Leading from an OT tangent in this thread I started this dedicated one on where to fit a pair of new tyres. Front or back. I asked some friends and they replied:

"From Renaultsport: I've got to agree that putting them on the front is the best thing to do,

the front wheels provide the drive and steering and for a front engine FWD car carry more weight.

- More control over the car due to better grip at the front

- braking in a straight line in the wet; more front tread = shorter stopping distance

- newer tyres = newer rubber and more tread; meaning a blow-out on the front is less likely

- understeer vs oversteer. (Personally) much prefer oversteer at the limit, perhaps for joe public understeer is somehow safer, but if you're pushing-on on a B-road, theres nothing more disconcerting that sudden understeer!

So my opinion:

Makes sense for the average Joe to have new ones on the back if they have no idea how to drive. Drivers may prefer the opposite. Both are totally safe if you drive according to the conditions."

Also see this thread on pistonhead:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=910958&mid=0

I do not own a Yeti yeti :'(

I currently drive a Subaru. Pair of new tyes to the front to actually counter the 4wd tendency to understeer. Older tyres on rear to induce (!) oversteer. I love it.

To my understanding a FWD car wears the front tires more since they do both the driving and steering. So to even out the wear of tires the better ones should always be at the front.

Back.

Clicky for Vicky.

Back.

More controllable if the front steps out.

If the back steps out due to new ones on the front you'll be up a tree before you know about it...

Johann, I said in the other thread you need to be a proper geezer to open this can of worms. Consider yourself a geezer!!

There's probably as much on the net about this as any other topic you could mention. Opinion is a bit divided but the emphasis on putting new on the back has the majority. I made my obvious conclusion on the other thread, ie. change all four at once, but if I had to fit two they'd go on the back. Personally I rarely drive in a manner likely to provoke a tyre related reaction but I would heed the advice of those authorities and manufacturers who genuinely know better than I, rather than individuals claiming to know best coz their mate in the pub said so. So put me down as a back man.

Johann, I said in the other thread you need to be a proper geezer to open this can of worms. Consider yourself a geezer!!

nah, I was just trying to keep the other thread OT and branched this one off. The subject matter itself is not something I've ever had grey hairs about to be honest as I've always put new tyres on the front. But really only because it had never crossed my mind to question this practice as indeed it has always worked out fine for me doing it thus.

Front, unless you have 2 decent tyres and 2 ditchfinders. Oh or unless you're a carp driver in a carp car with no anti-lock.

here's a radical idea...

put one new pair in diagonally opposite corners.

personally i prefer to rotate tyres every few months to get even wear for longer,

then replace all 4 at the same time when they are all shot

Front for me, as I don't mind my back end slipping out a bit if I push the car too far.

Plus, when the fronts are loosing traction, I can usally get up to another 3-4k by putting them on the back.

Another thing to remember is that in the rain the front tyres clear a path for the rear tyres (apart from in a Pug 106 or Citroën Saxo which have very peculiarly different front and rear track widths ) so the rear tyres need not have the same amount of tread as the fronts to still have good grip in the rain...

Johann, I can't really add anything to your opening post

Mine always have and always will go on the front.

Years ago the wisdom was to have the best tyres on the front, however more recently this appears to have been changed to the rear; for Front WD anyway. One other factor to consider is the age of the tyre, should be replaced within six years appears to be the advice from most manufactures (build week & year can be found on the sidewall). Therefore it pays to switch tyres about to get the most usage out of them.

Both my previous Haldex 2 equipped vehicles wore there tyres out pretty evenly within 1mm from new to replacement time. Although I've noticed the Yeti 4x4 is a little heavier on the fronts.

Will rotate mine as part of the annual winter switch, so hopefully all four will be due at the same time.

Regards,

TP

Johann, I can't really add anything to your opening post

Mine always have and always will go on the front.

+1.

Mine will also be rotated front to back ,just like TP's.:yes:

Front, unless you have 2 decent tyres and 2 ditchfinders. Oh or unless you're a carp driver in a carp car with no anti-lock.

Being a carp driver in a carp car sounds a bit fishy to me ...

Further info:

CLICKY

Further info:

CLICKY

I've seen Michelin's video; what they're signally not telling you is that the "test" in question involves barrelling into a curved, flooded motorway off-ramp still at 70mph!

I've seen Michelin's video; what they're signally not telling you is that the "test" in question involves barrelling into a curved, flooded motorway off-ramp still at 70mph!

Well yes, as with statistics, you can "prove" almost any point with the right conditions and driving style.

I've never managed to induce oversteer in a front wheel drive car regardless of conditions and what tyres were where (The Alpina was a different matter!), though I haven't driven like a loon since my early twenties.

I still maintain though that for the average schmo (and I include myself in this bracket), it's safer to have the best tyres on the back, as people's gut reactions tend to work OK for understeer but not oversteer.

Another thing to remember is that in the rain the front tyres clear a path for the rear tyres (apart from in a Pug 106 or Citroën Saxo which have very peculiarly different front and rear track widths ) so the rear tyres need not have the same amount of tread as the fronts to still have good grip in the rain...

Hate to state the obvious but... the rears don't run in the tracks of the fronts on a tighter corner, which is when you'd be more likely to have a problem with worse tyres on the rear.

I always change a set though, as they are rotated midway through to get even wear.

Always seemed much safer to me.

Hate to state the obvious but... the rears don't run in the tracks of the fronts on a tighter corner, which is when you'd be more likely to have a problem with worse tyres on the rear.

BUT, but, my Yeti has the super unique 4WS option and it has 4 wheel steering so the rear wheels track the front's accurately! NOT!

No true that CT17. My statement only holds water ( ) when you drive in a straight line.

I personally put new ones on the rear....

Re tyre life:

Many years ago I had a steering problem with a mk1 astra. the steering wheel wobbled like mad.

The tyres had plenty of tread.

Changed the front dampers. no change

I might have even changed the steering rack...can't remember.

got so fed up I visited Kwik Fit. they put it up on their ramp, span the wheels and condemned the tyres....

They were 10 years old, as supplied with the car - one old lady owner prior to us from new. the car had 30,000 miles.

The tyre tread was lifting away from the tyre. Changed the tyres and the steering was perfect

Mike

I change mine front to back, front ones going on the same side the back one going diagonally, I try to change all four at the same time, usual get a better price when buying 4 tyre's

here's a radical idea...

put one new pair in diagonally opposite corners.

I hope that suggestion is a joke

We all think we can control oversteer as afterall we are all driving gods.

So we put a nice new set of michelin on the front. Attack are favourite round about, trailing braking as best we can, get the inside wheel in the air leaving the nice old 3mm tread tyre on the other side to keep the arse in line. Maybe hit some left over standing water while were doing it. **** one as we weren't expecting the rear to step out THAT! much, quick opposite lock, little fish tail and were off down the straight with are heart beeting away. That was fun

Or a child runs out into the road chasing his ball. Stamp on the brakes and were in look as we have 8mm of fresh thread on the front Oh wait you can't stop in time so you need to use the abs to steer you round the child. But the rear has no grip so it swings out as you steer out the way..,