Wider on front than back?

[Au2ro]

I have 205/40/17 front and back at the moment. Fronts are Dunlop sp900s down to 2mm and rear has one Wanli s1099 and one Pirelli P7000 both looked new when I got the car. I don't particularly like the mix but that's what it came with.

I noticed recently that the traction control light coming on when accelerating out of junctions, I'm blaming the tyre ware and the wet roads (I'm not an aggressive driver honest). I have also kerbed the alloys a couple of times since getting the car. So I got two 215/40/17 Wanli s1099s cheap of ebay, thinking of better rim protection. I was considering getting another matching pair (new if I have to, I know I'm a skinflint ).

I was browsing the forums for tyre info and found

"Something to bear in mind though when you change the tyres next time - as long as the sizes match for each axel (ie front two are the same and/or back two are the same) you'll be ok and legal."

Here http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3117&page=2

Has anyone done this, I may consider getting another 205/40/17 Wanli to have a different size but matching set. Wider on the front as this is where most kerbing takes place.

What do you think?
(I know Wanli is a cheap Chinese rip-off tyre, and that I am a skinflint so just comments on the different sizes back to front please. )

 

[tdiman]

Try this, remove your wheels and check the abs link cables, they are known to get chewed through by 17" 205 tyres, you have 215 which are wider still and all the more likely to do this, I had a similar problen on right hand bends, it was the cable that had been worn trough, does it happen in one direction only?
PS the A2 does tend to loose traction in the wet especially if tyres are worn they wear more on the inside edge too.

 

[Au2ro]

does it happen in one direction only?

So far I have only noticed it turning right at a junction, but this is the only time I really floor it - to get across the road quickly. I will experiment carefully.

I don't have the 215s on yet, but I will get the ABS link cables checked anyway before I put the 215s on. The car is a sport model so came with 17" as standard, but I've not had it from new so I don't know what it has had in the way of wheels and tyres previously.

 

[Au2ro]

Well I had a chance to test the traction control out today, it snowed.
Anyway here’s the results:
Level road straight line acceleration in 1st on snow and the light came on.
Steep incline straight line acceleration in 1st on wet road and the light came on.
Usual junction RH turn across a dual carriageway light came on at a much lower speed, slush across the middle of the road.

I did not dare to do any left hand turns fast due to the conditions.

I don’t know if this proves anything, but that the traction control seems to be working without it just being fast RH turns.

I checked the Dunlops again and there’s still 3mm at the centre reducing to about 2mm around the edges. I don’t consider that very well worn but am still considering replacing them soon (as I have the replacements already).

 

[Skipton01]

Well, I've got 215's on all round, and Tank still spins the fronts, even in 3rd gear if it's wet! Mind you, the power is somewhat higher than usual.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[tdiman]

Well I had a chance to test the traction control out today, it snowed.
Anyway here’s the results:
Level road straight line acceleration in 1st on snow and the light came on.
Steep incline straight line acceleration in 1st on wet road and the light came on.
Usual junction RH turn across a dual carriageway light came on at a much lower speed, slush across the middle of the road.

I did not dare to do any left hand turns fast due to the conditions.

I don’t know if this proves anything, but that the traction control seems to be working without it just being fast RH turns.

I checked the Dunlops again and there’s still 3mm at the centre reducing to about 2mm around the edges. I don’t consider that very well worn but am still considering replacing them soon (as I have the replacements already).

Erm yes! I think most cars would do that in snow & slush!
It is reccommended that you change tyres at 3mm as this is when appreciable increases in braking distance in wet conditions starts to happen, there is talk of changing the law re this at the moment, I've always changes at that tread depth even when I had company cars & the lease companies have always been okay with that! This was proven in a recent car mag test!

 

[Au2ro]

Erm yes! I think most cars would do that in snow & slush!

I know but I never had a car with traction control before and the light in the A2 never came on at all until recently. It's still a novelty to me.

It is reccommended that you change tyres at 3mm ..............

I have heard about the 3mm performance issue before, but, as a skinflint, have always let my tyres get to the limit previously. I could tell when the tyres needed replacing on my previous car (Seat Arosa 1.7 SDI) when I felt it starting to lose grip under similar circumstances, but did not have the novelty of a little light to tell me this.

But what about the different sizes front to back? I guess that I will ask my tyre fitter about it and try it out with the existing tyres on the back before I decide to change any more than just the front.

 

[tdiman]

Just something to bear in mind, I'm not quite sure what reaction you would get from your insurers if you had a shunt that is your fault if you had differing tyre sizes on a car that should have the same size all round!