Tire tread styles on front and rear
September 24, 2006 10:13 AM Subscribe
Question about difference between tire tread styles on front and rear.
I have this tread style on the front
and this tread style on the rear 
of my rear-wheel drive Infiniti G35.
I need to replace the front tires and, having just replaced the rears with tires I'm really impressed with (because they stick like glue), I would like to use those same rears on the front. Will I experience any difference in performance changing the front tread style to match the rear?
(if it's of any use, the fronts are 225/45WR18 and the rears 245/45WR18, and I want to replace them because since I've replaced the rears, the fronts aren't gripping so well)
I have this tread style on the front
and this tread style on the rear of my rear-wheel drive Infiniti G35.I need to replace the front tires and, having just replaced the rears with tires I'm really impressed with (because they stick like glue), I would like to use those same rears on the front. Will I experience any difference in performance changing the front tread style to match the rear?
(if it's of any use, the fronts are 225/45WR18 and the rears 245/45WR18, and I want to replace them because since I've replaced the rears, the fronts aren't gripping so well)
Rotate the current rears to the front, put 2 new tires of the same make on the rear. Rotate front to rear every 5,000 miles, as it makes a big difference in tire life. Keep 'em balanced and properly inflated, too.
posted by paulsc at 11:13 AM on September 24, 2006
posted by paulsc at 11:13 AM on September 24, 2006
Response by poster: paulsc - the fronts are a different size from the rears.
posted by forallmankind at 11:16 AM on September 24, 2006
posted by forallmankind at 11:16 AM on September 24, 2006
Yeah, going with the same tires is probably your best bet. The effect of having different tires front and rear will vary depending on the car, and certainly can affect its handling characteristics. The tread pattern would matter a lot more in the rain than it does in the dry, so the balance between front and rear could change depending on what surface you're driving on. That's probably not a good thing. On dry pavement, the hardness of the tire would probably make more difference. They do vary somewhat.
That the tire sizes are different front and rear on this somewhat high-performance car does tell you that the designers gave it some thought. You shouldn't be changing the balance of the car by running different tires front and rear unless you have some good reason to do so. Anyway, from what I've heard of the G35, I think it's safe to say you are not improving things by putting tires with more grip at the rear.
posted by sfenders at 12:54 PM on September 24, 2006
That the tire sizes are different front and rear on this somewhat high-performance car does tell you that the designers gave it some thought. You shouldn't be changing the balance of the car by running different tires front and rear unless you have some good reason to do so. Anyway, from what I've heard of the G35, I think it's safe to say you are not improving things by putting tires with more grip at the rear.
posted by sfenders at 12:54 PM on September 24, 2006
The G35 coupe (not the sedan) original equipment from the factory had wider tires on the rear than on the front. That is, 245 on the rear and 225 on the front. This is probably because wider tires look sportier on the rear.
The problem with this configuration is that you cannot rotate your tires because the fronts and rears are not the same size. You don't want to put wide tires on the front because it will change the geometry of the front suspension by moving the center of drag away from the center of the car. The front suspension is designed for a certain tire size so putting on wider tires than original equipment is not a good idea. On the rear, changing tire sizes is not such a big deal because they do not pivot.
So you have two choices. If you want wide tires on the rear (245) then you have to replace the front tires with the 225 size. These can be the same tread style as the rear, but a different size.
The alternative is to put 225 tires on both the front and the back and then you will be able to rotate them to make them last longer.
Apparently you have already bought new wide tires for the rear so you are left with the first option.
posted by JackFlash at 1:08 PM on September 24, 2006
The problem with this configuration is that you cannot rotate your tires because the fronts and rears are not the same size. You don't want to put wide tires on the front because it will change the geometry of the front suspension by moving the center of drag away from the center of the car. The front suspension is designed for a certain tire size so putting on wider tires than original equipment is not a good idea. On the rear, changing tire sizes is not such a big deal because they do not pivot.
So you have two choices. If you want wide tires on the rear (245) then you have to replace the front tires with the 225 size. These can be the same tread style as the rear, but a different size.
The alternative is to put 225 tires on both the front and the back and then you will be able to rotate them to make them last longer.
Apparently you have already bought new wide tires for the rear so you are left with the first option.
posted by JackFlash at 1:08 PM on September 24, 2006
This is a rear wheel drive car. Larger rear tires give faster acceleration, in dry conditions. Keep them big for best performance, and this is a performance car.
What have you got on the rear that you like?
posted by caddis at 2:27 PM on September 24, 2006
What have you got on the rear that you like?
posted by caddis at 2:27 PM on September 24, 2006
Response by poster: caddis: these. Way much more grip than Michelin Pilots I had on before.
posted by forallmankind at 2:51 PM on September 24, 2006
posted by forallmankind at 2:51 PM on September 24, 2006
Tire rotation is not a cost justified action.
Click and Clack September 2004
Click and Clack May 2000
As to different treads on front and back tires, I can't find anywhere Click and Clack talk about it directly, there is a reference that two snow tires are better than no snow tires.
Click and Clack advise just two snow tires (see poing 12)
posted by fief at 9:51 PM on October 14, 2006
Click and Clack September 2004
Click and Clack May 2000
As to different treads on front and back tires, I can't find anywhere Click and Clack talk about it directly, there is a reference that two snow tires are better than no snow tires.
Click and Clack advise just two snow tires (see poing 12)
posted by fief at 9:51 PM on October 14, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you replace the front tires, get the exact same model as you have on the rear. If trere is any change in handling, it will be for the better.
How did you end up with two different tires on the car in the first place? It certainly didn't come from the factory that way. Did you buy it used?
posted by Thorzdad at 10:18 AM on September 24, 2006