iam7head Posted on Apr 21 2006, 09:24 PM
There is of course a difference, no a BIG difference, between bald and used-but-still-good.
On the FWD cars I owned and drove I always put the new tires at the back and the used-but-still-good-tires from the rear to the front.
Works like a

On the S2000 thats no issue with the different sizes.

When it comes to bald tires I also think (agree with koala) the good rubber is where the tread is.
No tread = no good rubber.
But maybe the added tire surface compensates for the quality?
Less thread also means a "stiffer" tire.
You'll find with new tires that they "move around" a lot more then bald tires.

 

i think we'e figured this out. great discussion.

 

This is a ridiculous thread.

Common sense would point out that driving a car on bald tires is not a good idea. So, why even post this thread?

Street tires arent racing slicks, and I think someone already pointed out that the rubber on the tread is the good part. Not to mention since all tires are radials now, eventually you are going to be wearing down to the wear bars and then you can blow the tire if it gets too low.

 

Will worn tires on the front cause a bumpier rougher ride?

 

in theory yes, you have less "cushion" from the road to your car's suspension, but it wouldn't vary much actually.

Don't get me wrong, CHANGE YOUR WORN/BALD TIRES accordingly, we are not talking about saving the bald tire and reuse them or something.

i better say this before some novice driver wreck their S because he/she read something over the internet about reuse bald tire as R compound slick

 

Cops can write you a ticket for having bald tires. So start saving your money to pay the fine.

 

Here is my understanding of tire wear. As you're driving your car every day, heating up the tires and cooling them down (heat-cycling), that rubber patch that makes contact with the road gets less and less traction because of this. By the time the thread is gone, that rubber doesn't get a lot of traction. Now if you were to take a brand new street tire and shave it down to the wear bars, it would get much better traction because there is more rubber in contact with the road.

 

Well, I never said to use bald tires. I was just sharing about a video that talked about good and worn tires. Not all worn out, just worn. The main idea is that if you get new tires, put them in the back and move the not new tires to the front. I would never advocate driving on bald, damaged, cracked, etc. tires. That's just plain stupid.

 

traction (aka friction) is not a function of surface area. theoretically contact patch should be irrelevant.

 

Well the friction must include the contact patch somehow. Don't tell me that a 225/35/18 tire will have the same grip as a 285/35/18 tire, even if it is the same brand and model.