Replace a single front tyre or both?

Ultrasonic

Richard53 wrote: »

Personally, I would say the best thing is to drive in the wet in such a manner that neither end breaks away, but I can see the logic of the demonstration.

I think part of the point of the clip is that it is easier to spot the point where you just start to lose control and therefore back off with the better tyres on the rear. Obviously you never want to reach the point where any wheel starts to lose grip in the wet, but judging quite where that point will be is not necessarily easy.

Richard53

Yep, fair point. I am semi-convinced, enough to give it a try on my next tyre change.

UsernameAlreadyExists

Richard53 wrote: »

For 40 years plus I have put the best tyres on the driven wheels - on a fwd car, at the front for steering, traction and braking. In fact, it's only on this forum that I have heard otherwise.

Grow some balls and stand by your statement?
You were wrong for 40 years and stand corrected by 2 minutes of pap on youtube?
Pah
When was the last time you aquaplaned? it was about 20+ years ago for me.

Richard53

Always open to new ideas! I'm more interested in the truth than in having my opinions vindicated, so I am happy to listen and change my mind if it's justified. I can see the reasoning here, although I am still not totally convinced.

I've only aquaplaned once. I was in a Renault 5 and hit some standing water at about 60. Brief but terrifying. But that was once in 42 years of driving, and about 600,000 miles, so it's not something I lie awake worrying about. Logic tells me that if the front tyres are good and squeegee the water away, the rear tyres will be less at risk of unsticking. But that's aquaplaning, which for me is a rare problem. The VBH item was about a normal wet road, and I can see the logic of what she was saying. Better to have the rear of the car under control and react to any misbehaviour of the front end, than have the rear try to overtake you mid-corner. But I suspect it is a marginal thing, and would probably make no difference to 99% of drivers, 99% of the time.

UsernameAlreadyExists

I too have aquaplaned in a straight line, and it was hitting some water I didn't even see was there because it was raining heavily. I'd much rather have the "decent" tyres on the front, although in that circumstance it actually didn't make a blind bit of difference because I was going wherever it sent me. no matter what. Luckily I regained control.
I honestly can't remember the last time I was hooning it around a wet roundabout as fast as I possibly could until it broke traction.

photome

Richard53 wrote: »

Always open to new ideas! I'm more interested in the truth than in having my opinions vindicated, so I am happy to listen and change my mind if it's justified. I can see the reasoning here, although I am still not totally convinced.

I've only aquaplaned once. I was in a Renault 5 and hit some standing water at about 60. Brief but terrifying. But that was once in 42 years of driving, and about 600,000 miles, so it's not something I lie awake worrying about. Logic tells me that if the front tyres are good and squeegee the water away, the rear tyres will be less at risk of unsticking. But that's aquaplaning, which for me is a rare problem. The VBH item was about a normal wet road, and I can see the logic of what she was saying. Better to have the rear of the car under control and react to any misbehaviour of the front end, than have the rear try to overtake you mid-corner. But I suspect it is a marginal thing, and would probably make no difference to 99% of drivers, 99% of the time.

i think thats the point but its probably 99.9%, 99.9% of the time.

I have no idea if there is reallt statistics to back it up, but would be good to know the stats for accidents caused by new tyres being put on the front

Ultrasonic

I do not pretend to be any sort of expert and as such will take the advice from people who are, who as far as I can tell universally recommend new tyres go on the rear. I used to be skeptical like everyone else, but the video I posted was enough to convince me, at least until I can see stronger evidence to support the opposite view.

bigjl

john_white wrote: »

Every tyre manufacturer states they should go on the rear.

Have you read the report done by Michelin?

I have.

It is a report more relevant to the lowest common denominator.

A risk based opinion.

Due to drivers adapting to the rear biased grip as the fronts wear, these low skilled drivers then can't adjust to the altered balance of the car with new tyres on the front.

It is a policy with more thought to corporate liability than anything else.

The safest thing to do is put four new tyres on your car every time you have a puncture or need a new tyre.

Like the Traffic Police used to do when the budget was there.

Two new tyres is best practice but not needed.

The majority of cars have mismatched tyres anyway.

Just have a look around you in a traffic jam or in Tescos.

I also agree with be above comments, you need to brake in the wet or cold weather an awful lot more than a one off possibility of overestimating your grip levels and oversteering.

I have watched the videos and IMHO they look like the car was provoked into a slide by a precessional driver.

Another example of blame culture and buck passing, highly likely.

In my experience the Emergency services replace the tyres that need to be changed, they may change one a little early to match up a pair but not very often.

And they never put the new tyres on the rear, unless it needed two rear tyres.

In the OP's position I would stick on a new tyre of the same make.

Ultrasonic

bigjl wrote: »

Have you read the report done by Michelin?

I have.

Are you able to provide a link, or is this a report you have to pay for?

Due to drivers adapting to the rear biased grip as the fronts wear, these low skilled drivers then can't adjust to the altered balance of the car with new tyres on the front.

Interesting idea, although on first reading I'm far from convinced.

I have watched the videos and IMHO they look like the car was provoked into a slide by a precessional driver.

What is a precessional driver? Is this an advanced driving technique, or did you mean professional? [Serious question, not deliberately being picky if you did use the wrong word.]

alastairq

I have no issues with replacing one tyre only.

The mismatch of wear is going to happen anyway...which is why we're discussing this situation in the first place?

Providing one's driving style doesn't push tyres to anywhere near their limits, even a mismatch of makes can be tolerated...to a certain extent.

Size,and construction are more important.....