OK to use 2 different tire brands?

[Dwbiggs]

On the same car. I'm trying to find the right size combo for my car but can't find the sizes I want in one model of tire. Is it OK, or cool, to use say a Nitto 555 on the front and a Falken Ziex on the back? Or two different models within the same brand? Do people do it? I am looking for 275/50-17 for rear and 245/45 or 245/50's for the front and can't find both in the same model tire.

[Tony_SS]

Where are you located? I have a set of Nitto 450 275/50-17's and 255/50-17's for sale if youre interested. They have 90% tread.

[Dwbiggs]

I am in VA. I think the 255's would be too wide for the front. Thanks anyway.

[1FstChevy]

Not that "looks" matter so much when it comes to competition but it does start to look questionable when running two different brands of tires on the same car.

However the most important thing would be to assure that the tires had an equal level of traction/tread wear etc for an ideal match, but even then very similar tires can have different characteristics. Such as the NT01s have a superior level of "feedback" when your reaching the limit of traction rather than tires that are night and day which suddenly go from great traction to none when pushing them to their limit.

Now personally I'll be running Nitto NT01s on front and NT555R IIs on the rear on my Z28 but thats primarily because the NT01 isn't made in a 305/35/18 :( however I contacted Nitto and the knowledgeable engineer I got through too on their Tech line confirmed that thats an acceptable match.

I know nothing about those Falkens but you can give Nitto a call and see if you can't find someone to help you out, here are their otherwise tricky to find phone numbers which should route you right to an actual person: 1-800-648-8652 & 1-888-529-8200

[zman1969]

well mixing isnt that big of a problem just DO NOT mix radial and non radials! not that you find may non radials but that is plain unsafe , i would recomend staying with the same speed rating as the the sidewalls can be stiffer or softer - that will affect handling , tread designs will also affect traction - rib type and lug type treads will ride different and make differeng sounds - thats why lug types vary in size so as not to make any harmonal noises - its all a crap shoot as your suspension has differences too - you can get too anal about this but keep the speed ratings similar and for the most part you'll be ok lord knows some people can care less what they have on their cars and still drive around (and thinkits cool)