Just been reading my new Octavia handbook and it says:

Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.

This is line with what I have always believed to be true, best tyres on the front for a fwd car.

However a couple of times over the last few years I've been advised by tyre fitters that new tyres should be fitted to the rear wheels.

I've never taken that advice but just wondered what the prevailing view is on here?

Just been reading my new Octavia handbook and it says:

Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.

This is line with what I have always believed to be true, best tyres on the front for a fwd car.

However a couple of times over the last few years I've been advised by tyre fitters that new tyres should be fitted to the rear wheels.

I've never taken that advice but just wondered what the prevailing view is on here?

The Tyre fitters say that because unless you know how to drive properly understeer is a lot easier to correct or come out of then oversteer so putting the better tyres on the back helps reduce the chance of the back end stepping out. Now I've never driven an Octavia but the the majoity or front wheel drive cars I have driven the front will let go way before the back will unlesss you are driving it like a complete wally and swinging it around all over the place - so I tend to put the best tyres on the front.

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by Thirdtimeluck

i always put mine on the rear for the simple reason the fronts wear out faster

it means you will always have newer tyres on your car and you shouldn't need to fork out for 4 at once

old worns come off front, rears swapped onto front, new tyres on rear - simple!

Can of Worms........ open!

I'm still, the old school of thinking and always put them on the front of a FWD car. The front tyres put down the power, steer, do most of the braking and in a straight line, clear most of the water so the rear wheels follow in the tracks.

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by Jim H

I was under the impression that you always fitted your best to your drive axle,I spoke to a couple of fitters at work and they agreed,But what do they know. LOL

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by roman.w

Keep sticking on the fronts - steering and power.

I'd hate a set of worn on the front in wet weather.

And if your driving quick enough for the back to step out then...... well...

I don't hang about and I have to say the only times I've ever had the back end step out on a fwd car has been having to brake or back off mid corner or when I had a rear puncture. And to be honest never since my cars have had all the ABS and stability stuff.

From a safety point of view surely the fact that the front wheels do the vast majority of the braking mean that least worn tyres should be up front?

I think most of us face emergency braking more often than oversteer, surely?

Having 3mm tread tyres on the front and new on the back surely can't help braking distances as opposed to vice versa.

I get mine tyres from costco, they refuse to put them on the front (for safety) when getting two. so they put the rears on the front and new ones on the back. However, I always take my trolley jack with me and change the new ones back to the front in their car park. Its annoying that I have to but cant get the tyres cheaper.

I get mine tyres from costco, they refuse to put them on the front (for safety) when getting two. so they put the rears on the front and new ones on the back. However, I always take my trolley jack with me and change the new ones back to the front in their car park. Its annoying that I have to but cant get the tyres cheaper.

What a pathetic excuse to refuse to put them on the front! sure they can advise against it (even get you to sign a waiver if need be).

In future, buy the tyres, remove the front wheels in the car park (putting the spare wheel on temporarily) and take the wheels over, get them swapped and refit them, this will save the extra faffing around swapping the rears back over.

I ALWAYS fit the newest rubber on the front, the front is what does the steering and most of the braking, the rear will always follow the front providing the pressures are all correct and you are both:

a/ not going too quick for the road conditions

and

b/ do not use too much throttle (or lift off mid corner in a FWD)

As always these recommendations have to be made for the lowest common denominator!

Clearly this is driven by some safety advice from somewhere that the tyre places feel that have to follow to avoid getting sued.

I still think its really dubious advice but....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Hb5kQCaTg