Do all tires have to be the same?
Same tire size and structure
The Flemish government is applying new regulations for the technical inspection of tires. There are less stringent conditions for symmetry. That is, tires on the same axle are now only checked for tire sizes and tire structure (radial/diagonal).
The brand, type, load index and speed index no longer matter. So these do not have to be the same.
Symmetry car tires on one axle
| Tire size | Yes |
| Tire structure | Yes |
| Brand | No |
| Load index | No |
| Speed index | No |
Difference between front and rear axles
The inspection rules say nothing about differences between the front and rear axles of your car. So the front tires may differ from the rear tires.
Points of interest
- If you are going to replace one tire, check the wear difference with the other tire on the same axle. For good handling, we recommend replacing them both as soon as the wear difference is 3 mm or more.
- If all four tires are similarly worn, it is best to immediately choose four identical tires for replacement.
- Although tires on the same axle may have a different speed index, there is a minimum speed index of 160 mph.
- Based on the new rules, you might assume that you can fit a summer tire on the left and a winter tire on the right. We advise against that because of a risk of instability.
Our advice
If you want to be safe on the track, you should preferably provide 2 exactly the same tires on the same axle. Especially on a front axle, 2 different tires can encourage incorrect driving behavior and thus cause unsafe situations. This is why most tire companies and tire manufacturers expect this regulation to be reversed in the future.