What is your opinion about where new tires should go when you buy only 2?

todvango

Raybdog, Misha, and Rea have it right.

I admit I always got this backwards, too!

I had always thought that if it's a front wheel drive car, then surely I want my good tires on the front, right?

However, when installing 2 new tires with a deeper tread than the other two, they should be placed in the rear to minimize the chance of oversteer.

What is oversteer?

OVERSTEER:
The tendency of a vehicle to steer into a sharper turn than the driver intends, sometimes with a thrusting of the rear of the vehicle to the outside. Example a vehicle is said to have an oversteer condition during a turn when the rear tires have less grip on the driving service than the front tires have. The tendency is for the rear of the vehicle to slide out toward the outside of the turn. Oversteer is also referred to by the term Loose.

The tire manufacturer's have been saying for years that the better tires, when they are not matched, should go on the rear of the car. I had just never heard it until recently when my tire guy informed me.

They maintain that it's all about control and you have less control in the rear, so the better tires should be back there so you don't lose control/oversteer. (You don't want the back end coming around on you!)

Check out some links I dug up, especially that last one...

http://cartalk.com/board/showflat.php?Number=284066

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tires
(Look under tread section.)

(I was busy typing this long email and Misha beat me to the punch on the video!... EXCELLENT link, my friend.)
http://www.michelinman.com/care/reartire_video.html
(Download the larger 9 meg video if you have high speed internet. It's worth it.)

Go with what your tire stores and tire manufactuer's are telling you and not what your friend, your dad, or some so-called answer's expert says. That includes me.

HyperDog

The manufacturers now recommend putting 2 new tires on the rear.

Here's their reasoning: If the older tires are on the front, and one of them fails, you're likely to understeer if it happens on a curve. That would put you into a frontal collision off the side of the road situation. Frontal collisions in late-model, seat-belted, air-bagged cars are safer than side collisions, which is what would happen if the old tires were on the rear and one failed on a curve (causing oversteer or "spin out").

Personally, having grown up driving in snow and ice, I know how to correct oversteer, and so I always put the new tires on the front (and have had to argue for quite a while with tire salesmen to get them to break their "rules").

Tire companies are playing the numbers game here, and hoping to minimize the injuries that might occur from people oversteering off the road and slamming sideways into a tree, where belts and bags don't offer as much protection.

Misha

This always causes a debate. For 30 plus years I used to believe that putting new tires on the front axle is the right solution, but this video from Michelin converted me...

http://www.funandsafedriving.com/ftopict-15.html

wvparanormal

Buzzy is wrong. #1The fact is the manufacturer says put new tires on the rear and #2 all of the control is not with the steering of the car.

Hey buzzy, watch a couple NASCAR races and learn the difference between tight and loose and the causes.

Personally I always put two new tires on the front and have the front tires moved to the back. I don't let the tires get worn to the point of being un safe before replacing them. The steer tires always seem to wear faster ( assuming everything else on the car is in good shape ) because of turning them while sitting still etc.

The fact is that they should always go on the front. And there are some strong reasons why, the primary one being that all control of the vehicle occurs at the front. Steering, braking, turns, etc. If you put the older tires on the front and they are not worn even, then you throw off caster and camber. But the big issue is that an older, or worn tire is more prone to failure than a brand new one. If you blow out a front tire at 70 mph, you have got big trouble on your hands. If you have a blowout on a rear tire, you can safely slow to a stop without veering out of control.

mike d

i always go with the drive tires. so if its fwd put them on the front, if its rwd then put them on the back.

cica1668

Hey, Mr. Mad, I say, why buy only 2? Spend that extra cash and do what most ppl do, buy 3 and get the 4th one free!!! Hope that helps.

Bill S

If your car is front wheel drive, put your new tires on the front if its rear wheel drive put the new tires on the rear. However if you have an all wheel drive, or a 4WD vehicle always buy 4 new tires as if you only buy 2 your defeating the purpose of having all wheel drive or 4WD, and most tire companies won't sell you only 2 tires for a 4WD or AWD.

Rea

They go on the back! I like you thought the front, but I was told by my Audi dealership to put them on the back! Hey, it's Audi....they should know!

JT B ford man

Hey buzz is right always put new tires on the front unless you are driving backwards, That is where you control the car I don't care what they say

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