Would I be okay if I run Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus (98H) tires on the rear and a V rated tire on the front? The two rear tires are brand new. I intend to replace the fronts soon and got to thinking that maybe I might have a little crisper turn-in with a stiffer tire on the front. I realize that I wouldn't be able to rotate the tires, but that's okay. The rears will probably last 50,000 miles, but I could replace the fronts every 20,000 or so miles, which is alright by me.

 

I don't think it's a good idea to mismatch tires with different speed ratings.

 

I agree, I wouldn't mix speed ratings.

 

mixing them has no bearing on the car, it will drive the same. what i would worry about would be surpassing the speed rating of the "slower" tire and it coming apart on me.

 

430 is rated for H speed rated tires, so that's not a problem. I wouldn't even consider mixing the tires on the same end of the car, just going to V rated rubber on the front for a little crisper steering, might not even be noticeable to most people.
I'm a Miata owner, driving the LS430 is quite the opposite from a lightweight sports car. I just prefer a little more road feel than the LS gives me without going to anything aftermarket.

 

How would a speed rating translate into a "crisper" steering response? I dont see how the two interact. if your looking for "crisper" steering response the points of interest to look at is:
Stiffer side walls
softer compounds generally and thing <300
tread design
temp range

tires that come to mind depending on the size rim you are using
dunlop ZR1 star specs only go to 18" that I know of (best bang for your buck)
BFG KDWII
toyo R1R
advan neova 7/8 (just about any of the series woks well.

 

V speed rating generally is a higher performance tire with the characteristics you describe.

 

ok, i have just never heard people referring to tires by way of speed rating, because a tire could be rated at 200+ miles an hour and have zero tread pattern (I.E. drag slicks) and be crap in corners. but i do kind of see where you are coming from, kind of...bottom line i think you should be ok .

 

According to Michelin, the lower speed rated tires should always go on the front : http://www.michelinman.com/tires-101...read-life.page

However ... I have seen a couple of cases where tire manufacturers stated on their websites and/or in their brochures that it was permissible to mix tires of two different specific speed ratings - "V" and "Z" - on the same "axle" as long as the tires were of the same exact model and tread pattern and as long as the buyer did not exceed the speed of the tire with the lower speed rating.

 

Tires are absolutely categorized by speed ratings...if you look around the forums its discussed as nauseum...