I have always replaced all four of my XJR tyres as a set. Due to some recent, uh, indiscriminate use of the TRAC OFF button, however, I now have two very good tyres on the front and two very dodgy tyres on the rear.
I am considering the not insubstantial benefit of only replacing the two rear tyres at this time; in that regard, is the consensus that I should stay with the same brand as I currently have on the front, or is there no disadvantage to using a different brand on the rear?
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1999 XJR

 

I don't see a huge difference IF you choose to change brands. I personally like the same pattern and brand front & rear, but it's up to you. If you're happy with the brand/model, and when the fronts are gone...do you want to try another brand? If so, start with the rears first.

 

I remember my Jaguar workshop manual for the XJ6 Series 3 always recommended replacing all 4 tyres as a set, but in the UK at least, we were always far too poor to afford this, so I usually always replaced in pairs using the same manufacturer, but I think once, I did replace only one tyre, but it was the same dimensions and speed rating as the other side. Anyway, what do you do if you have a puncture, and the fitter tells you it cannot be repaired ? You buy one tyre !!

The key thing is to match to the recommended specification. Now we have unidirectional tyres which make things much more complicated !!