new tyres rear vs front

confuzed

One of the tyres blasted few days back and i got it replaced with extra one that was never been used before. Thinking of buying another new tyre.

So there would be four tyes- two new and two around two years used (fine though). Just to ask where should i put new tyres in front or in rear?

stifz

Always to the front. Where braking & steering needs to be most effective.

Alun

stifz wrote: »

Always to the front. Where braking & steering needs to be most effective.

That's what most people think, but apparently it's the other way round.

There was a thread discussing this here ages ago from a tyre fitter that referenced an article on the web from one of the tyre manufacturers on this matter.

Here's the post http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=51892809&postcount=8

and the thread http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054975379

and the Michelin website article http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

confuzed

are you referring to this one.

http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

but my mechanic said it should be in front.

Alun

Yep that's it ... makes sense to me, I have to say.

cashmni1

Thats mad, i never thought of that. It does make perfect sence though.
I have also heard of a theory where it better when changing tyres to change the the fronts and leave the rears alone (or which ever set you are changing). The reason for this is that either the rears or fronts "bed in" to their position and by moving them you are creating uneven wear. The best way to do it is when the rears need replacing, do not put the (partly) worn fronts on the rear and put the new ones on the front, (like I always would have done), but just to replace the set that needs replacing and leave the other set alone until the need replacing.
Makes scence too I guess.

Esel

Put the new set on the rear. Have all four wheels balanced.

Senna

Alun wrote: »

That's what most people think, but apparently it's the other way round.

There was a thread discussing this here ages ago from a tyre fitter that referenced an article on the web from one of the tyre manufacturers on this matter.

Here's the post http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=51892809&postcount=8

and the thread http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054975379

and the Michelin website article http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

very interesting reading and it does make sense.
but which would be worse, driving with near bald tyres on the front and new on the back or driving with bald tyres on the back and new tyres on the front? if you had too.
In my student days (pre-nct), i used to drive with some very doggy tyres on the back and in all honesty, if i had to do it now, i'd still kept the crap tyres on the back (but not in a tail-happy RWD car:D)

R.O.R

New on the back, old on the front.

Much easier to control understeer than oversteer.

mickdw

R.O.R wrote: »

New on the back, old on the front.

Much easier to control understeer than oversteer.

New or old make little difference in the dry so it is in wet conditions that this really matters and surely there has to be an argument that the front are dealing with most of the standing water if driving forward. So in this situation, depending on the car of course, you are likely to have best balance with new on front.

astrofool

As per above

http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

I'd find it very hard to have an internet argument with Michelin's recommendation.

Of course, if you have more than 120 years of experience in tyres, including studying failures after accidents, then feel free

HJL

Clarkson says to put the best tyres at the rear as well for safety, and love him or hate him, he has driven a few cars in his career.

But if i had to choose on my particular car [diesel Ibiza] id still put the best ones up front because its a light car with a heavy engine, and the fronts wear at least twice as quick as the rears do.

I even got them rotated to put the rears to the front when i estimated they were at half way point, so that way i can change the 4 at the one time.
This just makes more sense to me rather than leaving the rear ones as they are and just replacing the front ones, as this would mean that depending on your annual milage you could have a really old set of tyres on which is probably just as dangerous, or end up replacing them due to age even though you didnt get the value out of the threads.

But im far from an expert, its just what i chose to do the last time when i noticed how much quicker my fronts wear compared to the rear.

Senna

R.O.R wrote: »

Much easier to control understeer than oversteer.

True, but in daily driving the fronts will be call upon more to make the car stop. the most common time i need to break heavily is when a car infront breaks suddenly, i'd rather know in daily driving that the fronts are in better shape. I understand the argument and agree with the principal, but understeer is more common than oversteer.
Its a bit like wearing a lead suit all day long, you'd die of lead poisoning, but if there's a nuclear explosion, you'll be laughing:D