Wheels/Tyres: Front or back?

[v_forty]

For a little while one of the front tyres has had a slow puncture, confirmed by a local ATS as the joint between the wheel rim and tyre is leaking and as the tyre is also 6 years old it's currently with them to have a new one fitted.

Just had a call from them as one of the rear tyres also has a screw lodged in it, so a second tyre is also on order. They've advised then swapping the wheels around so both new tyres are on the back.

I would have thought the two new ones would be better on the front, and when the rear two need replacing I get them swapped front > back, and back > front.

What's the best thing to do - new on the front, or part worns on the front?

[arcturus]

When I saw your title I thought Whoa! and fastened my trouser belt
Seriously, it's best not to swap tyres around, but if you must, keep the best ones on the front.

[mollusk]

Generally the recommendation is for new tyres to go on the rear - apart from the first mile or so new/newer tyres will have more grip (all thing being equal) Fitting on the rear help preserve the generally built in understeer of the average car - which for the average driver is safer.

Fitting new tyres to the front will ensure a grip surplus to the front which would encourage unexpected oversteer (or rear induced skid). (all is irrespective of front/rear or awd).

My personal preference is for a car that tends to oversteer (which few Volvos do - and then only older RWD ones) But Volvos have qualities other than a ready ability to negotiate corners in a 70deg. drift !!

I agree that logic would suggest best on the front (for steering grip) but steering is less important when you're more likely to hit the hedge backwards !

For a quiet life - new tyres on the back!

Mollusk

[galloot633]

this fascinates me as Ive always fitted new tyres to the front ( on FWD cars) but the major tyre dealers have had directives to always fit them to the rear for reasons in the above post , but the smaller garages still fit them to the front , moving the old tyres to the back
dave

[961]

Originally Posted by galloot633

this fascinates me as Ive always fitted new tyres to the front ( on FWD cars)

Me too!

It's probably true to say that if you have a RWD car such as BMW then there is no contest. New tyres on the back

But if you have a FWD car then I think the choice is different. If the rear tyres are well above legal limits and you don't go flying round the roads like a lunatic, I'd put new ones on the front, especially winter tyres or summer tyres on rural roads

Normal sensible driving, the rear end doesn't break away

[CJL]

As has been said he logic to having the better tyres on the back and more worn ones on the front is because understeer is usually easier and safer to correct than oversteer.

But what about when you are driving in heavy rain on for example a motorway? The surface is anything from very wet to deep standing water. In this situation you want the deeper tread on the front for braking and rears are rolling over the "swept" anyway so don't need to clear as much water.

I accept that this situation could lead to oversteer in avoiding maneuver with worn tyres on the rear, but I just feel happier with better tyres on the front.

[Marty Dolomite]

You will never get people to agree on if new tyre should go on front or rear but one thing nearly everyone will agree on is do not take your car to ATS.

or kwit fit, national, halfords, B.E.S.T., F1 auto centres or any other company that call themselves tyre, brake and exhausts specialist as their only speciality is selling over priced parts that you might not even need.

[gjd]

Hello

For as long as I can remember (which isn't that long - it's my age) my local independent tyre place have recommended putting the better tyres at the back.

Their reasoning has been that if the car is in a rainstorm, the weight of the diesel lump will push the front tyres down into the water, and prevent aquaplaning.

Meanwhile, the lighter rear end (...behave...) will benefit from the deeper tread cutting through the water.

I have always followed their advice. the fronts need replacing soon, so they will probably swap the tyres from the back up to the front, and fit a new pair to the rear wheels.

[v_forty]

Thanks for all the discussion, I could see logic in putting them front or back but tending to agree with new on the back. One is now done, going in on Saturday for the second.

I'd spend Saturday morning calling around a dozen or so tyre shops, both national chains and local specialists, but ATS came out cheapest, and were most helpful.

[Gazdok]

Originally Posted by 961

Me too!

It's probably true to say that if you have a RWD car such as BMW then there is no contest. New tyres on the back

But if you have a FWD car then I think the choice is different. If the rear tyres are well above legal limits and you don't go flying round the roads like a lunatic, I'd put new ones on the front, especially winter tyres or summer tyres on rural roads

Normal sensible driving, the rear end doesn't break away

I saw a tyre test with different scenarios.
Test Car - Golf 4
summer tyres - 2 brand new and 2 6-year old, still legal, top brand ones.
test circuits - wet corner with steady pace and straight braking in dry and wet.
scenarios - new on front then new on back
Driver - Ex race driver, now car tester

New on front
Much shorter brake distance in dry and wet.
Car unstable round wet corner with sudden oversteer due to unstable rear and spinning out of control due to aquaplanning at slightly raised speed - Cannot be controlled.

New on rear axle
Slightly longer braking distance in dry, longer braking distance in wet - no instability.
More pronounced understeer in wet corner due to reduced front end grip but easily controllable by reducing speed.
No instability with spinning induceable as the rear had better grip and toed the line truely.