josephsc

I have track tires to use up in both 225/50/15 and 225/50/16 (the latter is one inch larger in overall diameter). I'm not trying to be competitive -- just doing DE's to learn to drive. And I have rims to run them on.

I know it's not ideal -- but what exactly would be the consequences of running one inch smaller diameter tires in the front?

JackOlsen

You'll have more rake, since you'll be half an inch higher in the back.

Not a huge deal, in my opinion.

Bill L Seifert

Just asking, but what kind of car are you running that on? I did something similar several years ago with 225-50-15's on the front of my 944, and 245-50-15's (Exactly the same diameter difference as you have. Hoosier and Goodyear used to make 245-50-15', I don't think they do anymore. But anyway 245-50-15's and 225-50-16 are the same diameter.) When I ran those sizes, the fronts would lock up, expecially in slow corners. Drove me nuts, and made me think that I should never use 225-50-15's. That is not true, you should never run a large diameter tire in the rear and a small diameter tire on the front, with a car like a 944. But 225-50-15's on all corners works fine. If you run bigger diameter in the back, you can lock up the front tires, unless you adjust the brake bias, which you can't on a 944, at least not mine. You can, however, run tires like 225-50-16's front, and 245-45-16 rear, because even though the 245's are wider, the diameter is almost exactly the same. It's the difference in diameter that causes lockup, not width.

Bill Seifert

1983 944 Race Car

josephsc

Thanks Bill. Your experience definitely gives me something to think about. This is for a 944 running 225/50/15 with a 968 motor and bigger brakes -- and I'm already locking up brakes if I'm not careful. I don't want to make that worse -- even though I got a pair of 225/50/16 for next to free.