Tire advice two different brands

[Later-A-body]

I want to get some feedback on tires. I have to buy new tires to replace my existing ones due to the age of the tires. I am NOT able to replace my Pirelli's due to the fact that they are very very expensive. I'm also unable to find one brand of tire that has both rear size and front size that I need. I am forced to go to two different brands. I am looking to run a 295 4018 Falken 615K rear and either a Nitto NT05 or Nitto Invo 275/40/18 front. Treadwears are 200 for both the Falken and NTO5'S, 260 for the Invo. The car will mainly be driven on the street and occasionally autocrossed for fun. Bottom line, am I OK running different types of tires. Give me some feedback.

[andrewb70]

I ran the 295/40-18 Falkens on my GTO and loved them. I see your dilemma exactly. You want to run a 275/40-18 on the front, but none makes a matching rear. This is why I went with 295/35s in the rear and 275/35s in the front. I would have preferred a slightly taller tire, but the 35 series tires are only a hair shorter.

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/features/1402_1970_pontiac_gto_ls3_swap/photo_09.html

Andrew

[Later-A-body]

Good to hear from you Andrew. Yeah, you hit it right on the head. I run a 285/45/18 in the rear now. 28.0" tall and perfectly fits the big wheelwell. So a 295/40 is just slightly less at 27.7. The only other choice I have if staying with the same brand would be a 295/45/18 and 275/40/18 Nitto NT-05, but I reallydon't want to run that tall of a tire in the back. I could never run a 35 series on the GA, it would look too small, and I'm not willing to slam the car into the weeds just to get the right look.

[DippedInSauce]

I would highly recommend Nitto over Falken. Falkens are made in Taiwan. I got two used 285/30/20 Michelin ps2's with 8.7/32nds no camber wear no patches and a 2011 manufacture date (anything beyond 6 years isn't recommended) from some tire shop in Laguna hills. $200 for the pair. I'd much rather get a quality fully inspected used top shelf brand tire than a low cost overseas tire. Safer more cost effective and far better performance. Just my 2 cents.

[andrewb70]

I would highly recommend Nitto over Falken. Falkens are made in Taiwan. I got two used 285/30/20 Michelin ps2's with 8.7/32nds no camber wear no patches and a 2011 manufacture date (anything beyond 6 years isn't recommended) from some tire shop in Laguna hills. $200 for the pair. I'd much rather get a quality fully inspected used top shelf brand tire than a low cost overseas tire. Safer more cost effective and far better performance. Just my 2 cents.

The Falkens that I owned were made in japan and as far as I can tell, Falkne is a Japanese company. They were excellent and two of them actually balanced without any weight.

Andrew