As I see different setups for FF-Cars most of them have wider front tires then on the rear...

Is this to compensate understeer... More grip on the front then the rear ???

Example
Front
15"x7,0j
195x45

Rear
15"x7,0j
185x45

If this is B.S. please tell me...

 

Yes, wider tires in the front and narrower tires in the rear is one way to help produce less understeer or induce more oversteer.

 

I have an integra....
If I were to run 205/50/15s in the front, and 195/50/15s in the back, would there be any issues at all?
Reason I'm asking is b/c bridgestone s-03 195/50/15s are on sale at tirerack for 79 and the 205/50/15s are 110 =/
Thanks for any help in advance

 

I don't think there would be any problems, although I may look weird. On a similar note, a car featured in a recent SCC issue had the same size tires f/r but had rims in the rear that were 1/2" or 1" narrower than the ones in the front. Apparently, this allows the rear to break away progressively, instead of all at once. That might be an option for you.

 

Intersting.....

Any techies have an thoughts on this or want to elaborate on this concept? And is something that you would suggest as a good idea??




[Modified by PSU-TEG, 2:09 PM 8/13/2002]

 

My initial thoughts on this is don't take traction away from the rear just to compensate for understeer. That's a bandaid fix. That's like coating your rear tires with oil because you're understeering. Dial in the suspension, but don't take traction away...

 

Agreed I wouldn't use smaller rear tires, but the narrow rear wheel might be a good idea. It could make the car easier to drive by reducing the chances for snap oversteer.

 

well...I run 205 up front and 195 in the rear. It's not a bandaid fix...it's a very good solution to be honest. But this is not a street set-up. I run that stagger on my Victoracers. I've actually been considering running 225's up front and 205's in the rear..

 

How can you say that? Would you rather put a ani-roll bar on the back? Well, that does the same exact thing (all be it, you have the added advantage of eliminating some body roll in the process). Because anti-roll bars decrease traction by transfering weight (and force) to an already stressed tire. So both methods decrease traction to compensate for understeer.

So how is the method using smaller wheels in the back a bandaid fix, and an anti-roll bar is not?

Plus, if the smaller wheels concept holds true... I like that idea a lot better, that way you can feel the rearend start to break lose, and can predict the oversteer.... instead of it suddenly giving way and catching you by suprise.

 

the car mentioned in scc was a lancer that is awd wouldn't that handle alot differently than a fwd one, with that setup bigger fronts and smaller backs?