Mixed Tires

[X5Kiwi]

My 4.4i X5 currently has Yokohama Advan ST tires, with 275/40R20 on the front and 315/35R20 on the rear.

My front tires have about 4mm tread, but have worn badly on the outsides, the left front now having a bald strip about 4 cm wide.

However the rear tires are fine, about 5mm even tread on them.

I have found a good deal on some Hankook Ventus RH06 tires for the front, however I am wondering if there is a downside to having different brand tires on the front and rear? The Hankook tires are MUCH cheaper than the Yokohamas, and all the reviews I have read show they will perform nearly as well.

We don't really get snow on the roads here in New Zealand, so we generally run the same tires all year around.

[bgsquad]

since it's an AWD vehicle, I assume having 4 tires of the same age and traction is much more advisable... my perception...

[TaMbALoLoNg]

Treat your baby right and change all of her shoes + balance and alignment

[Brit6]

Agreed! Don't mix and match

Originally Posted by TaMbALoLoNg

Treat your baby right and change all of her shoes + balance and alignment

[sleepless]

Originally Posted by TaMbALoLoNg

Treat your baby right and change all of her shoes + balance and alignment

change all 4 ..... have U ever tried running w/ 2 different sneakers ??? exactly .....

[X5Dawg]

Ahh, brings back memories of a line by Sir Mix-A-Lot, "Two Vogues on the left, Uniroyal on the right!!"

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by sleepless

change all 4 ..... have U ever tried running w/ 2 different sneakers ??? exactly .....

I can't see the point of having a quality vehicle and then compromising it by mixing the tyres.

[anerbe]

you'll change the dynamics of the tire. wet handling, dry handling, wet braking, dry braking, hydroplane resistance....

don't be surprised to find the vehicle change characteristics, becoming much more unpredictable. I do not recommend it

[Weasel]

And the most important factor in pre-facelift X5 tires are to have the same rolling diameter. Tirerack has that in their info listings on the tires. If the front and rear tires are different in rolling diameters it puts extra stress on the transfer case, especially the front output shaft.

[X5Kiwi]

And the most important factor in pre-facelift X5 tires are to have the same rolling diameter. Tirerack has that in their info listings on the tires. If the front and rear tires are different in rolling diameters it puts extra stress on the transfer case, especially the front output shaft

How do you avoid this problem when the tires wear at different rates? And with a staggered setup, the rear tires are not the exact same rolling diameter anyway are they?