OK so obviously it is best to change all 4 tyres at once BUT my fronts have masses of tread and the rears need replacing in the next 500 miles.

I find the s02's OK but they are obviously tricky in the wet and this is my only car.

I was thinking of changing to Toyo's but would rather not replace the front's yet if I don't have to so do I replace all 4 with toyo's, replace the rears with s02's or just replace the rears and see how I find it?

Does anyone have any experience with mixing s02's with toyo's? this dilemma must be fairly common I would have thought.

 

I haven't got any experience but i can't see the problem. Keep the same tyre on the same axle, but not sure of the issue of different tyres front/back.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will along to correct me soon!

 

General feeling is dont mix front to back, plenty of threads to suggest it's bad, if not dangerous.

The different brands will give different levels of grip (exaggerated in the wet) especially when braking and cornering - do you really want one to let go/take before the other?

S02s are nowhere near as bad as girly scaremongerers make out, and I think it plays on people's minds. Have you ever nearly 'lost it' in the wet unless you've been doing something that was asking for it i.e vtecing off a roundabout in the rain or any heavy footed frost play?

 

I was concerned about this too, so waited for another "rear cycle" before switching to Toyos at all four corners. Of course, the odds are I'll do the rears in first, and as I think I'll be going back to the Bridgestones - mildly underwhelmed by the Toyos - I'll have a similar dilemma ...

 

I'm in the "SO2s are not as bad as some make out" camp - if you do switch to Toyos all round, as Shisky says, you may regret it come summer (which isn't far away). I know I'll get pee'd off with my RE050s on my 05 come summer.

I certainly wouldn't have different tyres front and back, for the reasons above - different behaviour. The tyre tread is slightly different front to back on the SO2s IIRC, but it's much more than the tread on a tyre that affects it's performance.

 

Never had any problems with the SO2's myself, just don't let them go bald

 

I've been running Goodyear Eagle F1's on the front and Michelin Pilot Sport on the rears for the last 6 or so months, and done 2 trackdays. The michelins are awful but have lasted forever. They are now knackered though so will be swopped soon.

I wouldn't recommend it but I haven't had any problems.

 

You could get lucky and find the balance with a mixed set of tyres is good, but chance are that it will be not good.

Its not recomended on a performance car that is very tyre sensitive.

 

i'd also agree that the S02's are not as bad as their reputation.

I have just put Kumho's Ultra High Performance ECSTA SPT's on the front of my car *big mistake*

they 'let go' waaaaay before the S02's

(scary, considering the bridgestone's reputation!!).

will be switching back to S02's asap...

 

My two Cents: Stick with the S02's, they are pretty damn good in the dry, okay in the wet stuff, driveable on the white stuff (really) and they wear longer than most others. A good all-round tyre IMHO.

I've had no problems with the S02's and I'll be sticking with Bridgestone for as long as I have the OEM wheels.