Tyre tread mixing ... is it an issue?
Discussion
I've noticed a lot of cars recently with mismatched tread patterns on the same (rear) axle - probably because of the early nights, and headlights showing the rear of cars when queuing. I may be a bit of a tyre bore, because whenever I notice it, it "jars" me ... I've always worked on the principle of never having mismatched tyres across an axle, even replacing two tyres when I could probably have got away with just replacing the damaged one. It's not just on older cars, even cars with 57 / 58 plates often seem to have a mix of tyres on them
In a minor fit of interest, I have googled to find out where the advice about not mixing tyre tread patterns comes from - if it's just a manufacturing ploy to sell more tyres, or is there real reason behind it? Search results are inconclusive, as far as I can tell.
So who's right? Does it matter if there are mismatched tyres on a single axle? I know there will be a difference in grip, but then if on the one side there is a OEM tyre with 2-3mm of tread, and the other a newer (but perhaps cheaper) tyre, is the grip difference enough to impact safety or handling? I couldn't find any advice regarding an MOT testers view, for example.
In a minor fit of interest, I have googled to find out where the advice about not mixing tyre tread patterns comes from - if it's just a manufacturing ploy to sell more tyres, or is there real reason behind it? Search results are inconclusive, as far as I can tell.
So who's right? Does it matter if there are mismatched tyres on a single axle? I know there will be a difference in grip, but then if on the one side there is a OEM tyre with 2-3mm of tread, and the other a newer (but perhaps cheaper) tyre, is the grip difference enough to impact safety or handling? I couldn't find any advice regarding an MOT testers view, for example.
I'd have thought it'd unsettle the car, as you'd have different compounds, varying degrees of stiffness and softness, some may have a greater ability to dispel water etc, if I ever bought a car with mismatched tyres, finding new ones would be the first on the list! The Peugeot and Audi have the same on all four, my Renault has different ones on the front to the back, but only because it had 4 new tyres when I bought it and the fronts wore faster than the rears, when the rears eventually wear out I'll be getting the same for them too, though it's widely regarded that the best tyres should be on the rear axle...
A friend of mine with little interest in cars has 4 different kinds of tyre on his Fiesta, each corner is a different brand, all with wildly differing tread patterns. He just replaces them one at a time, for MOT purposes, or when one punctures or has a blow out, as he suffered last winter. The only thing the tyres have in common, is that they were the cheapest option on the list, regardless of which garage he ended up at...
Mastodon2 said:
A friend of mine with little interest in cars has 4 different kinds of tyre on his Fiesta, each corner is a different brand, all with wildly differing tread patterns. He just replaces them one at a time, for MOT purposes, or when one punctures or has a blow out, as he suffered last winter. The only thing the tyres have in common, is that they were the cheapest option on the list, regardless of which garage he ended up at...
Jesus... Mine will probably always get the same now, the Audi ALWAYS gets it's OEM Continental Sport Contact 2s and the Peugeot ALWAYS gets its OEM Continental Premium Contact 2s...Waugh-terfall said:
Mastodon2 said:
A friend of mine with little interest in cars has 4 different kinds of tyre on his Fiesta, each corner is a different brand, all with wildly differing tread patterns. He just replaces them one at a time, for MOT purposes, or when one punctures or has a blow out, as he suffered last winter. The only thing the tyres have in common, is that they were the cheapest option on the list, regardless of which garage he ended up at...
Jesus... Mine will probably always get the same now, the Audi ALWAYS gets it's OEM Continental Sport Contact 2s and the Peugeot ALWAYS gets its OEM Continental Premium Contact 2s...As some who have witnessed my inane banter may know, I ride a bike but dont drive much. My Opinion, probably not worth much is, you have 2 contact patches, both of which will deem whether you have grip or not(on a bike).
Front can wash out but the rear grips it all together or vice versa. On different tyres you would NEVER save an off unless very lucky.
