Mixing different type/brand tyres on car? Is it dangerous or just a myth?

Aubrey_Thicket

This mixing tyres on a car thingy? Is it true?

So, I’m having the same dilemma every parent (who has a 17 year old who’s just past their test) has. We contributed to her 2011 Seat Ibiza but I’m not happy with one of the front tyres. The mechanic says the tyre is ok and the selling garage says it’s fine but I think it’s scratched/damaged on the side too much. There’s no way I’m taking a chance so I have decided to renew the tyre. However, I am now tormenting myself for something I heard down the pub years ago. I’ve long had it in my head (rightly or wrongly) that you shouldn’t mix 2 different brand tyres on the front of the car because the tread pattern is different and both tyres will react differently in a skid. So I did an inspection of the tyres on the car and here’s what they are:

Back pass 215/45 R16 90H Michelin
Back driver 215/45 R16 86H Goodyear
Front drive 215/45 R16 90v Michelin
Front pass THIS IS ONE I’M CHANGING.

So, please can I have your thoughts on what I should do. Is there any problem with these different tyres?
What would you lot in the know suggest I should do please? what’s the score with these letter H and letter V at the end of the size and do they actually matter?

Thanks all.

sevenhills

Mixing different brands of tyre isperfectly ok, but you will get people saying the opposite! I assume if you measured the tread depth, some may be 3mm, 5mm and 6mm, a new tyre will be around 8mm.

Joe_Horner

Trust the mechanic and the dealer who say the current one is fine. By the very need for this post, it's clear that you're not up to speed with what's ok and what isn't in regard to tyres beyond "what you heard in the pub years ago". Which is bollox btw - mixing them won't make the slightest difference for 99% of drivers, and the 1% who are (genuinely) good enough that it might make a difference are also probably good enough not to get into that position on a public road anyway.

The mechanic and the dealer spend their working lives with this sort of stuff, and are unlikely to be putting you off a sale if there was any reason to change it, so trust their expertise.

AdrianC

H and R are speed ratings. 86 and 90 are load ratings.
https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/what-is-load-rating
https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/what-is-speed-rating

So long as they're at least the minimum required by the manufacturer, you'll be good.

As far as mixing brands and "models" of tyre on one axle goes - it's less than optimal. It means that you may get odd behaviour under heavy braking, especially. But a mix of good brands like that will still be better than Chinese ditchfinders.

What are the other three like, in terms of remaining tread?

Tokk

As previous poster says, check the tread depth while you're at it.

The 86H/90V are the load (number) and speed rating (letter), in both cases higher is a higher rating (heavier and faster/more torque, respectively) - IIRC 86H was what my Ibiza came with, the 90V are rated higher which is fine.
Downrating either would be unpopular with insurers, going higher won't be detrimental but won't be necessary either.

Tokk

AdrianC wrote: »

H and R are speed ratings. 86 and 90 are load ratings.
https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/what-is-load-rating
https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/what-is-speed-rating

So long as they're at least the minimum required by the manufacturer, you'll be good.

As far as mixing brands and "models" of tyre on one axle goes - it's less than optimal. It means that you may get odd behaviour under heavy braking, especially. But a mix of good brands like that will still be better than Chinese ditchfinders.

What are the other three like, in terms of remaining tread?

The R means it's a radial tyre.

Think you meant the H and V, though?

AndyMc.....

You've got different speed and load ratings, as long as they're above what the vehicle manufacturer specifies you'll be fine mixing them. Personally I'd prefer to replace them in pairs but if there's life in the tyre leave it.

tedted

r can also be a speed rating

Tokk

tedted wrote: »

r can also be a speed rating

True, though not really relevant in context - OP's tyres aren't R-rated for speed, the R there is for radial.
(Potentially confusing rather than strictly false, suspect it wasn't intended anyway though, wouldn't deliberately mislead would we?)

Aubrey_Thicket

The tread on all the tyres is very good and deep. My sole reason for asking the question is if the Bollox I heard down the pub about the tyres reacting different in a skid was true.

tedted

i havent seen a q or r speed rating for years but i think they still exist