Is it safe to have 3 different brand of tires on the same car?

Question

My dad owns a 2004 Honda Odyssey mini-van and it has three different brands of tires on it.

They are officially all the same specs (P225/60R16 M+ S), but the two front are different from each of the left and right rear tires, in terms of brand and maximum recommended inflation pressure (front two 35 psi; back two 40 psi).

Is this a safe situation, or should one always use four matched tires on the same car / mini-van?

Actual tires are:
- front left and right: BF Goodrich Revelation 97S
- rear left: Bridgestone Weatherforce Plus 40 97S
- rear right: Bridgestone Potenza RE92 98T

Are these tires any good?

And what would other recommend as a quality set of four tires (safety and durability over performance) for this mini-van?

And what is a reasonable amount to have a matched set of four tires purchased and installed?

Most of his driving is just around town, but he does occasional highway driving, where he tends to drive around 65 mph when the speed limit there allows it.

Answer 1

"NO!!!!! Okay, there is nothing wrong, just do your own way get with it , But......, before you get with your life on the high way, cause' you know people are all pissed, just remember this 10, I didn't said any thing yet it's just fri..kin 10.. !!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Me2owdhBGU

Answer 2

Just to itself, mismatching tires is not "unsafe." But it is not ideal, and under the right conditions it could be less safe.

Why people are so often willing to be cheap with tires can be very confusing! Ultimately, tires are the one element that effects everything other aspect of your vehicle. Nothing else touches the road. How well your car accelerates, brakes, manuevers, handles going through water, ect, is all limited by the ability of your tires!

Mismatched tires mean you have differing levels of grip between the different corners of the vehicle. Under normal highway driving where the tires are not being pressed to their limits, this could merely mean one makes more noise than the other or rides rougher. This all changes the moment you must make an emergecy stop or manuever to avoid an accident, and you are then at the mercy of the weakest link in the chain (moreso if it's wet or traction is otherwise limited).

Also, the recommended pressure on the tires is based on the vehicle, not the tires themself (the value listed on the tire is the maximum safe pressure, not the recommended pressure). Check on the inside of the driver's door, the tag there should list the recommended tire pressure.

Any set of basic touring tires should work fine (all the tires already mention would probably work fine)... Tirerack.com is a good source for tire reviews if you want to compare to specific tires.

Tire cost can vary quite a bit depending on what you want (high performance tires cost more, and do not last as long). But $40-80 per tire is probably a reasonable range for the size you mention, with another $15-20 on top of that for balancing and install and disposal of the old tires.

Answer 3

There can be problems with having different brands and types of tires. The main one being different tread patterns will cause different wear and will drive differently in rainy conditions causing possible accidents. They will also not wear evenly and will wear out in advance of their years.

You also list 2 different ratings of tires. ( S and T ) These ratings tell you the hardness and durability of each tire. I would stick with the same rating of tire on all unless you are in a sports car and a Z rating with cost you twice as much and last 1/2 as long.

A good general wear tire either S or T rated will run you between 40 and 70 dollars each depending on the brand. Both of those brands are good as well as Michelins which will be a bit more expensive. I tend to not to scrimp when I purchase tires and brakes because they are the most important thing to have work well.

For a minivan I would go with something that will last between 60k and 80 k miles for the warranty. This I think is a S rated tired and is considered a bit more "hard" of a rubber.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The only problem is going to come from the different tread patterns causing the van to drift a bit. It's not really unsafe at all, just might be irritating.

Max PSI is just that...max. Your optimal PSI is stated either on the owner's manual or inside the driver's side door, or both. All the tires should be at the same pressure.

A set of four tires that size at Discount Tire would probably run you about $450.

Answer 5

It isn't "dangerous," but 4 tires of the same brand and model are better to have, for a number of reasons. They "wear out" at the same rate. They have the same tread pattern, and therefore the same traction characteristics, etc. Having the two tires that match as the "drive" tires (being the front on your dad's minivan) is the best bet, the back two tires basically hold the back of the van off the ground.

Answer 6

Tyres which have undergone tests and obtained validation by Porsche are accredited with an "N" specification. The Porsche specifications are as follows: N0, N1, N2, N3, etc. These indications on the side of the tyre mean that these tyres have been accredited by Porsche. The numbers following the "N" code: 0, 1, 2, 3 represent the various accreditations by Porsche over time. This means that N0 was the first tyre accredited. Thereafter, based on the modifications made on the tyre, this same reference is identified as N1, then N2, etc. When a new tyre is selected by Porsche, the index starts at N0 once again. Simply put, therefore, an N3 rating is a later accredited version of the SAME tyre than an N0.

Answer 7

I had a Toyota supra87 M\ stick. I put so many different tires on it and i took that puppy up to 125 mph all the time as long as you got 1\8 depth of tread on the two opposite corners of the vehicle you'll be safe I personally guarantee it! Thread on all 4 tire is to be ultimately the safest

Answer 8

As long as they are the correct size, there is no problem, the price of installing new tires is a variable dependent upon what you want as for millage wise, speed wise etc. If the tires are good I would not replace them. Go to Walmart if you are absolutely convinced that they must match and can probably do it for less than $300

Answer 9

it's not ideal, but as long as the car handles well, the tires wear evenly, it's not a huge deal. i would not drive across the country but i'd feel ok driving around town. i would be planning to get a matched set.
things to consider when you do get new tires: what kind of weather will you be driving in, how much weight will you be carrying, etc. you could easily spend $1000.00 for tires and installation, but if you shop around you can get a good set of tires, mounted and balanced, for under $300.00. Try local dealers instead of chains, and avoid sears at all costs.

Answer 10

Different profiles and tires have a different behaviour in the same situation. Therefore it is law in Germany to use all the same. For example aqua plannig if one is gliding a little bit before the others you can be dead.
Greeting from Hamburg, Germany
Heinz

Answer 11

In some cases yes but, If all three of the tires are not the same size no It wouldn't be safe.