New to the forum so will apologise if this topic has been covered. 
It time for new front tyres on my superb 4x4 mk3 the car in new to me bought in the last 12 months and my question is do I need to swap out all 4 tyres if I change tyre brands (car has Bridgestones on it) or I am ok to just replace the fronts as I don’t want to cause damage the 4x4 system by just changing 2. 
thank you in advance for any advice on this. 
 

Ideally you need to change all 4 tyres. Although I believe you can get away with only changing tyres on the same axle.

1 hour ago, DEANO40 said:

New to the forum so will apologise if this topic has been covered. 
It time for new front tyres on my superb 4x4 mk3 the car in new to me bought in the last 12 months and my question is do I need to swap out all 4 tyres if I change tyre brands (car has Bridgestones on it) or I am ok to just replace the fronts as I don’t want to cause damage the 4x4 system by just changing 2. 
thank you in advance for any advice on this. 
 

Forgot to mention will be staying on summer tyres

You’ll be fine, but I would buy a full set, then what I suggest - as does Skoda - is that every 6,000 miles you swap NSF to OSR and OSF to NSR. If you’re covering less miles than that, then do it annually. Both the previous owner and I have done this and I’m sure that’s greatly contributed to the original 2016 P7’s covering  just under 38k with 2.5mm left on all four tyres. I’ll be replacing them later this year. 

Since this is not a full time 4x4, it’s not an issue to change only 2 tyres.

Note: Skoda recommands to use snow chains only on the front axle, even on 4x4 version! Not an issue at all for the Haldex then.

But if you want to replace only the front tyres, have the your rear tyres swapped to the front axle and have the new tyres set on the rear axle. It will avoid oversteering. 

This was a theory put out a few years ago...

It was subsequently found to be completely flawed. In extremis, if your front tyres still have grip, having less grip on the rear tyres CAN cause oversteer. However, for 99% of the time in a front wheel steering and fundamentally front wheel drive car, you will be very much less likely to get into the the situation in the first place if you fit new tyres to the front of your car. 

4 hours ago, Bap33 said:

Since this is not a full time 4x4, it’s not an issue to change only 2 tyres.

Note: Skoda recommands to use snow chains only on the front axle, even on 4x4 version! Not an issue at all for the Haldex then.

But if you want to replace only the front tyres, have the your rear tyres swapped to the front axle and have the new tyres set on the rear axle. It will avoid oversteering. 

 

12 minutes ago, JerryG said:

This was a theory put out a few years ago...

It was subsequently found to be completely flawed. In extremis, if your front tyres still have grip, having less grip on the rear tyres CAN cause oversteer. However, for 99% of the time in a front wheel steering and fundamentally front wheel drive car, you will be very much less likely to get into the the situation in the first place if you fit new tyres to the front of your car. 

 

Strange how the consensus is still to put the new tyres on the rear.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=new+tyres+in+front+or+rear&client=safari&hl=en-gb&ei=yuRXY6r2EofQgAaF7JSQAQ&oq=new+tyres+in+front+or+rear&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCGAzIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDMggIIRDDBBCgAToKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoHCAAQgAQQDToFCAAQogQ6CgghEMMEEAoQoAFKBAhBGABQ6B5Y-jlg40ZoAXAAeACAAesBiAGbBpIBBTMuMi4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

Plenty discussion on here over the years on the Fitting Centres and fitters that will only fit new tyres to the rear.

 

Obviously do not run crap tyres on the rear of FWD, RWD or AWD / Part Time Drive vehicles, 

but do not keep crap tyres on the front where you are steering, braking, controlling the rear with on front wheel, rear wheel or awd vehicles.

 

The thing with crap tyres without grip is it might keep some idiots at home in wintry weather when they can not even get to the end of their road. 

 

PS

Go to the parking outside a Tyre & Exhaust centre and see what they drive, and what tyres they have.

In some of these people you trust their advice.  Should you?

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/419541-new-tyres-front-or-rear

 

Edited 25 October, 20223 yr by roottoot

4 hours ago, Kenny R said:

Strange how the consensus is still to put the new tyres on the rear.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=new+tyres+in+front+or+rear&client=safari&hl=en-gb&ei=yuRXY6r2EofQgAaF7JSQAQ&oq=new+tyres+in+front+or+rear&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCGAzIFCAAQhgMyBQgAEIYDMggIIRDDBBCgAToKCAAQRxDWBBCwAzoHCAAQgAQQDToFCAAQogQ6CgghEMMEEAoQoAFKBAhBGABQ6B5Y-jlg40ZoAXAAeACAAesBiAGbBpIBBTMuMi4xmAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

The problem with a lot of articles like that is they rarely mention if they are working with 2 tyres at about 2mm of tread, or 2 with nearer 5mm tread being paired up with 2 new tyres.

