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Sir,

In Andrew Frankel’s piece on the Audi R53 (September issue) he says he can’t think of another manufacturer which mounted wider tyres in front than in the rear. I can’t think of one, either. I do recall, however, that German tuner MTM did just that to one of their tuned Audi 80 or 90 coupes, and the difference in width was significant. The road tester thought the car turned in really well. Years ago, when I was young and bulletproof, I put 225s on the front of a Volkswagen Scirocco (with 205s on the back) and got the car to oversteer on turn-in.

I really do not understand why manufacturers of front-wheel-drive cars don’t routinely do this — it’s completely logical. I know that for years regulations required same-sized tyres all round, and when this rule was lifted the more powerful rear drive cars finally got wider rubber at the back. I recall that Porsche lobbied energetically for this change, understandably enough.

I enjoy your writings, and of course Motor Sport is virtually flawless.

Andras F Behr Shepherdstown, West Virginia, USA