I need a new pair of tyres on my 4x4 and wondered if they should go on the front or rear? I'm also planning on changing to a different tyre. The Pair staying on are Vredestein Ultrac XL with 7mm tread and the new pair will be most likely Goodyear F1's and when the Ultrac's wear out they'll be getting replaced with F1's (not that I'm unhappy with the Ultrac's).

So has anybody got any advice/comments on this?

I find the fronts wear quickest, so tend to swap them with rear after 5k or so.... then replace all four...

Sorry, I know that doesn't really help

I'd try and keep "more" grip at the front, but only 'cos I love the drifts on wet junctions you can do that way Just be ready for the tail moving.....

Well at the moment I've got 7mm on the fronts and 2mm or less on the rears so I know what you mean about drifts!

I would normally rotate and replace all 4 but I had abnormal wear on my first pair of rears so unfortunately it didn't work out.

It might be too late, but the best prices I've found for tyres (last week) was www.blackcircles.com.

They deliver the tyres to a local fitter within about 24hrs and you then pop along and have them fitted. Saved me about

Already tried them and for some reason the discount doesn't apply to Goodyear F1's in the size I need. Work out at just under

blackcircles and mytyres seem to be cheapest...

RE drifts... does seem to surprise people a bit when you power round a U-turn or similar...

Here is some advice from www.michelin.co.uk. Similar advice is given by other tyre manufacturers

Why put new or less worn tyres at the rear ?

Whether you have front or rear wheel drive, we recommend that you use newer tyres for the rear set, for extra safety in unforeseen or difficult situations (emergency braking, tight bends etc) particularly on wet surfaces.

Numerous tests have shown that it is easier to control the front wheels than those at the rear.

Front tyres generally wear quicker than those fitted at the rear, particularly on front wheel drive cars, which are currently in the majority.

New tyres fitted in front :

- The behavior of the car will change, because the front / rear balance will be reversed.

The driver, used to a car with less grip at the front, will therefore be taken unawares.

- On a slippery road, the rear will lose traction before the front of the vehicle.

The driver will have no chance of controlling the rear, and will be tempted to accelerate further, which will amplify the spin effect. Only an experienced driver will be able to recover from this dangerous situation...

New tyres fitted at the back :

- The handling of the vehicle will be similar to that known by the driver before the tyre change, because the traction balance will be the same.

- Rear traction will be better, and the driver will be able to control and steer their vehicle without a problem by decelerating and turning the steering wheel in the direction of the bend.

That's why Michelin advises you to reduce the risks you take by fitting new or less worn tyres at the rear of the vehicle for:

- better grip on bends

- extra safety.

What suprises me about drifts is that sometimes the car lets me do it even with ESP on.

Mytyres is

The Vredesteins don't match the F1's for wet grip, as I found when I had new F1's on the front, and Ultracs on the rear (although admittedly, with 8k of rear usage only on the Ultracs, and my driving, they probably weren't quite "new" still...), so I would say to run the F1's on the rear.

Then again, if you've only 2mm left on the Ultracs, I'd say change them anyway, as I fould the Ultracs gave up the grip when the tread started to get low... that was in the wet and dry

Here is some advice from www.michelin.co.uk. Similar advice is given by other tyre manufacturers

Why put new or less worn tyres at the rear ?

Whether you have front or rear wheel drive' date=' we recommend that you use newer tyres for the rear set, for extra safety in unforeseen or difficult situations (emergency braking, tight bends etc) particularly on wet surfaces.

Numerous tests have shown that it is easier to control the front wheels than those at the rear.

Front tyres generally wear quicker than those fitted at the rear, particularly on front wheel drive cars, which are currently in the majority.

New tyres fitted in front :

- The behavior of the car will change, because the front / rear balance will be reversed.

The driver, used to a car with less grip at the front, will therefore be taken unawares.

- On a slippery road, the rear will lose traction before the front of the vehicle.

The driver will have no chance of controlling the rear, and will be tempted to accelerate further, which will amplify the spin effect. Only an experienced driver will be able to recover from this dangerous situation...

New tyres fitted at the back :

- The handling of the vehicle will be similar to that known by the driver before the tyre change, because the traction balance will be the same.

- Rear traction will be better, and the driver will be able to control and steer their vehicle without a problem by decelerating and turning the steering wheel in the direction of the bend.

That's why Michelin advises you to reduce the risks you take by fitting new or less worn tyres at the rear of the vehicle for:

- better grip on bends

- extra safety.[/quote']

I agree totally... but it's nowhere near as much fun

I agree totally... but it's nowhere near as much fun

:nono:..

And of course you'll need to buy another 2 new tyres sooner that way around - not daft these manufacturers.

Wherever I can, I've always tried to have the same tyre on all wheels on the 4x4 cars I've owned. I know that the Haldex set up means that its basically FWD most of the time so it doesn't matter as much, but I still stuck to the same tyres all round.

The Impreza was 'interestingly scary' with different tyres front to rear.

Watch the F1s in the snow as well - most heavily swept directional patterns are great in the wet, but very poor for cutting into snow (braking in particular).

Rob

I have found my front wheels wear quickest as it FWD most of time AWD only part.... but changed all four for looks etc when front wore down.

I have found my front wheels wear quickest as it FWD most of time AWD only part.... but changed all four for looks etc when front wore down.

I'm not spending an

I agree totally... but it's nowhere near as much fun

Oh, with the occasional bit of track-day fun and power cornering on public roads I found that my rear tyres are in fact wearing off slight quicker...

Eddy,

if you are ever near Sheffield I can recommend On The Spot tyres on Langdale Road (0114 258 4146). A tiny family run (father and two sons) outfit who always seem to be the best price I can find... even beating the likes of Mytyres, Blackcircles and Micheldever. I've been going there years, have never had a problem and they always look after the rims!