 

Generally I work to the idea that it is ok to swap the part worn tyres to back if they have 4mm (or more) tread.  In the dryer summer months can go down a bit to say 3.5mm on rear, but not really a good idea in the rainy autumn months to have treads below about 3 - 3.5mm on back.

 

But then I don’t recommend summer tyres all year in UK because many have a noticeable fall off of grip in wet below +10c, and are often poor in wet below +5c.   In the dry grip seems to fall off below +4c.  Most wet days in UK Nov-March are usually below +10c

 

@DEANO40 might find that a 4x4 with summer tyres grips less well on salted roads where salt has made road wet at few degrees below 0c than with a 2wd with all season or winter tyres.  Quite simply if it is cold enough for salt to be spread, it is too cold to expect decent grip from a summer tyre.  Ideally should be considering 4 all season tyres.

Edited 25 October, 20223 yr by SurreyJohn
Missing word

There's no compromise for the right tyres at the right time. We might not have extreme temperatures in the UK but the range across the year can be 30 Deg and well into the lower temps where a winter based compound is of benefit. 

 

As for the original question: stick to single types across the whole car with as even tread as possible. Swap them round if you can.

^^^ That is just Air Temperatures.

Road surface temperatures are what matters really and over 40*oC is not unusual, and that can be above 50*oC even in  the UK. 

Then maybe down around -10*oC even if the air temp is at -5*oC.  So lower than that in some areas. 

That is a range of 60 Degrees C. 

Edited 25 October, 20223 yr by roottoot

@roottoot does that not make my argument even stronger?

Indeed.

People not only need to know what there tyres are, but pressures are as air / ground temps change through seasons and even day to night. 

8 hours ago, JerryG said:

This was a theory put out a few years ago...

It was subsequently found to be completely flawed. In extremis, if your front tyres still have grip, having less grip on the rear tyres CAN cause oversteer. However, for 99% of the time in a front wheel steering and fundamentally front wheel drive car, you will be very much less likely to get into the the situation in the first place if you fit new tyres to the front of your car. 

 

You just described why not to put grippier front vs worn rear tyres? 

 

Yes, if you have new tyres at the front, it's more likely to oversteer, especially in the wet.  I know because I did just that. On an old banger clio, budget new front tyres vs quite worn budget rears. It was incredibly easy to get oversteer in damp or wet conditions. In the dry too if I try a bit. It will oversteer before understeering. 

I always put new tyres on the nearside and the older ones on the offside. Gives me more grip on roundabouts you see 😉

1 hour ago, unclerichy said:

I always put new tyres on the nearside and the older ones on the offside. Gives me more grip on roundabouts you see 😉

I really hope that's meant as a joke.

8 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

I really hope that's meant as a joke.

I refer you to my winky face (so to speak) 🙂

I’m always fascinated by the true meaning of crap tyres, ditch-finders, widowmakers et al. 
I’m old enough to remember when Nexen, Toyo, Hankook and Kuhmo first started to be imported to the U.K., they were described with those same terms; funny how times have changed. Who would have thought that they’d be OE global suppliers to Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Ford, Skoda, Renault, Stellantis brands, blah, blah, blah…..

One can always improve oneself… 😉

@numskullsome horror show tyres can come from Michelin, Continental , Bridgestone & Pirelli.

ECO tyres fitted as OE by the VW Group even to 'SUV's',  Summer tyres on cars coming to the UK and maybe having to be used all year round as 'fleet or lease cars' will not get something better fitted unless at the drivers expense.

10 hours ago, roottoot said:

@numskullsome horror show tyres can come from Michelin, Continental , Bridgestone & Pirelli.

ECO tyres fitted as OE by the VW Group even to 'SUV's',  Summer tyres on cars coming to the UK and maybe having to be used all year round as 'fleet or lease cars' will not get something better fitted unless at the drivers expense.

 

I’ve seen the P7’s slated on this and other websites and forums, and in my experience apart from them being noisy on metalled roads (they’re silent on smooth tarmac and that probably says more about the lack of suspension isolation from the cabin and body insulation than it does the tyres) they’re excellent in the wet, dry and for longevity. They got me home in Ireland, when the back road I was on was covered in ice and frozen snow. 

Summer, Winter and “All Seasons” tyres are somewhat of a new phenomenon in the U.K. and some more cynical than I might say that it’s just another way to part one from their cash. Having winter or even studded tyres is absolutely vital in, say the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic states or Northern Russia, but are they really needed in the temperate and warming climate which we have here in the U.K.? We haven’t had what I’d call a “bad” winter here in the last decade. It’s 28th October 2022 and it’s 15.1c here and 14c in Inverness as I write this. In the last 10 years, 8 have had the hottest Summer temperatures ever recorded. 

