Technical Wider tyres

[NaySei]

Hello!
When i bought my sei it had 185's on the front and 175s on the back. My dad then said (with advice from his mate) that the wider tyres would be better for handling on the back. I'm not so sure being as its fwd..

Anyone know whether the wider tyres would be better on the back or the front?

Ty in advance

 

[AppleSei]

the euro scene has had wider tyres on the back compared to the front for years

 

[allanhelen]

Less grip on the rear could result in oversteer on a FWD car and less grip on the front could result in more understeer (oversteer means you go backwards off the road into a tree so don't see your impending death, understeer you go forwards into the tree so see your firey death coming)

If you have to take your dads mates opinion then I guess you are no that an experienced driver so understeer would be a "safer" option for many reasons

But saying that it very much depends on the make of the tyre and grip levels they offer, my advice just get matching tyres all around

 

[StoneNewt]

All else being equal, which it isn't, 185 up front and 175 on the rear will deliver the best handling, however 175 up front and 185 at the rear will make the car easier to handle.

With that said, 10mm tread with is fairly insignificant compared to the tread pattern, compound, side wall stabilty, tyre pressure etc. In short, like allanhelen said, just get the same tyres all round.

 

[randomizered]

Try both, but i'd imagine a cento would prefer a little less grip up the rear rather than the front.

As said though, compund, pattern etc may make a much bigger difference.

Kristian

 

[David C]

On a FWD car there is never any need for wider tyres on the back, it will always make things worse.
On such a small low powered car there is also no need for wider tyres on the front either! but it is a better option than the back.

So yes the same size front & rear is what you really need, but if you have to put the wider tyres somewhere put them on the front.

 

[rallycinq]

Those of us of a certain age remember the original XR3 which had a wider rear track than front, and was more prone to disappearing through hedges backwards than its illustrious RWD forebearer.

Cheers

PD

 

[fingers99]

All the above. Wider on front promotes turn in, reduces understeer, wider on rear tends to increase understeer but may add a bit of stability under braking.

Tyres are important -- I'd go for same size, make and a decent brand, front and rear.