Is it a bad idea to mix tires?

[GlennP]

Related to my other thread but it drifted enough to warrent a new topic...

I want to run nitto invos, but I do NOT want to overload the fronts. Since im stuck with stock size, that means I cant run the invos. Not up front...

The reason I want the invo is the added traction that it supposidly has over the Pzero. Therfore, I would only need the rear to accomplish that. Would it be a bad idea to run the Pzeros up front and Invos in the rear in stock sizes? Would it look stupid? Would it handle like crap?

How much more traction do the invos really get over the Pzeros? I'm close to just forgetting the changing tire brands and just ordering up more Pzeros. . Is it worth mixing the two to get the invo rear?

[jmart53]

[CooG]

Nope..... just beer on liquor.

[Obzen]

No prob bob

[Wantconvertible]

why would you want mixed tires on such a wonderful looking car let all 4 match no matter what the brand

[The Stig]

Are you talking like mixing winter tires and summer tires? Because yes that is a bad idea

[Mr.Maro23]

I HAVE WIDER TIRES IN THE REAR THAN IN THE FRONT THATS JUST FINE. AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENT TIRE BRANDS GO, AS LONG AS THE PATTERN,THREAD WEAR RATING,SPEED RATING ETC. YOU SHOULDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL EXCEPT THE FRONT TO REAR ROTATION! IF YOU ARE AN EVERY DAY DRIVER AND YOUR TRYING TO GO FASTER DONT SPEND THE MONEY ON INVOS SAVE THE MONEY AND ADD HP1 ALTOUGH HAVING DIFFERENT TIRES MIGHT THROW THE BALANCE OFF A BIT AS WELL AS PIRELLIS THEY MAKE SOME KICK ASS TIRES LIKE THE PZERO ASYMS IVE HAD THEM ON MY LAST CAR AND THEY HAVE GREAT GRIP AND YOU CAN DRIVE AT TOP SPEEDS. ANYWAYS GOOD LUCK!

[jmart53]

He's asking if he can sport the P-Zeros (stock) up front on the 20x8 since Invo's for that size do not meet the load requirements and some Nitto Invos on the rear 20x9 together.

[SUX2BU]

Yes it's fine. You just don't want to have different from right to left.

[gelboy1015]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

Yes it's fine. You just don't want to have different from right to left.

. Im running Nitto Invo in the front and Nitto NT05 in the rear no problems. You should be fine.

[mikeyroche]

Does the Load rating matter as much if your going to not have the extra weight? As far as I understood it, load rating was total weight of the car. So reducing the load rating on the front, if you never had back seat passengers wouldn't hurt, correct?

[Doc]

Depends on if you're just drag racing or doing autocross/road course. The weight of a 2-ton car shifts in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. If you're accelerating the weight shifts to the rear; braking the weight shifts to the front. If you're cornering the weight shifts to the outside front tire that's taking the majority of the cornering forces and load.

The load ratings are for safety so stick to the recommended ratings as close as possible. Some tire shops won't even mount tires that don't meet the load rating because of the liability issue.

[mikeyroche]

do not race, and maybe do some spirited driving. I never have backseat passengers either. I was under the impression that load rating tests were done with the MAX weight, meaning normally having extra passengers in the rear(which I never have). I am starting to like the Invo's but if the 245's won't work I'm back to square 1

[Doc]

The majority of the weight is in the front regardless of what's in the back seat or not. I had my car corner balanced and even with the weight reductions I've done the front corners were still carrying 1,000 lbs each. If half the weight of the car shifts forward under a hard panic stop then the fronts are trying to handle 1,500 lbs or more so I wouldn't go below 1,800 lb load rating for the fronts. Stock I think the load rating is 105 which means they're designed to handle just over 2,000 lbs so I wouldn't go below a 101 which can handle just over 1,800 lbs.

Think safety first; when in doubt, lean towards the safety side.

As a general rule it's best to not mix tire brands or even tire models from the same manufacturer. Each tire 'model' has a certain designed behavior so for the best results you want that same behavior on all 4 wheels. This includes grip, dry and wet performance, sidewall behavior, rolling resistance, etc. If the front and rear tires are behaving differently that's the kind of thing even a trained and skilled driver doesn't like. For the average street driver? It's just asking for trouble in my opinion.