[Yagomuz]

What's up everyone.

I am getting new wheels and tires for my '97 WS6 and am in the process of picking out tires. I have 17x9.5 wheels for the front and 18x10.5 for the rear; old set was 17x8.5 in the front, still 18x10.5 in the rear.

With the old set, there were 255/40/17's Maxxis with a 25.0" diameter on the front and 295/30/18 Continental's with 25.2" diameter on the rear (I didn't pick them out, they came with the car). This set fits well and I've had no issues.

Now I'm getting a 1" wider front rim, so I'm bumping up to the popularly recommended 275/40/17 with 25.6" diameter for the front, but that gives me a dilemma. The brand I want for the front wheel doesn't make a 295/35/18, which would give me a roughly 26.1" diameter, so I'd have to settle for a 295/30/18 making it 24.9".

In short, here is what I have to decide: Get four identical modeled tires and have my front end sit .35" higher than the rear end, or get two very very similarly modeled/treaded 295/35/18's on the back and have my back end be the higher end by about .25".

What will be the most important variable: Four identical brand/model tires, or a slightly closer to level height with the advantage to the rear?

 

[Freak2180]

I say suckity up and picks diff brand that has both needed sizes. One of my biggest pet peeves is miss matched tire brands on a car........ Especially a sports car.

 

[Yagomuz]

I say suckity up and picks diff brand that has both needed sizes. One of my biggest pet peeves is miss matched tire brands on a car........ Especially a sports car.

Thats fair, but from the sound if it, its just a picky preference of yours. I intend to mismatch because it gives me some advantages, UNLESS the mismatch tire treads between front and back negate it.

 

[Freak2180]

What advantage is it other than staggering tire sizes? Just because a tires tread pattern looks the same dosnt mean the tires will perform the same. By running diff tires front and back you upset the balance of handling from front to back. One set of tires may not be able to handle the same loads and forces that the other can.

Now if its a daily driver that's a mall crawler and its purely aesthetic then by all means do what ever floats your boat, but if you ever plan on pushing the tires then you need to consider a matching set.

I am picky, but it stems from the exact reasons as above. I was in a car ( not mine ) that un be bounced to me had diff front and rear tires.....
Long story short the fronts held and the rears didnt...... Almost slammed a wall.

 

[Yagomuz]

The advantage, based on the sets I'm looking at, are as follows. Granted, I'm not an expert, hence I'm asking here, and I do appreciate your feedback:

1) Chosen fronts tested excellently for handling. They have a good treadwear, 300, 94Y AA A, and are available in the perfect size, 275/40/17. On top of all that, they're well priced. Again, overall diameter 25.6"

2) Now I'm looking for rears with good performance overall with a focus on strong treadwear, matching 94Y AA A, same tread depth, and the widest tread width possible. I don't do a lot of high end cornering yet in my car, I focus on straight line speed. Based on that, the best option I found is 295/35/18s, 340 treadwear 94Y AA A, great reviews, tire diameter half an inch taller.

Performance wise, it gives me a marginal .25" forward lean on my car and I get an 11.5 inch tread width ratherr than bumping down to a 10.7" tread width on the 285/35/18s to match brands.

 

[Yagomuz]

On a side note, I appreciate all your feedback and am keeping it in mind for sure. I'm certainly not an expert, just learning a lot in a short time.

 

[sweetbmxrider]

I run staggered firestone firehawk wide ovals on mine for street driving. 275/40 up front and 295/35 out back. If you have abs/tcs, the different tire heights could lead to undesired abs/tcs function due to different wheel speeds. That being said, its pretty common to run different tires front and rear on these and most performance rwd cars. Who would put drag radials on all 4 corners? :roflmao:

 

[ShowNoMercy]

I run staggered firestone firehawk wide ovals on mine for street driving. 275/40 up front and 295/35 out back. If you have abs/tcs, the different tire heights could lead to undesired abs/tcs function due to different wheel speeds. That being said, its pretty common to run different tires front and rear on these and most performance rwd cars. Who would put drag radials on all 4 corners? :roflmao:

This, I run, er ran regular 275s up front and MT ET street radials out back, I like my traction vs the look of matching tires.