front / rear mismatch scenario with some high power rear drive BMW’s, the results weren’t pretty.
In your shoes, I would just match the rears to the front Bridgestones and then get 4 new Michelins when all 4 Bridgestones wear down.
But I guess it depends on how you drive. Pootling around town, up and down the motorway, I didn’t notice a difference.
Not saying this is you, but I’d imagine someone who did well with their hairdressing business in a DB9 Volante, permatan and gold medallions on display, cruising around with the top down, might be ok with a bit of tyre mixing too.
Edited by wyson on Friday 21st February 14:40
Wafu7 said:
BiggaJ said:
Just replace all 4. The Bridgstones are an awful tyre when compared to the PS4S or even the newer Continental (cant recall their spec now). You will not regret putting the Michelins on.
Continental SportContact 7.BiggaJ said:
Wafu7 said:
BiggaJ said:
Just replace all 4. The Bridgstones are an awful tyre when compared to the PS4S or even the newer Continental (cant recall their spec now). You will not regret putting the Michelins on.
Continental SportContact 7.Please no mixing of tyres (different models, different manufacturer), because that really impacts the driving balance of the car in a dangerous way.
I recommend newest generation premium tyres such as Continental SportContact 7 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Do not buy previous generation stuff like Michelin PS4 or even the 15 year old Bridgestone RE50.
I recommend newest generation premium tyres such as Continental SportContact 7 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Do not buy previous generation stuff like Michelin PS4 or even the 15 year old Bridgestone RE50.
I would not have a problem with mixing front and rear tyres. So long as you are not doing any track driving or on ice or anything extreme.
I did it on my DB7 V12 for a while as all 4 did not need changing and I wanted to transition to a decent brand so I had mixed tyres for a couple of years. No problem at all.
I did it on my DB7 V12 for a while as all 4 did not need changing and I wanted to transition to a decent brand so I had mixed tyres for a couple of years. No problem at all.
Nbgring said:
Please no mixing of tyres (different models, different manufacturer), because that really impacts the driving balance of the car in a dangerous way.
I recommend newest generation premium tyres such as Continental SportContact 7 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Do not buy previous generation stuff like Michelin PS4 or even the 15 year old Bridgestone RE50.
Best answer so far. I recommend newest generation premium tyres such as Continental SportContact 7 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Do not buy previous generation stuff like Michelin PS4 or even the 15 year old Bridgestone RE50.
Davil said:
Best answer so far.
I disagree with everything he said. Most people who drive Aston's are unlikely to ever get near the limit of a decent tyre.I am lucky enough to live in a country where you can find epic cross country roads with no other cars on, that you can drive at 95% of your and your cars ability for 15-20 minutes at a time and I have had no issues with mixing tyres front and rear. I wouldn't mix across the axle though.
Continental SportContact 7's do appear to be winning the tyre tests now but the difference isn't big enough to worry about and they aren't available where I live anyway so I will carry on buying and using PS4S's until either they become available or the PSS5's do.
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