Different front/rear tyre width

[JMC]

Day of questions for me

Anyway, looking at getting some new Toyo Proxies for the front, however I have noticed that the 215 are cheaper (by £8 each) than the 205s. If I keep my existing 205s on the rear, will I still be OK to put 215s on the front?

Thanks

[sharkrider]

Originally Posted by JMC

Day of questions for me

Anyway, looking at getting some new Toyo Proxies for the front, however I have noticed that the 215 are cheaper (by £8 each) than the 205s. If I keep my existing 205s on the rear, will I still be OK to put 215s on the front?

Thanks

legally yes... as, by law, the tyres must be the same size on the same axle, they can be different back to front (like most porshes for example)

however, I did what you're doing, got a nice new pair of pirelli p'nero-zero's on the front in 215/40/16 flavour, and had the old conti's on the back in 205/45/16 flavour, and it made the car very oversteery....... I changed the rears for 215/40/16 goodyear excellance, and it cured this trait immediatly, and I had a nice handling car again....

[JMC]

Thanks, will wait until 30,000 miles when they all need replacing them!

[ScoobyChris]

If you have the same make and model of tyre front and back of at least similar quality, but just 205 vs 215, it will make next to no difference to the handling. However, if you mix brands and qualities then (irrespective of size) you will. I ran 205/50/17 Michelin Primacy on the front and 205/50/17 Contis on the back and the car was much more prone to oversteer than when using all the same make.

Chris

[ag.morley]

Originally Posted by JMC

Day of questions for me

Anyway, looking at getting some new Toyo Proxies for the front, however I have noticed that the 215 are cheaper (by £8 each) than the 205s. If I keep my existing 205s on the rear, will I still be OK to put 215s on the front?

Thanks

Originally Posted by sharkrider

legally yes... as, by law, the tyres must be the same size on the same axle, they can be different back to front (like most porshes for example)

I understand that the " Larger " ( 215's ) tyres have to go on the rear, Don't know of a road car where the tyres on the front are larger than the rear

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by ag.morley

I understand that the " Larger " ( 215's ) tyres have to go on the rear, Don't know of a road car where the tyres on the front are larger than the rear

Believe the new Lotus Elise is available with chunkier front tyres for people who manage to get it to understeer Think they're a fair bit chunkier though that just 10mm wider...

Chris

[Gyp]

Originally Posted by ag.morley

I understand that the " Larger " ( 215's ) tyres have to go on the rear, Don't know of a road car where the tyres on the front are larger than the rear

Citroen CX, typically 185 on the front and 175 on the rear

Dr. Theo's Citroën CX-site; tire specifications

[ag.morley]

Wrond again as usual..............

[ianbev]

I don't think the 'construction and use' regulations allow wider front tyres than rear. Maybe worth checking? Maybe an MOT tester would know?

[BeezerDiesel]

Originally Posted by ag.morley

Wrond again as usual..............

No I would say you were right.
I would buy the new 215s and shove them on the back axle swapping the 205s to the front where they will also wear down much quicker. Won't be long then before you have a full matching set.
One problem I can see is that if you have ESP (or at least the car does, you're not phsichic are you? ) it may get a little confused by having different width tyres in extreme situations, but it's only a minor difference so you may be okay.
Loads of FWD modified German cars have sigificantly wider wheels on the rear, just have a look at some of the German VAG websites and they seem to manage okay considering many motoring regulations are tighter over there. Some have tyres so stretched that the handling must be well dodgy anyway.

[nickl0]

I run different width tyres on my car due to the different width of the wheels- 195 front and 215 rear and it's fine. Slight stretch all round and it handles fine, handled very well on the 'Ring last month

[Gyp]

Originally Posted by ianbev

I don't think the 'construction and use' regulations allow wider front tyres than rear. Maybe worth checking? Maybe an MOT tester would know?

Why on earth would construction and use not allow the rears to be smaller than the front?

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by ianbev

Maybe an MOT tester would know?

No mention of it here:

MOT Testers Manual - tyres

Chris