OEM rear wheels and tires on front

[RVGRINGO]

I have decided to carry a rear wheel as a spare, instead of a front wheel, since the wider wheel and tire could serve as a spare, even on the front, and get us home or to a tire dealer. As such, I now have a brand new rear Styleline Aluminum rim mounted with a 175/55 R15 Continental tire available for sale. Of course, if someone wants the pair, I could then buy a 'skinny' to use as a spare.
Otherwise, I now have two spares with new tires all ready to go, when I eventually wear out my rears, and I'll be able to do a quick switch and still have two spares; bald, but spares.

[riversidesmart]

Any personal experience with 165/60R15 as a replacement tire on OEM '08 front wheel? Seems slightly outside recommendation for the 4.5" rim width.

[RVGRINGO]

Originally Posted by briansmart

RVGRINGO, is your 2007 a 450 or 451? If its a 450 this will NOT work as the front and rear offsets are different. If its a 451, go for it! The offsets are the same on the front and the rear.

My Smart is a 450.
By the time I read the quote above, the rims were enroute. They arrived, I mounted & balanced tires and gave them a test drive. They did rub a bit on tight turns, the ride was softer, but the offsets did make for a wider stance and probably more stress on bearings. I put the word out and sold one instantly & put the other behind the passenger seat for a spare. Then, this morning, I got a call wanting the other one. I sold it too and will now look into a steel rim and a front tire to carry as a spare. Back to square one!

[sunnyokanagan]

Back to square one!

Um... roadster steels ;)

[RVGRINGO]

I really don't want to buy four wheels and tires. One will do as a spare. If I had the pesos, I would buy a whole roadster, but at my age, they're tough to climb out of. Still fun though!

[klock55]

mounted on oem rims in front. Rides and drives like a different car. It seems to ride better and drive better on interstate and city driving. I spent $230 at Tire barn for tires mounted and balanced on my front oem rims. This is a nice upgrade to the car. I will buy rim and use one tire for spare. No need to buy rims for front to upgrade to wider tire in front.

Ken

[mfoster]

I'd like to let this thread die but this is the second time I've tried rears on the front. First time I put 195/55 on rear with the OEM rears on the front. That caused the stability control to come on in places where the stock configuration did not. I didn't like the feel so I put it back to stock. Now I put the blizzak 175 snows on rear rims and put the rear wheels /tires on the front. I still get the stability control kicking of prematurely.
Anyone have the same problem or an idea for me to fix?

[rfernatt]

It sounds like the diameter difference is too great between front and rear. A 195/55 rear paired with a 175/55 is a good bit different in diameter. You don't mention the aspect ratio for the Blizzak 175s, but if it's greater than the stock 55, then the same problem is likely occurring. The outside diameter of the front and rear tires should be closely matched. The 195/50 size is a near perfect substitute for the 175/55 as far as diameter is concerned.

[mfoster]

I meant 195/50 rear, 175/55 front initially. Now 175/55 all the way around except rears are snow tires. Everyone has talked about either 195/50 rear and 175/55 fronts or 175/55 all the way around. I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem.

[sunnyokanagan]

Originally Posted by mfoster

I meant 195/50 rear, 175/55 front initially. Now 175/55 all the way around except rears are snow tires. Everyone has talked about either 195/50 rear and 175/55 fronts or 175/55 all the way around. I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem.

195/50 is exactly the same diameter as 175/55. Should be no problem once the TPMS is rest.

Summers or a/s on front with snow tires on rear - you living dangerously, cousin.

Bil