two types of tyres

[marcusus]

With a twist... I've got 3 Kuhmo's, and 1 Yokohama, thanks to a puncture on the 4th tyre of the set of Kuhmo's. Is there any problem with running these on the car with regard to tread pattern and all that jazz? Any suggestions as to where the 1 Yokohama tyre should be? I assume on the rear away from where the steering does its thing? Is this actually a good idea, or should I just scrap the set and get new tyres?

[zawrilla]

My idea would be to buy one more yokohama, and run 2+2 rather than a 3 and 1.
Or to just get another Kumho and so you have 4. However, I would make the decision based on how much tread you actually have left on the tyres. If there's plenty of tread left, probably by yourself one more Kumho. If they're on their last legs, then might as well make a change to all 4 or at least 2+2.
This is just because I like the idea of having the same tread pattern on each side of my car.

[marcusus]

The intention is to actually end up with some sort of track tyre on these rims (they're my second set), and these are the tyres that are left on them. Essentially I just want to get the most out of these before I get rid of them and get something a bit more race oriented. If I'm going to buy new rubber, there's no point spending money on a new road tyre when these rims are scheduled for race type rubber anyway, so buying a new single tyre is essentially a waste of money (in my eyes anyway).

[AJ]

bang the odd tyre on the drivers rear & you'll be fine i'd reckon

[zawrilla]

The intention is to actually end up with some sort of track tyre on these rims (they're my second set), and these are the tyres that are left on them. Essentially I just want to get the most out of these before I get rid of them and get something a bit more race oriented. If I'm going to buy new rubber, there's no point spending money on a new road tyre when these rims are scheduled for race type rubber anyway, so buying a new single tyre is essentially a waste of money (in my eyes anyway).

Well if that's the case, then just it shouldn't matter too much. Just run them out without doing anything too wild

[marcusus]

Well if that's the case, then just it shouldn't matter too much. Just run them out without doing anything too wild

That's the plan. Just use them as my street tyres til they go, then put my Adrenalin's back on the car, then get track(ish) tyres for the spare rims and away I go.

[marcusus]

No one has anything else to add? I won't die in a fiery ball of flame in the car if I do this?

[JBT]

Match the tyres (size, brand, wear etc.) on the ends of each axle as a minimum......IMO.

[kitkat]

No one has anything else to add? I won't die in a fiery ball of flame in the car if I do this?

I've been doing it fine for the last 6 months(at least)... i have kuhmo's on 3 wheels and a michilin on the drivers rear (i think... well one of the rears). Its been mountain dríven, tracked, on the skidpan. The two tyres have very similar grip so it doesnt really matter IMO.

[Hot Rodders]

If you did end up having an accident, where would you stand from both a road worthy and insurance aspect? If you caused the hospitalisation or death of another, how would you feel?

[Damo]

Depends whether the tyres are of similar grip levels. I did it and it was fine even on the track. Perhaps find a wide, empty road and flick it from side to side and see if it's OK. Frankly, you could have more difference replacing a tyre with the same type but mismatched wear levels anyway.

[marcusus]

If you did end up having an accident, where would you stand from both a road worthy and insurance aspect? If you caused the hospitalisation or death of another, how would you feel?

Valid point, but this should apply to driving style irrespective of the tyres you've got on. So long as having one different tyre doesn't compromise my grip by a significant amount, I'm not worried. I'll just have to find out how different the car feels with the odd tyre on.

[Alex]

I wouldn't be too worried about it, as long as your aware of it
I ran mismatched tyres on the 5 for more than a year, the old original tyres from 2000 (very hard) with new ones on the front
didn't even have any traction problems, but in the wet there was a bit of power oversteer

[fundies]

My car has no particular oversteer \"problem\", just know that when pushed, the rear will tend to break way before the front, which I personally dont mind But my question was just a general one, to see if anyone got improvement out of going a slightly wider rear tyre to the front, as in the lotus elise, ferrari, porsche, corvette..................you get my drift.

[Alex]

I didn't know the lotus had wider at the rear
since I've gotten my RE001's I haven't had any trouble with either over or understeer
if you are having oversteer issues it might be due to something else?
also getting a torsen actually reduced how likely the car was to oversteer under power