Edited 28 October, 20223 yr by numskull

@numskullLocation location location. 

Nice that in Surrey there has not been what you would call bad weather.   This winter not putting on the heating will not be much of a hardship i would imagine. 

Not many Ski centres down south are there? 

 

You seem to not pay attention to how many days the ski centres were open and how many days there was snow but the Snow Gates closed on the A93 & A939 for Glenshee or the Lecht, 

or up the Ski road to the Cairngorms.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/323078-skiers-and-snowboarders-come-forward/page/12

 

You need to get north more often.

Maybe  to where the Cold Weather Payments for 7 days of average 0*oC are paid out.

In the past 8 years some post code areas have had as many as 7 payment week's, 5 is common.

Last year there were fewer, but that is sometimes because missed by 1 day,or before November or after March when the payments run. 

2017/18  & 2018/19 was when there were many weeks where payments were made in the Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and Highland areas, and Fife, Edinburgh and other areas. 

 

To get to Inverness from the south you probably come up the A9 so over Drumochter & the Slochd were you have winter roads during a UK winter.

 There is a bit of a heat wave this week. 

Did you notice Inverness is at sea level and the Moray Firth benefits from the Gulf Stream.  Spey Bay being rather lovely.

Inverness is built where it is an the end of a river, at the corner of the Moray Firth, and most Cities and Ports at the sea are where the weather is less severe.

As are Airports, you build them where fog / freezing fog will not shut them down. 

The reason for the Golf Courses being along the coasts is because of sand the nature of the land, but also because of the weather.

The coarses at Braemar and Ballater. Aboyne etc are lovely as well though, in the coldest areas of Scotland. 

 

When i was young many fitted Firestone Town & Country tyres for the winter. 

 

Winter and Snow Tyres are not a new phenomenon in Scotland as they have been getting fitted for many decades.

I first used Sitirling Winter Remoulds every winter back in the 1970's and then Winter Tyres of all sorts as they became more common. 

The first were Vredestein that were pretty affordable into the 1980's.. Fitted to the cars wee scooted about in in winter.

http://vredestein.co.uk/classic-tyres/products

http://vredestein.co.uk/heritage-legacy

 

Edited 28 October, 20223 yr by roottoot

OK. When I said they’re a “new phenomenon” I meant in todays market, with all and sundry jumping “on trend” and pointlessly buying another set of wheels and winter tyres anywhere and everywhere in the U.K., even down here in leafy Surrey. I’m not talking about the few dozen which were sold in a small areas 30 or 40 years ago. And why is this happening, because IIRC, we’ve had about 3 days of snow down here in the last five years!  

We travelled upto Inverness from London and Surrey more times than I care to remember in the ‘80’s/‘90’s in Summer AND Winter before and after I had company cars, but always on normal (read Summer these days) tyres. Yes it was bloody cold with sharp frosts and there was some crappy weather on many occasions in Winter with snow covered roads all over the north, but especially on a couple of occasions, on the A831 from Inverness to Drumnadrochit, where we stayed at Craigdhu, with my wife’s grandmother, who lived there alone til she was 94, and then moved in with her Daughter in Inverness and lived til she died at 105! Made of girders! 
My point is, winter tyres are absolutely necessary 500 miles further north of John O’Groats where winter lasts for months. However due to global warming, the temperature in the U.K. will continue to increase so in 50 years or so, kids in Scotland will be enjoying Surrey weather and have more Scottish wineries, whilst down here, they’ll enjoy that weather which is currently bathing Antibes. (Not literally TODAY!)

The road temps at commuting times can easily be below the 7 Deg cutoff where regular tyres lose performance.

I'll say it one last time, winter tyres are not snow tyres.

@numskull I would put money that the tyres / treads on the Summer / All year round tyres you had on the cars in the 1980's / 90's were rather different from the wider / low profile and ECO bias tyres fitted now from the factory. 

 

Yesterday was lovely and warm while pithing down with pretty wet and in places & flooded roads, and warmer winter oop north often means snow then thaw and cold wet roads.

As you know it is a location location location thing.  I live in the north east which has rather different weather and winters from up the middle of Scotland or the west or the far north. (From the east the snow will blow, from the west the snow will go. We getting lambing snows.)

 

My family are in Nairn but it is many a year since i have gone further up the A9 than Aviemore, i get to Inverness coming along the coast.

 

i go across to Nairn from Carrbridge to Ferness, or am over by the Lecht and Grantown to Ferness and i was across this week in the pithing rain.

Hence why new front tyres are going on this morning.   Flooded roads and big holes opened up. 

 

It should be on anyone's bucket list if you have not been on a A93 & A939.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/435353-north-east-250-scotland

 

 

 

One of my favourite roads and my choice of routes as long as the Snow Gates are open.

 

 

Edited 29 October, 20223 yr by roottoot