My lady wife also had a volve c70 t5 recently and a 06 plate saab 93 turbo. ( Always vowed I would never speak car's on PH!!) the volvo we bought privately and had different tyres on all four corners. We changed them all and with the TC off it changed the way the car handled drastically.
The SAAB we had from the main dealers in sussex. It had all the same tyres, and it was really good fun to drive. My kids understanding I could drift a car was a bit of an eye opener for them lol.
I guess what I'm saying is there is a tiny bit of rubber between you and the power...make that the best rubber you can get. Again just my 2 pennies
Front can wash out but the rear grips it all together or vice versa. On different tyres you would NEVER save an off unless very lucky.
My lady wife also had a volve c70 t5 recently and a 06 plate saab 93 turbo. ( Always vowed I would never speak car's on PH!!) the volvo we bought privately and had different tyres on all four corners. We changed them all and with the TC off it changed the way the car handled drastically.
The SAAB we had from the main dealers in sussex. It had all the same tyres, and it was really good fun to drive. My kids understanding I could drift a car was a bit of an eye opener for them lol.
I guess what I'm saying is there is a tiny bit of rubber between you and the power...make that the best rubber you can get. Again just my 2 pennies
I drive a long wheelbase sprinter. All the weight tends to be up the front. I watch my tyres like a hawk. From experience I know how its going to handle if I have to hit the brakes in an emergency. The back is eventually going to want to swing. In wet conditions it will want to swing earlier. If I have different makes of tyre or tread depth on the front axle, the front will start to loose grip and pull to one side before the back breaks free, and that ain't good. Mixed tread and depth on the same axle, particularly the front compounds (no pun intended)
an already sticky situation (pun intended).
an already sticky situation (pun intended).
I was cheap enough once to put miss matched tyres on an MR2 roadster i had and in all honesty it really made the car twitchy!! It ruined what was outstanding handling on a great car, i will never mix brands again on a performance car.
It does depend on the car and the driven wheels though as my wifes polo has different tyres and it makes no noticable difference what so ever. RWD and possibly AWD with mixed tyres is just dangerous!
It does depend on the car and the driven wheels though as my wifes polo has different tyres and it makes no noticable difference what so ever. RWD and possibly AWD with mixed tyres is just dangerous!
I'm having 4 new tyres fitted to my Vulva as we speak.
When I bought it earlier this year is was sunny and dry. It came with a new pair of front tyres. "Sunny somethingorothers" I was not best pleased with what had gone on but drove off and thought they weren't too bad. Then it started to rain, and get cold. They are lethal. They will set off the abs on a slightly greasy road or going over manhole covers.
In an emergency stop you would just keep on going.
So, I would be less concerned about mismatched tread patterns on the same axle as long as a decent tyre. Much worse to have matched tyres that are total carp.
When I bought it earlier this year is was sunny and dry. It came with a new pair of front tyres. "Sunny somethingorothers" I was not best pleased with what had gone on but drove off and thought they weren't too bad. Then it started to rain, and get cold. They are lethal. They will set off the abs on a slightly greasy road or going over manhole covers.
In an emergency stop you would just keep on going.
So, I would be less concerned about mismatched tread patterns on the same axle as long as a decent tyre. Much worse to have matched tyres that are total carp.
Dragging up this old thread because my moan really doesn't warrant its own thread.
A rear tyre puncture on the company car means I'm currently sitting at my local (and not so friendly) tyre fitters waiting for the rear axle to be a victim of mismatched tyres.
There'll be 5mm Yokohamas on the offside and brand new Michelins on the nearside.
I know it's only a Mazda 3, as the chap on the desk was at pains to point out, but it still bothers me. And, short of putting my own money down, there's not much I can do about it.
A rear tyre puncture on the company car means I'm currently sitting at my local (and not so friendly) tyre fitters waiting for the rear axle to be a victim of mismatched tyres.
There'll be 5mm Yokohamas on the offside and brand new Michelins on the nearside.
I know it's only a Mazda 3, as the chap on the desk was at pains to point out, but it still bothers me. And, short of putting my own money down, there's not much I can do about it.
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