New rear tyres needed. New tyres on front or back?

[white_goodman]

I always thought that if you weren't changing all the tyres it was better to have the newer tyres on the front, as they have more work to do (higher load in cornering etc) but I recently read that the fresher tyres should go on the back to increase stability under hard braking. So when I change the rear tyres should I put the new tyres on the back or front? My car has 4WD if that makes a difference (Subaru). Any advice would be most welcome.

[Crafty_]

The theory is that new tyres on the back is more about predictability - if the fronts are worn typically a car will understeer, that is easier for average joe to understand and deal with than oversteer.

How much it would apply in your car I don't know.

[ShredderXLE]

Read the same article (in the sunday paper weekend before last) by the sounds of it. Something to do with "lift off oversteer"

[Classic Grad 98]

The usual recommendation is newer tyres on the rear because Joe 'averagedriver' Bloggs can handle loss of traction at the front easier than that at the rear.

[whatmoretyres]

Of course, that assumes the car is front wheel drive!

[Classic Grad 98]

Not really. Any car with ineffective tyres on the rear will be more prone to oversteer.

[paulsm]

I read something once that newer tyres on the rear reduce chance of aqua-planing. No idea how or why.

[Vulgar LS2]

paulsm said:

I read something once that newer tyres on the rear reduce chance of aqua-planing. No idea how or why.

VBH did a demo of that on 5th gear a few years ago.

[Andyjc86]

Knowing that most of my customers just plod around town and don't do any 'spirited' driving, if i'm changing a pair of tyres then I will move them to the front of FWD and 4WD cars. None of them have crashed and burnt as a result..................yet

[kambites]

I'd put them on the rear if I had to choose. I generally always replace all four at once, though.

It's not about the car generally tending to oversteer or understeer as you approach the limits of grip. It's about which end of the car will aquaplane first on standing water.

Edited by kambites on Friday 18th November 20:48

[Classic Grad 98]

Andyjc86 said:

Knowing that most of my customers just plod around town and don't do any 'spirited' driving, if i'm changing a pair of tyres then I will move them to the front of FWD and 4WD cars. None of them have crashed and burnt as a result..................yet

Either that or they went up the road and crashed, burned and died the first time they hit 30!

[blueg33]

Not this topic again!

[Fleckers]

blueg33 said:

Not this topic again!

YEP

in my preference and I have had rows with tyre places about it I want the new kit on the front, the back end can be controled wiht the right foot in my opinion, but then I drive a wrong wheel drive for the health and safety freaks

my car
do as I please within the law

H&S can F right off

[sparks_E39]

No, waste of money imo. Unless either front or back were getting close then I'd replace all 4, and of course if just one tyre were to be replaced and the other side was quite worn I'd replace both sides, but otherwise no.

[blueg33]

Fleckers said:

blueg33 said:

Not this topic again!

YEP

in my preference and I have had rows with tyre places about it I want the new kit on the front, the back end can be controled wiht the right foot in my opinion, but then I drive a wrong wheel drive for the health and safety freaks

my car
do as I please within the law

H&S can F right off

Groundhog says - Put them on the rear!

[Deranged Granny]

paulsm said:

I read something once that newer tyres on the rear reduce chance of aqua-planing. No idea how or why.

Because compared to worn tyres, newer ones have more tread depth, so can disperse water more effectively.