I'd like to start this out with my opinion, which you will not change!:

New tyres go on the front on a front engine, FWD car, because they tend to understeer, and I want the car to go where I point it. You have to do something daft to get oversteer, whereas it's trivial to get understeer on a greasy island, even with something less powerful and nose-heavy than a fabia vRS.

However, tyre fitter wisdom often says fit the new ones on the back as the low weight makes understeer more likely. I've seen this done to death elsewhere, but I'd be interested in opinion here.

On FWD, new ones on the front. If I'm in trouble I want to be able to steer or to apply power!

Chris

It's been done to death already, but I'd agree with the tyre fitter. Also Fifth Gear did a feature a few years back to prove it.

Speaking as we are Pirelli Gold tyre fitting centre and having done it to death on here... New tyres should be fitted to the REAR, End of story:D

HTH

Phil

Michelin car tyres company : new tyre

Check this out;)

Phil

So does that mean fitting 4 new tyres is dangerous then?

Chris

So does that mean fitting 4 new tyres is dangerous then?

Chris

VERY Until they have been bedded in for at least 50 miles:rolleyes:

For gods sake, I need new tyres on the front and that's where they are being fitted

My car drives and steers via the front wheels and I plan to fit better tyres than the OEM tat. I don't want another 15,000 miles of them on my front wheels. I've always had new tyres fitted front first (unless I need all 4 changing) and never had any problems. The worst thing i've experienced is a dash of understeer until the tyres have run in a little and you (should) compensate for that anyway, same as you do with new brakes etc.

Saying that- no one has EVER suggested/recommended rotating the tyres.

VERY Until they have been bedded in for at least 50 miles:rolleyes:

Heh. I once got warned after new wheels and tyres, fitted with plenty of lubricant:

"Take it easy for a bit, or you'll stop the wheels and the tyres will spin around them".

Didn't test the theory.....

I can see the sense in getting new tyres on the back... but the end of the day... you need new tryes on the front, you get them on the front... they talk of the driver "will therefore be taken unawares."... perhaps if the driver just slowed down.

You dont need to go as fast as you possibly can all the time... as i always say, its not a race.

p.s. recently got 4 new tyres on mine as back ones were old and cracking and front were worn down. They're Goodyear GT2 (or 3's cant remember) BTW.

Heh. I once got warned after new wheels and tyres, fitted with plenty of lubricant:

"Take it easy for a bit, or you'll stop the wheels and the tyres will spin around them".

Didn't test the theory.....

That sounds silly... were they taking the p***??? lol

That sounds silly... were they taking the p***??? lol

Dunno. I suppose until the lubricant dried perhaps. I've never heard of it though, and I took it easy anyway because of running-in 4 new tyres.

- 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...

Clearly never driven a Fabia.

Clearly never driven a Fabia.

TBH I've only ever had rear-end oversteer in a FWD car twice, both times doing something daft when I was young and foolish- with a Mini and a Mk1 Golf, both by snapping the throttle shut or braking at the wrong time and lifting the back. Everything else (like the Fabia) just understeers gradually, hence why I want the most grip at the front.

I've been wearing my OEM fronts down with a view to replacing them as I've had the car from new (Mk1 Octavia vRS). I had the car serviced last week for the first time (18500 miles) and without me knowing they swapped the tyres round.

This only became apparent in the wet weather we've had this week. I noticed the car was handling differently, much more skittish on the back end and when I checked, I found that they'd swapped them thinking they were doing me a favour.

This shows that in a Pepsi style blind taste, I sensed the difference before I knew the reality. Less grip on the back end made the car less stable with regards to my driving style. Go figure.....

It also shows how well some people know their cars and if someone has inteferred with it's set up. How often has one of you known there was a difference/problem with your car only for the garage to say they couldn't find anything wrong?

I can see the sense in getting new tyres on the back... but the end of the day... you need new tryes on the front, you get them on the front... they talk of the driver "will therefore be taken unawares."... perhaps if the driver just slowed down.

You dont need to go as fast as you possibly can all the time... as i always say, its not a race.

p.s. recently got 4 new tyres on mine as back ones were old and cracking and front were worn down. They're Goodyear GT2 (or 3's cant remember) BTW.

seeing as the brother is tending to mavis, may i just say on his behalf; it's not a race :confused: pah! that's loser talk, you loser

new tyres on the rear, cos you can't directly do **** all about what they get up to (on a FWD car)?

new tyres on the rear, cos you can't directly do **** all about what they get up to (on a FWD car)?

Unless you've done something daft, they follow the front

new tyres on the rear, cos you can't directly do **** all about what they get up to (on a FWD car)?

And compromise the tyres you can directly control? :confused:

Chris

i put them on the back when they r new. but just because they last longer...

Always newest tyres on the rear.

For years I put new tyres on the front, last car i put them on the rear and that didn't save me.

On this on they went on the front as they were the worn ones.

And compromise the tyres you can directly control? :confused:

Chris

well...yeah...kinda. i'd prefer the **** that i don't have direct control over to be tiptop

I rotated mine just before the summer of this year.

I put one of my rear tyres as my spare as it had plenty of tread left.

My Fronts went on the back and one of the rears and the spare went on the front.

As for whats best? I'd have to say the tyres with most depth on the fronts and rotate them with the back ones when they start wearing down.

Dunno. I suppose until the lubricant dried perhaps. I've never heard of it though, and I took it easy anyway because of running-in 4 new tyres.

I was told it was due to the mold release compound on the outside of the tires that made new ones slippery.

On my bike I used to sand the shine off new tires.

Always insist that new go to the front ......I don't want worn and potentially more dangerous tyres on the front ....if a rear tyre blows out you stand a chance of controlling it ...if the front blows, write your will quick.

never have any problem with tyre fitters putting them on that way either, it's my car, either they put my tyres where I want them or I go somewhere else.