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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / December 2006

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Mixing tire brands?

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SQ - 02 Dec 2006 23:24 GMT
Question, I have 2 new Dunlop SP40's in front of my sedan, and
in the rear, I am thinking of getting something better, like
Michelin HydroEdge.

Is this a good idea or should I keep all 4 tires the same, plus the
spare? (this would allow ease of rotation)

Dunlop SP40 seem OK, don't know how they perform in the rain.
HLS@nospam.nix - 03 Dec 2006 00:08 GMT
> Question, I have 2 new Dunlop SP40's in front of my sedan, and
> in the rear, I am thinking of getting something better, like
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Dunlop SP40 seem OK, don't know how they perform in the rain.

This comes down to opinion, as much as anything else.
I personally do not like to mix brands on a car.  I will NOT mix brands or
sizes on
an axle.

Do what you wish.
J J - 03 Dec 2006 13:06 GMT
Put your best tires in the back.  Best for grip on snow and ice.  And
you wont have problems of the rear end sliding sideways if you make
sharp turns.  Once i put best tires in front and several times almost
spun out when rear end got away from me.
sdlomi2 - 04 Dec 2006 00:23 GMT
> Question, I have 2 new Dunlop SP40's in front of my sedan, and
> in the rear, I am thinking of getting something better, like
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Dunlop SP40 seem OK, don't know how they perform in the rain.

   I would NOT buy/install them without comparing measurements--altho' not
as bad as the old HR70's & -60's, tires from one mfg., same sizes, often do
not match another mfg's.  Those olders often could be over an inch
difference in height.  Even PepBoy's own 'best' popular sizes for like
LeSabres, Parks, B'bille, Lucerne, etc, can be noticeably narrower than say
same sized Michelins. Good luck.  BTW: If you are sold on the Mich. quality
being superior, how about getting 4, and advertise/sell the Dunlops even at
a bargain?  Problem solved and no guesswork.  s
SQ - 04 Dec 2006 05:33 GMT
It's obviously not a good idea to install different brands on the same
axle.

But is there a problem with having brand X on the front axle
and brand Y on the rear axle? And when rotating tires, just moving
two rear to the front and vice versa? And/or moving the left tire
to the right?

My only concern is the spare. No matter what brand you choose, if
for example you need to replace the front tire, and the spare happens
to be the brand like the rear set, you have may issues.
ray - 04 Dec 2006 12:29 GMT
> Question, I have 2 new Dunlop SP40's in front of my sedan, and
> in the rear, I am thinking of getting something better, like
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Dunlop SP40 seem OK, don't know how they perform in the rain.

the "company line" is all 4 tires should be the same brand and same size.

in reality, you can mix and match, but it's only a good idea if you're
considering $ as the only factor.  Brand X tires grip differently than
Brand Y, so in situations like ice, snow, rain, max-g cornering, you
might get dealt a nasty surprise when one end loses it's grip on you.

Unless you have a need to mix and match, I suggest keeping all 4 the
same just because it reduces the chances of surprises.
(that said, the Beretta has two BFG's on the front and two Canadian Tire
specials on the back...)
Ad absurdum per aspera - 04 Dec 2006 18:42 GMT
> Dunlop SP40 seem OK, don't know how they perform in the rain.

It's a  good all-season compromise tire for small family  sedans and
economy cars at an attractive price, in my experience at driving two
cars' worth of 'em for the past few years in varied conditions (dry
roads, rain, and light snow).   If I had to deal with serious snow and
ice, I'd get four junkyard rims and put real snow tires on 'em,
seasonally, no matter what my three-season tire was.

I drive as though the car, the tires, and my safe-driver insurance
discount all need to last me a long time.   People who like to push it
hard may have more-exacting requirements.

Never driven the HydroEdge and have only small experience with
Michelins in general.

I try not to mix tires, though I've certainly done so to save money on
beaters driven conservatively under benign circumstances that only
needed two tires.  Certainly wouldn't mix 'em on an axle.

BTW, the wisdom these days is that if you are only buying two new
tires, whatever the brand, they should go on the rear, a 180-degree
reversal from the thinking of days of old.

--Joe
 
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