How bad are new tyres on the front?

[dieseluser07]

My 2 front tyres need replacing, my rear tyres have a decent amount of grip still.

I have a fwd car with a lively rear end. How bad would it be if i fit the new tyres to the front, would it make the rear unstable or are the reccomendations generally to avoid aquaplaning etc?

I dont want to ruin the lively rear end by putting really grippy brand new tyres on, but i also dont want the car to behave dangerously.

[trackdemon]

Crack on, just drive accordingly

[Burgerbob]

General advice, particularly on a FWD car, is to have the best tyres on the back.

I don't think I've ever driven a fwd car with what I'd call a lively rear end, what car is it?

[Alucidnation]

Why is the rear end lively?

[Ahbefive]

Put crap tyres on the back of a mk2 focus and the rear end can be surprisingly mobile.

[Vanordinaire]

In spite of the usual advice, I've always put the best tyres on the front on a FWD car. Never had a problem except with a Clio which had terrible(or wonderful, depends on how you look at it) lift off oversteer.
I live in a very rural location and really make use of winter tyres, bit only ever on the driven wheels.

[OddCat]

Ahbefive said:

Put crap tyres on the back of a mk2 focus and the rear end can be surprisingly mobile.

Well, hopefully, generally keeping up with the front end (unless it was a particularly bad 'cut n shut')

Do people still do 'cut n shut' ?

[Ahbefive]

OddCat said:

Ahbefive said:

Put crap tyres on the back of a mk2 focus and the rear end can be surprisingly mobile.

Well, hopefully, generally keeping up with the front end (unless it was a particularly bad 'cut n shut')

Do people still do 'cut n shut' ?

No it was a totally straight car but the tyres on the rear were shocking and would break traction unbelievably easily.

[Fleckers]

I have had numerous cars

I have always had the new / best tyres on the front wheels regardless of being fwd or rwd or 4 wheel drive

[caelite]

Burgerbob said:

General advice, particularly on a FWD car, is to have the best tyres on the back.

I don't think I've ever driven a fwd car with what I'd call a lively rear end, what car is it?

My old Fabia VRS (mk1) used to have this trait. Thrown into a corner with no throttle or on the brakes and the back end would step out, key was to retain a little bit of throttle input which dragged the front in line. A common mod for these was an aftermarket rear anti roll bar, this beefed up bar made the car corner much flatter, but at the edge made you really feel how much the rear wanted to slide out. This handling trait I believe is reasonable considering its light frame and boat anchor of a van engine up front (~65:35 weight distribution). It also used to munch front tyres every 10k miles with the backs easily making 50k.

[Integroo]

Ahbefive said:

No it was a totally straight car but the tyres on the rear were shocking and would break traction unbelievably easily.

I think he was being facetious.

[Mound Dawg]

Continental suggest best on the rear but fudge the issue by telling you to ask the manufacturer. That won't work because the manufacturer will refer you to your local Dealer so you'll get your advice from the bird on the service desk. Anyhoo...

https://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/car/technology...

But this seems more helpful-

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/better-tyres...

[SteBrown91]

TBH I always rotated the tyres so you didn’t end up with rears that are ancient and cracked, it kept the replacement cycle regular.

But if possible swap th wheels front to back most tyre places will do it for you while you have your tyres for free or a small fee if they have a 2 poster ramp

[300bhp/ton]

Fleckers said:

I have had numerous cars

I have always had the new / best tyres on the front wheels regardless of being fwd or rwd or 4 wheel drive

Of course this only works if all 4 tyres are the same size

[dieseluser07]

Burgerbob said:

General advice, particularly on a FWD car, is to have the best tyres on the back.

I don't think I've ever driven a fwd car with what I'd call a lively rear end, what car is it?

Mk7 fiesta st180

Susceptible to lift off oversteer, incredible fun.