Miss matched tyres
04-21-2010, 01:06 AM
#1
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Miss matched tyres
Hi guys
Had to change my rears last week at MOT time as both were running low. My local mechanic couldn’t source any S02's so fitted 225/50 R16 Bridgestone RE050A 92W as recommended in the Faq's.
My front S02's have lots of life in them and I loathe to throw out decent tyres so elected to leave them on.
On recent 'spirited runs' two new traits have become apparent whilst pushing on:
A.) The rear feels softer (spongier) on fast bends causing me to lose a little confidence,
B.) On heavy but controlled braking from speed the front grip is lose and wobbly.
Prior to the new tyres neither of these traits were evident.
Is this simply the way the car handles on these tyres or is this caused by having different tyres front to rear?
My biker friends assure me that it’s the rear outgripping the front hence I need to replace them…. Id love your opinions as you guys have all the experience!
Many Thanks in advance
Iwan
Had to change my rears last week at MOT time as both were running low. My local mechanic couldn’t source any S02's so fitted 225/50 R16 Bridgestone RE050A 92W as recommended in the Faq's.
My front S02's have lots of life in them and I loathe to throw out decent tyres so elected to leave them on.
On recent 'spirited runs' two new traits have become apparent whilst pushing on:
A.) The rear feels softer (spongier) on fast bends causing me to lose a little confidence,
B.) On heavy but controlled braking from speed the front grip is lose and wobbly.
Prior to the new tyres neither of these traits were evident.
Is this simply the way the car handles on these tyres or is this caused by having different tyres front to rear?
My biker friends assure me that it’s the rear outgripping the front hence I need to replace them…. Id love your opinions as you guys have all the experience!
Many Thanks in advance
Iwan
04-21-2010, 01:30 AM
#2
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I had this for a while (but have been using RE050as all round for years now).
The 50as are a bit softer in the sidewall than the S02s, but you'll soon get used to them (or change to 17s, which is what a few people did).
I'm afraid I can't help with the braking issue, but your biker friends comments seemt o make some sense.
The S02s will be very old by now (as they stopped manufacturing them a good while ago) and even if the milage isn't high, the rubber won't be working a well as it once did.
I find the RE050as perfectly fine for road and occasional track use.
The 50as are a bit softer in the sidewall than the S02s, but you'll soon get used to them (or change to 17s, which is what a few people did).
I'm afraid I can't help with the braking issue, but your biker friends comments seemt o make some sense.
The S02s will be very old by now (as they stopped manufacturing them a good while ago) and even if the milage isn't high, the rubber won't be working a well as it once did.
I find the RE050as perfectly fine for road and occasional track use.
04-21-2010, 01:35 AM
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I would imagine if you are still on S02's they would be very old now and probably due a change. Have a look for the date code on the tyre, it's a four figure number, the first 2 digits are the week (from 01 to 52) and the second 2 digits are the year code. So 1208 would be the 12th week of the year in 2008.
04-21-2010, 01:48 AM
#4
I ran Toyo TR1's at the back and the Pirelli P6000's I inherited on the front (a shocking tyre that should never, ever be put on an S2000!). I then switched to RE050's on the front, so I can't really comment, as the front started to grip brilliantly.
I now have BS's all round, and the only difference I noticed was the lack of sidewall flex from the rear, compared to the Toyo. It is posible that if you change the grip characteristics at one end of the car, it may have a small effect on the feel of the other end. However, to change all four tyres without needing to is beyond my budget, so I have learned to adapt to the slightly different characteristics of the car now. It's cheaper that way
The general advice I've seen on here is balance accross the axle is essential, balance front to rear is nice, but not essential. HTH.
I now have BS's all round, and the only difference I noticed was the lack of sidewall flex from the rear, compared to the Toyo. It is posible that if you change the grip characteristics at one end of the car, it may have a small effect on the feel of the other end. However, to change all four tyres without needing to is beyond my budget, so I have learned to adapt to the slightly different characteristics of the car now. It's cheaper that way
The general advice I've seen on here is balance accross the axle is essential, balance front to rear is nice, but not essential. HTH.
04-21-2010, 03:17 AM
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^^ I'm with stupid
My car came with brand new BS's on the rear and "cooper sports" on the front...budget nonsense.
I'm now well into the second set of BS's on the back, but the bloomin coopers just won't die on the front.
Not having the funds to replace tyres for the sake of it, I've just learned how to drive the car with the tyres that are on it. I now know when the front will and will not grip, when it's going to underseer and when I can provoke oversteer.
It's not ideal but sometimes adapting driving style is best unless you can afford to chuck money at tyres until you find the combo that works best for you.
My car came with brand new BS's on the rear and "cooper sports" on the front...budget nonsense.
I'm now well into the second set of BS's on the back, but the bloomin coopers just won't die on the front.
Not having the funds to replace tyres for the sake of it, I've just learned how to drive the car with the tyres that are on it. I now know when the front will and will not grip, when it's going to underseer and when I can provoke oversteer.
It's not ideal but sometimes adapting driving style is best unless you can afford to chuck money at tyres until you find the combo that works best for you.
04-21-2010, 03:23 AM
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For the sake of a bit of cash I’d be putting new RE050As on the front as well.
For 2 reasons, one because I’m quite careful about matching my tyres in this car and two because the S02s will be getting quite old, and since having a tyre disintegrate under me I don’t like using old tyres.
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04-21-2010, 11:23 AM
#8
Well before i stumbled across this forum and didnt no any better, i needed two fronts and was told that the bridgestones were no longer made in the So2 tread pattern. So i said put the next best thing on which were again as paulf says the horiffic Pirelli's. they have no grip what so ever once the winter comes round they be off. now that i have been educated by everyone it wont happen again.
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