I'm surprised this hasn't come up before, but I've used the search function extensively and found nothing relevant.

I know the reasons why you should always fit a pair of new tyres on the rear.

But what are the technical arguments against fitting two new tyres on one side of the car ?

My wife got 2 punctures the other day, both on the nearside and needed two new tyres, National in Stirling put both the new tyres on the nearside !

Expecting an argument with them when I go in at the weekend so I just want to be armed with the facts.

They should have put the new tyres on the rear, and the part worns on the front, this is now common practice.

Placing a new tyre one side, and a part worn on the other side of the driven wheels will cause wear to drivetrain components caused by the different overall circumference.

Are the tyres directional?

Chris

If the tyres are directional then that would have meant rotating a tyre on one of the good existing tyres at additional expense. If the other too are nearly new, then I wouldn't be concerned, but I would definitely prefer the new ones on the back and the old 2 on the front.

Getting my 2 new tyres (Kumho KU31) fitted tomoro- why put new ones on the back and old on the front?

Getting my 2 new tyres (Kumho KU31) fitted tomoro- why put new ones on the back and old on the front?

It's easier for the average joe to control understeer than unpredictable oversteer so it's preferable to have more grip on the back. My tyres tend to go on the axles they came off and I've never had a problem though

Chris

Getting my 2 new tyres (Kumho KU31) fitted tomoro- why put new ones on the back and old on the front?

Why you should put new tyres the back -

Michelin car tyres company : new tyre

This has only become the accepted wisdom in the last few years and people are still putting new ones on the front without many problems - like Chris said.

Are the tyres directional?

If the tyres are directional then that would have meant rotating a tyre on one of the good existing tyres at additional expense.

I think the new tyres are Contis of some description, I haven't had a proper look at them. I think they probably are directional, so it may have just come down to laziness. It's a company account so cost wasn't an issue. I'll check the tread depths on the old ones at the weekend, with a bit of luck they're not too worn and I might be able to leave them as they are.

But what are the technical arguments against fitting two new tyres on one side of the car ?

If you went through a large enough puddle, one side of the car will be more likely to aquaplane - if you have one side of the car with no grip, you're likely to end up going sideways...

Though if there's not much difference in tread between the sides, I doubt it'll really matter.

Rob.

The only test I've ever seen that "showed that new tyres on the back were safer" involved a V@*xh@ll C0r$@ with no anti-lock (or attempt to correct the skid).

More seriously and pertenantly, it's possibly illegal, and certainly bad practice, to mix textile and steel-braced radials on an axle, or to mix asymetrical and and unidirectional tyres on an axle.

Why you should put new tyres the back -

Michelin car tyres company : new tyre

This has only become the accepted wisdom in the last few years and people are still putting new ones on the front without many problems - like Chris said.

Although as someone pointed out in another thread on this, in the current weather, I'd rather have the grip on my steering and driving wheels! Saying that when I come to replacing my front tyres, the new ones will be going on the back axle to give me a chance to destroy tthe crappy Conti's currently on the back which refuse to wear out

Chris

Just had my new kumhos from mytyres.co.uk fitted by bodystyleUk in Trafford. Brilliant service, and will enjoy getting these new tyres scrubbed in! Will be going back for 4 wheel laser alignment- £27quid! Bargain!