New tyres - front to rear?

[Wattoh]

I know there is a debate about this and some say it varies from car to car: I need two new rear tyres. Given my make and model (see below), should I put the new ones on the back or put them on the front and put the current front ones on the back?

 

[television]

Good morning Wattoh, the best tyres should always be on the rear wheels irrespective of FWD or RWD

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Good morning Wattoh, the best tyres should always be on the rear wheels irrespective of FWD or RWD

BUT...BUT...BUT - As the steering/braking is (usually) undertaken mainly by the FRONT tyres, shouldn't the best tyres be on the front? The rationale being that a rear wheel skid is easier to control than a front wheel skid?

 

[jamesmc]

With the advent of ABS I guess a rear wheel skid/locking up (through braking) is an unlikely event, but the back end breaking away when corning is still a concern.
Maybe that is the reason Television is suggesting best tyres/tread on the rear.
I'm inclined to agree.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

With the advent of ABS I guess a rear wheel skid/locking up (through braking) is an unlikely event, but the back end breaking away when corning is still a concern.
Maybe that is the reason Television is suggesting best tyres/tread on the rear.
I'm inclined to agree.

So you feel that it is 'preferable' to have your front break away?

I disagree.

Totally.

 

[Myros]

the industry advice is to mount new on the rear

but i found that to be nearly the undoing of me in my SL. If you can, all four tyres at once is the safest bet. If not, make sure you get the same make and type, and then you won't upset the handling too much.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

but i found that to be nearly the undoing of me in my SL. If you can, all four tyres at once is the safest bet. If not, make sure you get the same make and type, and then you won't upset the handling too much.

I agree 100%. I personally replace all 4 corners, regardless of the remaining tread. I have a 'thing' about tyres, always have had. I suppose it stems back to my (racing) motorbike days!!!

Scares me sh*tless, when I see the state of tyres on some cars - AND they are quite prepared to travel at high speeds on the motorways in pouring rain **shudder**

 

[Blobcat]

So you feel that it is 'preferable' to have your front break away?

I disagree.

Totally.

This has come up before and I was of the opinion of putting new tyres on the front. I have now changed my mind and follow manufacturers recommendations of new tyres on the rear.

From post 59 here

 

[JEZ.S320L]

This has come up before and I was of the opinion of putting new tyres on the front. I have now changed my mind and follow manufacturers recommendations of new tyres on the rear.

From post 59 here

mmmmmmmmmm.. I'll stick to replacing all 4 tyres - regardless.

I wonder what the Living God - Mr J Clarkson - has to say? :razz:

 

[television]

Its quite simple logic really, the average person can control a front skid but not a rear.

Many moons ago when they built the M1, the motorway was soon littered with the remains of tyres. Back then we had re cut tyres and remoulds, that soon parted company with the wheel at speeds of 70 mph. with so many blow outs and and rigid front axles a blow out on the front would soon flip the car over.
When we got to the 80s tyre performance had taken on a new meaning and blow outs became a thing of the past, with modern cars not so much happens if you do get a front blowout

 

[wireman]

The average driver would not know skid let alone control it.

The Brtish tyre fitters trade mob recomend best tyres on FRONT.

From personal experience,

front skid, hang on and hope that you dont hit anything.

rear skid, steer in and look towards the space you wish to stay in.

Most race tracks have a skid training course, it costs less than £100 for a great days fun ,every body should be skid trained. Go out and have a go under real supervision. Dont buy a friend gift card course they cost at least twice as much for the very same course.

Many moons ago tyres were simply not built for sustained high speed, the failiure of tires was not confined to tight wads and re-cuts it could happen with new tyres.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

The average driver would not know skid let alone control it.

The Brtish tyre fitters trade mob recomend best tyres on FRONT.

From personal experience,

front skid, hang on and hope that you dont hit anything.

rear skid, steer in and look towards the space you wish to stay in.

Most race tracks have a skid training course, it costs less than £100 for a great days fun ,every body should be skid trained. Go out and have a go under real supervision. Dont buy a friend gift card course they cost at least twice as much for the very same course.

Many moons ago tyres were simply not built for sustained high speed, the failiure of tires was not confined to tight wads and re-cuts it could happen with new tyres.

Eee ba'gum - tha knows tha stuff.!

In MY experience "...front skid, hang on and hope that you dont hit anything..." should read "...front skid, hang on and hope that you dont hit the thing you are looking at, TOO hard..."

 

[Myros]

by gum, in the county palatine......

you'll have us shot for that. more like an ey ooop in the fairest county of them all. By gum is more yorkshire I think.

From what I remember of my non-abs, rwd cars, skids were all too easily provoked in any marginal conditions by any kind of harsh control action. Having tyres with differing characteristics at each corner can only make it worse.

I also remember how scary it could be if and when remedial action didn't help. Hang on and pray springs to mind.....

 

[JEZ.S320L]

you'll have us shot for that. more like an ey ooop in the fairest county of them all. By gum is more yorkshire I think.

From what I remember of my non-abs, rwd cars, skids were all too easily provoked in any marginal conditions by any kind of harsh control action. Having tyres with differing characteristics at each corner can only make it worse.

I also remember how scary it could be if and when remedial action didn't help. Hang on and pray springs to mind.....

Ay oop is right - my apologies (I'm a Manc, y'see)

Locked, shocked and sideways, springs to mind. I remember upgrading to Dunlop SP41's - marvellous tyres for lots of wheel twiddling on damp, gravely 'B' roads. Which probably explains why I liked the best on the front - gave a better chance of avoiding drystone walls and sheep ..!

 

[Blobcat]

you'll have us shot for that. more like an ey ooop in the fairest county of them all. By gum is more yorkshire I think.

From what I remember of my non-abs, rwd cars, skids were all too easily provoked in any marginal conditions by any kind of harsh control action. Having tyres with differing characteristics at each corner can only make it worse.

I also remember how scary it could be if and when remedial action didn't help. Hang on and pray springs to mind.....

"Keep it pinned & take it in sideways" is the only way to go :twisted::lol:

 

[Myros]

my old man used to say

if you're definitely going to hit something, hit it going backwards. He learnt to drive in the army. I suppose from a whiplash, load-bearing pov, it's good sense if you can manage it.

 

[television]

if you're definitely going to hit something, hit it going backwards. He learnt to drive in the army. I suppose from a whiplash, load-bearing pov, it's good sense if you can manage it.

If you are going to hit it going backwards, then make sure that you are in a Volvo, still the only car made with no whiplash claims

 

[oldcro]

Firstly, (going back to the original question) many cars sold today have different size tyres front and back so for them the question is irrelevant.

Secondly, the handbook in my brand new C320CDi Elegance says to change the front tyres first. They do not say why, but I thought I would throw that in just to add to the confusion. As for my new car, it is my first Mercedes so cannot compare it with previous models, suffice to say I am reasonably pleased with it so far. Only picked it up yesterday and am struggling to sort out all the instructions and options etc. and trying to get my phone to work in it. I should get it all sorted in the next few days/weeks/months and possibly years by the look of it.

 

[Phil D]

there's an interesting little video on the etyres website www.etyres.co.uk which says definitely the rear - and the vid demonstrates why
I must admit prior to watching it my thought would have been put them on the driving wheels but apparently not so - so once again TV is right !
Phil

 

[Phil D]

here's the link
www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-rear-etyres.htm