PCA SDR

I have a fairly new set of rear tires, Kumho VictoRacer V700s 275/40-17. But I can't find anyone who can supply me with VictoRacers for the front, size 245/45-17. I can find other brands in the size I want, but how wise is it to mix tire brands. BTW, I'm running these on my 1996 993.

The official answer is don't do it as it will change the balance of the car. If the better tires are in front, your car will oversteer, better in back and you will have push. Unsafe for a novice driver and must be discouraged.

On the otherhand, I have done it in order to compare tires and personally feel it is fine and as long as you are prepared for differences in handling can be a good learning experience.

Don't mix side to side, but axels should be fine. Don't get too extreme, ie Victoracers and cheap street tires, but I assume you are going with a tire similar to the Victoracers.

Just my $.02, hope it helps.

It could be weird if they got to operating temperature at different times. Imagine the fronts suddenly gripping well and the rears still warming up.

I did this once when I could not get a correct size for the rear and mixed some Hoosiers in the front and some BFG R1A's in the rear. Well I usually run 245/275 but in this case I ran 245/265's. What a mistake!!!! I was oversterring all over the place at WSIR. Coming into turn 9 was quite a thrill, that is all I can say about this, I would not do it any more.

I think as long as you are ready to recognize that there may be some differences between the brands or sizes, there is no reason not to mix and match. I have run several different brands and sizes over the years with mismatched sets with no problems.
If you look at racers running sticker tires or scuffed tires or in NASCAR coming in for two outside tires only, they seem to survive.
Again, if there are significant differences in grip, your car will behave quite differently as Jad pointed out.
At the last Willow event, I started with a set of Falkens 225/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear. Switched the fronts to a set of 245/45/16 used Michelin Sport Cups for several sessions, then put the Falkens back on the front and moved the Michelin to the rear and finally for timed runs went back tot he Falkens again.

Greg