Tyres - mixing front and rear

[Ferris Bueller]

Afternoon all. I need to replace the rear tyres on my NSX. It currently runs Toyo Proxes T1-R and i find them to be pretty spot on. Two questions:-
1. Would switching to the OEM Bridgestone or Dunlop, or the good old Eagle F1 represent a significant upgrade?
2. DO you mix different brands/tread patterns/compounds front and rear? I rather loathed to do so but if there's no significant negatives then maybe I could.

Edit to add:-

Blackcircles.com are quoting £120 for the Toyo and Dunlop, £110 for the F1 and £150 for the Bridgestone RE050.

Anyone know of any other cheap sources for tyres please?

[gsuds]

Hi,

I've just done more or less exactly as you - was on Toyos & enjoyed them...while they lasted! Only got 4K out of rears so swapped to F1s. Difficult to assess properly due to suspension woes (see other thread) but seem pretty good, giving much better wear but no obvious loss of grip.

Generally not best to mix tyre types - different sidewall stiffness / breakaway characteristics etc, but my innate tightness meant I had the Toyos front / F1s rear til very recently. Tried changing fronts to F1s to see if that made any difference to handling. (It didn't, but going back to 215 width made steering more precise, handy when having to correct wayward rear...)

HTH

Graham

[Senninha]

Anyone know of any other cheap sources for tyres please?
You could try Robert Coakes of Redstar in Braintree who supplies road and competition tyres as well as being experienced with the NSX as he runs a 3.0 coupe. 01376 347 452

As for mixing, I had AO22 fronts and Bridgestone rears that were ok in the dry but very scarry in the wet. Personally I would avoid Dunlops. I am now running with F1's and very pleased with the performance.

regards, Paul

[Ferris Bueller]

Hi,

I've just done more or less exactly as you - was on Toyos & enjoyed them...while they lasted! Only got 4K out of rears so swapped to F1s. Difficult to assess properly due to suspension woes (see other thread) but seem pretty good, giving much better wear but no obvious loss of grip.



Thanks Graham. Pondering whether to run another set of T1-Rs until the fronts wear to and then swapping all four to F1s.

[gsuds]

That's probably the sensible thing to do. You might go through another 2 sets of rears though!

G

[TheSebringOne]

I still got OEMs Dunlops front still, great in dry & wet, but change to Bridgestones rears last year and find them great too, problem was there was no Dunlops last year as contacted Dunlop HQ, still listed, but non being made by back then & only in batches periodically. I would'nt go for Yokos as many stated not great when wet, but amazing dry. I'm not sure if F1s are the best all rounder for the X apart for other less performance cars, apart for lasting longest. Think simon tried F1s, but changed them when part worn to Bridgestones REO55 or 50, since REO10s were not available at them time. Think REO50/55 are more widely available. I don't find having Dunlops fronts & Bridgestones rears any problems, so long as both fronts are the same & both rears are too.

[Silver Surfer]

I've T1-R up front and F1s rear and don't have any problem. Will be tracking on the 17th July at Silverstone for the first time so I 'll post how the tyres handle after.

SS

[madras]

I would usually avoid mixing on a performance car but I have front 205/45-16 running S01 Expedia. Are these still available as I can't seem to find them. Still appears to be a tyres Bridgestone do. I need some rears 245/40-17 preferably (is this standard). If not would putting on some S03's be an ok match, or some other bridgestones RE010's?

http://www.viking.co.uk/bridgestone.asp

http://www.bridgestone.co.uk/bfe/tyreSelectorController?page=bysize&dataToDisplay=result&ts_width=235&ts_profile=45&ts_rimdiameter=17&ts_loadindex=9999&ts_speedrating=SpeedRating&hiddenSite=Bridgestone%20United%20Kingdom&locale=en_GB#

Does anyone know if there is a tyre that is currently recommended from Bridgestone, if not what are the OEM options for 16" front and 17" rear.

Thanks

[dan the man]

oem front is RE040s and Rear is RE050s as RE010s no longer available.

Have to get like that as each 50 or 40 does not come in both front and rears.. its whats on my car.

RE010s always rocked on my DC2 so the 5 and 4 s are just continued development. 40s came on EP3 civicRs and 50s come on S2000s.

i like them

[Ferris Bueller]

Interestingly the dealer is specifying RE050 (at £170 ea plus VAT!!) and had no qualms about mixing these with the T1R front.

I've bought two T1R of the correct size and spec for £188 inc VAT and delivery from Camskill.

If you want an RE050 (255/40/17 is the correct size by the way), Blackcircles.com list them at £151.65.

[madras]

actually i have RE010 on the front, so will I be OK putting RE050 on the back and then upgrade the fronts to RE040 when they wear out.

The tread pattern for RE010 and RE040 seems similar but the RE050 looks quite different.
Any advice please.

Thanks

[madras]

Interestingly the dealer is specifying RE050 (at £170 ea plus VAT!!) and had no qualms about mixing these with the T1R front.

I've bought two T1R of the correct size and spec for £188 inc VAT and delivery from Camskill.

If you want an RE050 (255/40/17 is the correct size by the way), Blackcircles.com list them at £151.65.

Pretty sure OEM for the rear 17" and front 16" combo is 245/40/17 - that's what this says - http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/TireWheel/tiretech.htm

[simonprelude]

I'll get my prices double checked but I am sure I can get a pair of RE040's or RE050's for that price.

[dan the man]

actually i have RE010 on the front, so will I be OK putting RE050 on the back and then upgrade the fronts to RE040 when they wear out.

The tread pattern for RE010 and RE040 seems similar but the RE050 looks quite different.
Any advice please.

Thanks

are a very similar vein of tyre.

But if u had to split them id say 4s are more sporty as in very hard carcass and sidewall and very direct for steering turn in etc and no slop. More dry orientated than wet and stand up well on track.

5 are slight more sporty - touring and have better wet weather performance but still a good direct tire that dosent slop about like toyo sidewalls etc.

[Ferris Bueller]

Pretty sure OEM for the rear 17" and front 16" combo is 245/40/17 - that's what this says - http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/TireWheel/tiretech.htm

Sorry, should have said mine is a 2004 NA2. Handbook lists front as 215/40/17 and rear 255/40/17.

[madras]

BTW - in answer to your original question, have you tried www.mytyres.co.uk (http://www.mytyres.co.uk) and www.etyres.co.uk (http://www.etyres.co.uk)

I'm going to get some RE050 for my rears at £121 fitted and balanced from etyres each to go with my RE010 16" fronts.

Honda Chiswick say the RE040 and RE050 combo is the only one for these sizes at the moment.