# Ok to use different size wheels and tires in front/rear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 1, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098 "2024-01-01T15:24:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/1 "2024-01-01T15:24:55Z")
Happy new year everyone! I wanted to get drag radials/tires for my rear wheel/tires only to improve traction. I currently have 20 inch wheels and tires all around. Would it be ok to use 17 or 18 inch drag radials/tires in the rear (the ones with the really small size wheels and really thick tires) while I’m still running 20 inch wheels/tires in the front? Would I have to change any suspension components to accommodate for this? Based on what I read it seems like people say it’s fine to do this but I haven’t been able to find much information. Wouldn’t this mess up the speedometer or gearing since the diameter of the front/rear wheels are different or does it not matter as long as each axle has same diameter wheels and tires of the same dimensions? Links below to forums. > **[Drag radials 18 inch rear 20 inch up front](https://www.gtrlife.com/threads/drag-radials-18-inch-rear-20-inch-up-front.172266/)** [https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/drag-radial-newbie-questions.109512/#:~:text=a%20budget%20setup%3F-,I%20see%20some%20budget%20setups%20but%20am%20unsure%20what%20is,at%20least%209.5%20inches%20wide](https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/drag-radial-newbie-questions.109512/#:~:text=a%20budget%20setup%3F-,I%20see%20some%20budget%20setups%20but%20am%20unsure%20what%20is,at%20least%209.5%20inches%20wide). ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/2 "2024-01-01T16:17:45Z")
No, it really isn’t OK. The different lateral stiffness of the tires will make your car feel wiggly in the rear because of the extra sidewall. That could lead to you backing the car off the road into a ditch. The speedometer will not be affected at all if you choose tires of the correct diameter… wheel diameter does not matter at all… only the tire diameter. The small wheel rear/big wheel front looks stupid (to me, anyway) Drag radials have a very soft tread compound that is useless in cold weather and wears very quickly. They also have shallow tread depth so they are awful in the rain. Another condition to put you in the ditch. If you want and need better traction… buy better 20 inch tires. Look for treadwear ratings in the 200 to 300 range like a Michelin Pilot Sports 4. They still can’t be driven in near freezing weather but they have a 30,000 mile warranty. It is what I have on my Mustang. Traction is outstanding. If this is a car driven in icy weather, I’d suggest tires rated as “all season” or “ultra-high performance all season” like a Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 Plus with a 560 treadwear rating. Or buy the drag radials and an extra pair of wheels and switch them out at the dragstrip or in your driveway before taking a short trip to the dragstrip. They are NOT everyday tires! ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/3 "2024-01-01T17:06:43Z")
> [@J162\_165342](#): > > I wanted to get drag radials/tires for my rear wheel/tires only to improve traction. This isn’t clear. Is this for actual drag racing or for just normal driving on the streets? ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/4 "2024-01-01T18:14:14Z")
Your links are for a GT-R forum and a Mustang forum. A GT-R is AWD. What vehicle are we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/5 "2024-01-01T19:00:49Z")
If you have a GT-R this would be a disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/6 "2024-01-01T19:03:58Z")
The OP had a 2013 Mustang GT. I assume this is what he’s asking about. ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/7 "2024-01-01T23:55:53Z")
Got it. That’s kinda what I assumed except this: > [@J162\_165342](#): > > Wouldn’t this mess up the speedometer or gearing since the diameter of the front/rear wheels are different or does it not matter as long as each axle has same diameter wheels and tires of the same dimensions? Presumably, most people know that a Mustang can have staggered front/rear tire diameter and not have issues with “gearing”, but I’ve been wrong before and surely will be again. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/8 "2024-01-02T02:09:53Z")
Staggered for a Mustang usually means wider tires at the rear than the front rather than different diameters. Even the factory does that. The ABS/ESC/TCS is happier if the diameters match. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/9 "2024-01-02T12:06:06Z")
> [@Rainflurry](#): > > Presumably, most people know that a Mustang can have staggered front/rear tire diameter and not have issues with “gearing”, but I’ve been wrong before and surely will be again. And presumably you know that if a Mustang originally came with a staggered front/rear tire diameter, it was designed that way - meaning spring, shocks and sway bars! It would be different than one without staggered tires. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/10 "2024-01-02T13:12:44Z")
Won’t the ABS be messed up by non-stock difference between front and rear tire diameters? Edit- like @Mustangman said… ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/11 "2024-01-02T14:31:47Z")
> [@CapriRacer](#): > > And presumably you know that if a Mustang originally came with a staggered front/rear tire diameter, it was designed that way - meaning spring, shocks and sway bars! It would be different than one without staggered tires. Ugh. Can we not make this harder than it needs to be? Thanks for pointing out something obvious (and using an exclamation point) but what does that have to do with anything I posted? My post was regarding the OP’s reference to “gearing” and asking for clarification as to whether we’re talking about an AWD GT-R or a RWD Mustang - the OP posted threads for each. What need do you have to point out unrelated suspension facts? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/12 "2024-01-02T16:31:00Z")
If you are doing this on a RWD Mustang, then any GT-R (AWD) info needs to be thrown out the window… The issue with going to a smaller diameter wheel is will it fit over the rear brakes and suspension… You can make the OD of the tires overall match no matter the ID to a point anyway… A 35" tire is a 35" tire no matter if it’s center is a 15" or 22", the difference will be in the sidewall profile… Hellcats for an example run 20" wheels with 275/40 wrapped around them… THEY don’t hook up!!!, but drop down to an 18" rear wheel only and wrap them in a 305/45 and now you have 25% more sidewall and 11% wider width and only a 0.1" bigger diameter, using some sticky DOT drag radials will help it hook up, but remember, they are NOT designed for everyday driving… ![Screenshot (32)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/f/0f811c1bcfa40f37af417ac8bbf6fc07313bb79c.png) ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/13 "2024-01-02T18:44:57Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Staggered for a Mustang usually means wider tires at the rear than the front rather than different diameters. Sure, technically, you’re correct. But, I would argue that the vast majority of people mean different diameter tires rear-to-front. All the people I have worked with as a technician and doing tech assistance for Chevrolet, interprets “staggered tires” to mean different diameters, not same diameter, different width. If we’re in a meeting with a group of engineers, we may need to clarify. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/14 "2024-01-02T18:50:38Z")
> [@Rainflurry](#): > > But, I would argue that the vast majority of people mean different diameter tires rear-to-front Maybe the vast majority in your professional sphere would but I would disagree with “vast majority” as would these sources: [https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/staggered-vs-square-tire-wheel-setups](https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/staggered-vs-square-tire-wheel-setups) > **[What Are Staggered Wheels?](https://tiregrades.com/tire-anatomy/wheels/what-are-staggered-wheels/)** > > Staggered wheels are a tire setup where the rear wheels and tires are wider than the front ones. This setup is primarily used to improve traction,... [https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/does-it-matter-which-position-my-new-tires-are-mounted](https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/does-it-matter-which-position-my-new-tires-are-mounted) ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ok-to-use-different-size-wheels-and-tires-in-front-rear/194098/15 "2024-01-02T19:08:38Z")
How about we just agree as it pertains to my original post? I specifically said “staggered front/rear tire _diameter_”. I was trying to determine if we were talking about an AWD or RWD vehicle and you knew that.