New tires go to front or rear?

[Bleemer]

Searched, didn't find answer.

I have two tires that need replacing, other 2 are good. Do the new ones both go to the back, or front axles, or it doesn't matter for our FWD cars?

[Olestra]

How much difference in tread is there between your new pair and the old pair?
Normally you would put the tires with the most tread on your front because the front wear out faster.

However, if there is a big difference in tread (greater than 4/32's is a big difference), then you can create a dangerous situation by putting tires with less traction on the rear. In a FWD car, if your rear has less traction, it can slide out and cause a fish tailing scenario which is pretty hard to control in a FWD car.
I'm not trying to scare you, just be aware of this and it may be less of an issue in the summer but do be very mindful with heavy rain and snow.

[slam525i]

Definitely put them in the rear. If you have less grip on the rear and you brake into a corner, your rear end will slide out (i.e. over-steer).

That said, I put my grippy Michelin Pilots up front and the crappy OEMs in the back. It makes the car more "neutral" but not recommended for most people. It gets positively exciting if I trail-brake into a corner.

[Bleemer]

Thanks guys, that's what I thought, that brand new should go in the rear to prevent slide out.

Fronts have about 6/32 remaining ;)

[Kwokalobster]

New tires to the front for sure.

[SonicBoy]

Wrong!

Check all of the Tire manufacturer's web site and even tire rack. To the Rear!

[Kwokalobster]

Wrong!

Check all of the Tire manufacturer's web site and even tire rack. To the Rear!

Our cars are FWD meaning you will need more grip in the front. no?

[cwp_sedan]

"Technically" the rear is the correct location to put the newer tires but mine never get bald enough to worry about it. My new tires, if they are replaced at different times usually go on the front. I'll take the grip up front before I worry about the lack there of in the back.

[rzapata]

There's two scenarios here...

1) If you put the new tires in the front, you get more front grip.. Hence lessens wheel spins.. However, if you drive like a maniac, car tends to slide sideways, especially while braking on corners which will then result to possible wipe out in slippery conditions..

2) If the new tires are in the rear, increased traction to the rear, hence preventing over-steer (and possible wipe outs).. Although, front traction will be lesser, and eventually the tires will wear out even faster. So front traction will be much of a problem and you'll be spinning your tires while coming off from complete stop (happens when tires are almost done).

Personally though, I would put the new tires in the front since the rear is really not of a concern especially with FWD cars. Generally we get more under-steer than over-steer because of the drivetrain so wipe outs happen seldomly... Anyway, that's just my two cents, it's up to your driving techniques on how you would choose.. :) :) :)

Good luck though!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Put them on the front. FWD cars are prone to understeer and you will want the extra traction and control on the drivetrain wheels. If the back kicks out and slides or goes into oversteer, it is a lot easier to correct than the opposite scenario and having no grip on the front.

[slam525i]

I agree that you get more traction over all if you put them up front, but you get more predictable handling if you put them in the rear. (I disagree in that I think understeer is a lot "safer" to get into than "oversteer". Especially in a FWD car with people's instinct to jump on the brakes.)

If someone's an expert enough driver to have the skill to power their way out of an over-steer in a FWD car, they're not gonna be asking whether to put the new tires front or back.

In short, if you have to ask, put them in the back.

[KenYork]

It would depend on season and if you use winter tires. All seasons, through the warmer weather I'd put them on the fronts to balance the wear of all tires. In the colder/wetter weather, rear to prevent fishtailing .

IMO.

[kckev99]

Lesson should be that you should rotate your tires more frequently to ensure even tire wear front and back. Hence you should be replacing all 4 at the same time.

I've only ever had to replace a pair when one of my tires started to bulge at the side wall. I ended changing just the pair but otherwise should always try to rotate as frequently as possible to ensure even tire wear.

[stevenma188]

Definitely listen to what people are saying about if the difference is significant in traction, put the newer ones on the rear. This does not necessarily mean newer tires on the rear (not all tires are equal).

My uncle had the issue where he went to a tire shop and they gave him 2 new directional tires on the front with his 2 non-directional tires on the rear. Then while he was driving in the rain, the backend would fishtail everytime he hit the brakes. If there is going to be a significant reduction in traction, put the better gripping tires on the rear. This is why it's pretty stupid to only put snow tires on the front of a FWD car.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

The OP said his other two tires are fine, not bald. If they are fine and still have good tread, then put the new tires on the front. If the old tires are almost bald, then I agree, stick the new tires on the rear. Ideal scenario, he has 4 new tires and this question is moot.

"Oversteer is when your a$$ hits the wall, Understeer is when your face hits the wall!" -unknown

"Oversteer scares passengers, understeer scares drivers." –unknown

[Bleemer]

Yeah, normally would change all four tires at the same time, but two are still quite good no need to throw them away :cool

[pacmann33]

I always change tires in complete sets on my bike and my automobiles, but what everyone here has told you is correct.

The tire manufacturers will tell you to put the best tires on the rear, I would do the opposite, unless 2 of the tires were worn right out. Understeer you can do very little about, while oversteer, is much more controllable, and desirable depending on the person. This is the rear we all put rear sway bars on our front drive cars! We want to introduce a degree of oversteer.

[Noisy Crow]

Keep in mind: The new tires will have deeper tread, sipes, etc. So they will be better able to channel water. In wet conditions the old tires will hydroplane first. Old-tires on the back means the back will let go first. So if when you run into trouble and loose traction, if the back end breaks loose first the odds are high that you will spin. Now, if you have driver training and practiced a lot, you can correct and recover. However: most people freak and do the exact wrong thing, making the skid worse. So they are better off with the better grip in the rear.

[baymoe]

Are the new tires of the same make and model tires as the rears? If they are and the rear tires have sufficient tread, slap the new pair up front.

Most manufacturers suggest to put the new pair out back for reason that in the event of loss of traction, it's "easier" to recover from understeer (front tires giving way) by letting off the gas and thereby recovering traction. In the event of an oversteer scenario (back tires giving way), it would in most cases be harder to recover. While I agree to this suggestion to some degree, putting the new set to the rear will essentially force you to use them as strictly rear tires. The front will wear quicker than the rears and you wouldn't swap them to the front ever.