Different tyre sizes front&rear on Spider S4

[andygta]

I bought an S4 some months ago and noticed the tyres have some wear and cracking to the sidewalls - not likely to get through the MOT. Looking at the sizes, I have 205 50 R15 86V on the fronts (loving the V rating, I need earplugs for 70MPH in the S4 let alone 160MPH+) and I have 225 50 R15 91Vs on the rear. I want to replace all four and looking to use 205s all round. The garage, finding no reference information on the car, is recommending I replace like for like and saying it will not handle the same with a narrower tyre on the rear or will be lower to the ground (they seem to be making it up).

I can't find anything that suggests I should be putting wider tyres on the rear. Can anyone confirm that 205 50 R15s will be ok all round

Hoping this will be the case as I can get a very good deal on 4 x BARUM BAR BRAVURIS 2s that seem to get good reviews for a budget tyre in dry conditions

[spiderserie4]

going smaller will affect the handling?.......I don't see that at all. The S4 originally came with 195/60 R15's and I would guess most Spider S4's on the road still have these fitted.

are 225's at the rear not rubbing the arches?

[anglospider]

As SpiderS4 says, the S4 has 195/60 as standard on the 15" wheels. I have always stuck with this profile as I understood the 50s would give a harsher ride.
I have seen comments about not using wider tyres as the grip from these (in the dry) is more than the car was designed for and the suspension components are put under too much strain when you throw it round bends. I'm no engineer so don't know if that is an issue but I definitely wouldn't put different size tyres on one end.

[andygta]

Well, gone ahead with the four x 205 50 R15s. All seems fine, maybe a little a harsher and noisier ride on the road (as you suggested, Anglospider). Not had chance to test the grip or ride properly yet as it rained on my return from the tyre place, so took it quite gingerly. The Barums are manufactured by Continental and supposed to be good value tyres, I had all four fitted for just over £200 all in.

[anglospider]

Thats a good price. I'd be interested to know how they do perform for grip, especially in the wet. The rear end of a Spider in the wet is not always directionally predictable