track tyres

[xrracer]

Hi everyone I am new to PistonHeads and I have a quick question about trackday tyres. I have just got a Mk2 fiesta xr2 sprint/hillclimb car and I will be going to the ADMC Knockhill trackday.The previous owner had fitted toyo R888s to the front(almost new) and yoko A048s(needed replaced) to the rear. My plan was to change all 4 to Toyos but as they are on 3 month back order I have had to get 2 of the yokos.Is it better to fit the new yokos to the back or the front?
Thanks
Iain

[Broomsticklady]

I would put the new ones on the front, Iain - with a front-wheel-drive car, it is that end that does all the hard work....

[7SS]

Seem to remember top gear or 5th gear doing a piece on this years ago in the interests of road car safety. Surprisingly for some reason it was better to put the new tyres on the rear of a FWD car, can't remember why but the handling was upset more with fresh rubber on the front.
Anyone else remember this? Think it was done with a metro. It is of course entirely possible I'm talking out of my ar5e. May be worth a bit more research, Youtube??

[fiestajohn]

IIRC the Top/Fifth Gear thing was about running worn out tyres on the back, and in the wet the front tyres (with lots of tread) gripped going round corners and the back tyres (with little tread) didnt grip causing the car to oversteer/spin.
Fitted the other way around the car just understeered which they thought was safer.
Anyway I think you could fit your tyres either way, try both ways and see which you prefer.