[adoreableyuja]

I'm about to change my tires, just the two front ones....is it possible to have front tires nonrunflat and rear ones runflat? it will be alright?

[MINIdriver85]

Well, not the best option, you know. There's quite a difference of grip between normal tyres and runflats so if you do it just know your rear is going to have much less grip, and be careful with it.

[lespurgeon]

Go confirm it, but I think I have read, put your best tyres on the back, so if they break traction the back end does not swing around the front.

[MINIdriver85]

Well, if you put the best tyres on the abck you'll end having lots of understeer as the front tyres won't have lots of grip like they should, but I guess that bway you won't suffer of oversteer with the rear losing grip and you'll also wear the runflats faster...

If you can, I'd suggest changing all four tyres.

[DaFlake]

it isn't easy for the MINI back end to spin to the front.....

Mixing tires like this is just not a great idea as it can great affect the way the car handles. If you are asking if it can be done? Sure. If you are asking if it is a good idea? No.

[MINIdriver85]

Well, I must say the rear end of the MINI tends to lose grip quite easily if you brake entering a corner, especially on an S, and it does with 4 normal tyres, I can't imagine how this would be emphasized with runflats on the rear axle and normal tyres on the front.

I completely agree that mixing tyres like this is not a good idea.

[DaFlake]

Yes but breaking grip is different than entering a spin. Tires can loose grip for a number of reasons (worn tread to debris on the road) but the back end will still usually stay behind the car on the MINI (don't try this at home as it is possible just not easy).

[skay98]

Hi

I have loads of grip and my back and less on my front tyres..still legal though

I have run flats all round which I eventually want to change to none run flats/

My question is, is it ok to swap my back tyres to my front so eventually i can change all four?

I have read threads and doesnt sound like mixing run flats and non run flats is a good idea.

I asked a mechanic and said i have to be careful due to the pressure sensors..surely if i swap the full wheel there shouldnt be a problem??

Many thanks

[minicabrio]

Swapping front to back is fine, providing all tyres are still well within the legal tread limit - personally though I wouldn't run tyres with less than 3mm on this time of year

The 'pressure sensors' your garage mentions do actually exist The tyre pressures are monitored by the ABS sensor, measuring the rolling resistance of the wheel rather than the specific tyre pressure. Swap your wheels over, reset the system using the button on the centre console, and away you go.

[iain cooper]

I would never put new tyres only on the front, they should always go on the back, as new tyres only on the front will seriously effect handling as said above.

Indeed a reputable tyre fitter would never do this unless you specifically ask, and then he/she would advise against.

[adrianpowers]

Just swap the front with the rears if theres still at least 1-2mm of thread left. grip at the front is more important (breaking, turning) and also these will wear faster. so by the time they wear out u can change all four tires to non-runflats!

OR if u r desperate to change them, put the regular tires new ones on the back and the runflats on the front. With runflats on the front, they will wear faster and by the time they have worn out, the new tires at the rear would have been sufficiently run in. I dont think this would be too unsafe, as long as left and right are the same tire. But i wouldnt drive fast like this and just in case, u should change all four. Best idea is though...is to rotate them around like i said b4 and do burnouts for fun (video this and post it up!) and then change all four

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by adrianpowers (original)

Just swap the front with the rears if theres still at least 1-2mm of thread left. grip at the front is more important (breaking, turning) and also these will wear faster. so by the time they wear out u can change all four tires to non-runflats!

OR if u r desperate to change them, put the regular tires new ones on the back and the runflats on the front. With runflats on the front, they will wear faster and by the time they have worn out, the new tires at the rear would have been sufficiently run in. I dont think this would be too unsafe, as long as left and right are the same tire. But i wouldnt drive fast like this and just in case, u should change all four. Best idea is though...is to rotate them around like i said b4 and do burnouts for fun (video this and post it up!) and then change all four

Be aware that the minimum tread level by law in the UK is 1.6mm - but this time of the year (Winter) I'd advise against running below 3mm of tread as the tyres won't deal with standing water efficiently.

[adrianpowers]

true. but yeh overall, runflats on the front and non-runflats is not advisable. Also by changing all four tires at the same time, u will be able see more of the differences between runflat and non-runflat and how much better they are. So dont bother just changing two, unless ur rears have heaps of usable tread left. Rotate them and unleash the hoon in u to wear out the tires as quick as u can and then change all of them! haha JK! (would still like to see a video of a burnout though)

[adoreableyuja]

Quote: Originally Posted by adrianpowers (original)

Just swap the front with the rears if theres still at least 1-2mm of thread left. grip at the front is more important (breaking, turning) and also these will wear faster. so by the time they wear out u can change all four tires to non-runflats!

OR if u r desperate to change them, put the regular tires new ones on the back and the runflats on the front. With runflats on the front, they will wear faster and by the time they have worn out, the new tires at the rear would have been sufficiently run in. I dont think this would be too unsafe, as long as left and right are the same tire. But i wouldnt drive fast like this and just in case, u should change all four. Best idea is though...is to rotate them around like i said b4 and do burnouts for fun (video this and post it up!) and then change all four

i live in vegas which is like all summmer...so it should be fine that i drive maybe 3-4 thousand more miles on my 3/32 tread tire/?? thanx

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by adoreableyuja (original)

i live in vegas which is like all summmer...so it should be fine that i drive maybe 3-4 thousand more miles on my 3/32 tread tire/?? thanx

I don't think that anyone is going to give you a definitive yes or no. The choice is yours and you are going to do what you want. We all have different driving environments and thus have to make those decisions accordingly. Living in Germany with the Autobahn, there is no way that I would mix them. In fact, I just bought four new summer tires and they are sitting in my garage waiting to be put on the rim (which reminds me, I have to go take them in).