Tyre Widths

[JontyR]

Someone asked a question on one of the pages I subscribe to on FaceBook about tyre widths and rather than sift through those that actually don't know, I thought I would ask on here in the hope I get a sensible answer

Is it legal to run a wider tyre on the front than on the rear?

There is no point in asking why...because I don't know either, but the general consensus is that it isn't legal.

[andycaca]

yes its fine, so long as
1. the tyre is suitably sized for the width of the wheel
2. the wheel/tyre combo doesnt stick out from the wheel arches such as to to cause injury to others

see various stty modified VW's for examples of sillyness.

[otolith]

There are certainly cars which left the factory that way.

[eldar]

otolith said:

There are certainly cars which left the factory that way.

I can't think of any. Tatra, maybe?

[TooMany2cvs]

JontyR said:

Is it legal to run a wider tyre on the front than on the rear?

Absolutely it is.

Some cars have even been fitted as standard with wider tyres front to rear.

[TooMany2cvs]

eldar said:

I can't think of any. Tatra, maybe?

Citroen. Some DSs and CXs. I think there may have been something US, too - some '90s quicker Buick, IIRC.

[BugLebowski]

eldar said:

I can't think of any. Tatra, maybe?

RS3 apparently

[otolith]

Audi RS3

Citroen DS

Edited by otolith on Tuesday 20th January 18:21

[eldar]

otolith said:

Audi RS3

Citroen DS

Edited by otolith on Tuesday 20th January 18:21

Every day is a school day Cheers.

[ecotec]

Smart cars are the reverse -
fronts are 135/70 or 145/65
rears are 175/55

[otolith]

The reverse is quite common - two of the three cars on our drive have wider rears than fronts. Wider fronts is quite unusual.