Front tires need replacing, but rears don't

[Canada Kev]

It's kinda not deep freeze weather up here any longer and spring is promising to show up before too long. I spent some time putzing about in the garage today where it was surprisingly warm.

I found a flat tire with the offending nail proudly showing itself imbedded in the rubber on the front of my car. It's likely been flat at near freezing temperatures for the entire winter so the tire is probably ruined. But that's ok as they are in need of replacement anyway.

I'm running (and happy with the performance of) Continental ExtremeContact DW tires in 225/45 and 255/40-17 but they don't make the DW in those sizes any longer. My rears still have a season of life left in them as they were new a year and a half ago, but the fronts are almost twice as old.

My question is what is the consensus here on these two options:

1. replace the fronts with the Conti ExtremeContact Sport, which I understand are the replacement for, and quite similar to, the DW, and leaving the rear DW until next year

OR

2. replace all four now.

I get that these cars can be sensitive to tire selection and that having mismatched tires front to rear isn't a good thing. On the other hand, I gather that the Conti Sports are very similar to the DW in most of its characteristics. Would this mismatch upset the handling and be a big fat no-no?

Buying two new rear tires isn't the end of the world, but it seems such a shame as there is quite a bit of tread remaining.

Most of my driving is in the city or highway to get to the bendy mountain roads for some more spirited hot rodding.

Your opinions are appreciated.

[porsche930dude]

Iv always just replaced them in pairs. Im not dead yet. Especially since your going with the same brand and almost same model. No problem in my book

[porschenut]

I don't see any issue with having mismatched front/rear. As long as they're the same on each side, you're fine.

Flames look like they're contending for the Stanley Cup this year. My beloved Avalanche are crashing out.

[HaroldMHedge]

Had basically the same problem several years ago with my 87 Carrera with ExtremeContact DW 205/55R16 and 225/50R16. I needed 2 new rears and could only get ExtremeContact Sport. They have worked well and I've even used them for a Drivers Education event. The DW and Sport tires have very similar characteristics.

[ian c2]

Take a look at the date codes ....

You might want to buy new rears anyway .

With the tire companies giving themselves tyre ratings with no regulatory body keeping check , replacements are likely to be different even if they seem the exact same but a mark-2 version etc.

Scca are more on top of it than the tyre dealers , but even then .....

[wildthing]

Good advice on the mfg date... I too had to replace just rears and had S-02 in front and RE-11 in the back. No issues but then again I don’t run on a track...

[Canada Kev]

Yeah, the rears are three and a half years old with a manufacture date of 4215 so should be fine for this year.

My fronts usually last through two sets of rear tires, except the year before last I couldn't drive the car much. Now the fronts are too old and the one is now permanently flat because it's been sitting deflated in a near freezing garage for the last four months.

[DanielDudley]

[QUOTE=Canada Kev;10394217]

Shop around and see what you can find. If you can get a rebate or a deal, it might be worth changing all four, especially if you can't get an exact match.

I don't think it is the end of the world either way. People who have mismatched tires that don't get along usually know it off the bat. Seen it happen on the boards a half dozen times.