OEM rear wheels and tires on front and road rash - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

**SmartDigger** · 10-09-2009, 01:23 PM

For all you guys using the rears on the front. do you have any issue with road rash or dirt on the side of the car from the extra width of the tire?

**rfernatt** · 10-09-2009, 01:35 PM

Nothing that I've really noticed. I did drive through some fresh mud fairly slowly one time and there was a little more on the side than I thought there would be. I hadn't really considered the 195 fronts as making it worse, but could be. I still wouldn't go back.

SubSlr88 · 10-09-2009, 02:57 PM

In a word - NO.
Of course I stay pretty much on paved streets around town - nothing gravel or dirt.
BTW - the 175's in front are inside the wheel well arch except when turning...

fortow · 10-09-2009, 05:14 PM

No - and I use wider tires than the width of the original rears.

There are probably fewer people installing OEM rears on the front than there are those who install aftermarket tires and rims, and those would be wider than the OEM rears.
The benefits to not using the OEM tires are - less costly, easier availability, softer ride, better handling. There may be more, but those are the reasons why I did not buy the OEM tires and wheels to replace the fronts. I was able to get four wheels and tires for the price of two OEM rears as well, and the size of the tires I did buy was popular making them easier to obtain.

**SmartDigger** · 10-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubSlr88

In a word - NO.
Of course I stay pretty much on paved streets around town - nothing gravel or dirt.
BTW - the 175's in front are inside the wheel well arch except when turning...

this is what I was concerned about. thanks.