quattro digest, Vol 1 #4328 - type44 squirrly on the road with front snow tires

[Larry C Leung]

You're inviting trouble. Different sidewall heights and compounds and
nature of the
tread patterns front and rear are most definitely an invitation to
problems when the
car is subjected to severe manuvers (such as emergency avoidence).
Remember,
this car was designed with 4 same sized wheels and tires in mind. If you
recall,
I had mentioned running R-rubber in the front and stock summer (RE-71) in
the
rear of my Solo2 GTi in a low stickiness situation (hot slick macadam)
during
a Solo2 event. Tail out everywhere. In the case of all-season rear, snow
front,
you'd have low grip in the front in dry and wet conditions, and low grip
rear, more
front in snowy and icy conditions. It's a sort of Jekyl and Hyde
situation which
I don't think your Mom would find too desirable. Get same sized rear
snows
for reasonable balance and Mom will appreciate the predictability and
safety
margin it will provide.

LL - NY



> From: JordanVw at aol.com
> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 18:15:39 EST
> Subject: help!  type44 squirrly on the road with front snow tires
> To: quattro at audifans.com
>
> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>
>
> i just took the 15" 4x108 BBS's off my moms '86 5k NA automatic and
> put the
> stock 14" steels on there for the winter with brand new
> "winterhandler ice
> and snow" snow tires on the front.   rear tires are all season, just
> fronts
> are snow.
>
> she says car handles "squirrely" sometimes..  i drove the car and it
> didnt
> act up on me.  can i run snows on the fronts of a frontwheel drive
> car and
> regular all seasons on the rears?   or do i have to have all 4 tires
> snows?
> please advise if you can
> thanks
> chris
>