Tyre rotation

AdrianC

It's only heading towards oncoming traffic if the bend goes left.

And I don't care if it sounds wrong to you... That IS the general advice from across the tyre and motoring industry.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tyre+advice+best+rear

Noree

Replace those that are under 3mm and i wouldn!!!8217;t recommend budget tyres all round just because of the harder compound they generally have.

My rule of thumb would be mid range all round at least if rear wheel drive, but budget rear and mid range for front wheel drive. All if the engine is at the front.

The general forces exerted on a tyre during normal driving conditions shouldn!!!8217;t affect where the new tyres are fitted.

Sea_Shell

Well I never!!! Have always put newest on the front. Makes sense when you think about it.

telemarks

AdrianC wrote: »

It's only heading towards oncoming traffic if the bend goes left.

And if its a right bend, as I said, you are heading for the verge at speed.

Either way, the advice seems based on the fact that people don't know to steer into oversteer. i.e. lack of driving skills

So for me i'll continue to put the best tyres where they do most work, at the front, I know both my children have spent enough time on the airfield to know how to handle sliding the back of the car. Front of the car sliding .. then by definition you have no control, as my son knows to his cost.

DoaM

I'm another rebel (allegedly) ... I always prefer the better tyres on the wheels connected to the driving axle.

System

Noree wrote: »

I cannot see how that is sound advice.

So if a vehicle, say a fiesta is a front engine front wheel drive vehicle, then the best tyres should be on the back?! Makes no sense to be fair.

Lift off oversteer.

Think about it. At the front you've got a heavy engine helping keep the tyres on the road, at the back you have very little weight. When you brake even more weight is transferred to the front tyres. In front wheel drive cars you can end up with a phenomenon known as lift off oversteer on roundabouts and corners where you let off the throttle or apply the brakes and the rear tyres have insufficient grip so you end up with the back sliding sideways. That is why on a front wheel drive car you want the better tyres at the rear.

Chris Harris explaining lift off oversteer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBYSl3dD-UQ

On a rear wheel drive it is obvious why you want the better tyres at the rear.

ohreally

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Well I never!!! Have always put newest on the front. Makes sense when you think about it.

Take your car to Costco and they will always place the new tyres on the rear axle (Michelins guidelines).

FOR COMPLETE CONTROL, FIT YOUR NEW TYRES TO THE REAR AXLE

Rear wheels are not connected to your steering wheel, which makes it extremely difficult to judge their grip while driving. We recommend that new tyres or the least worn tyres are fitted to the rear wheels to ensure:

Better control in emergency braking or tight corners when the roads are slippery.
Less risk of losing control of your vehicle, especially on wet surfaces
Better road holding, particularly in difficult situations, whether your car is front or rear wheel drive

telemarks

Last thought to those saying best wheels at the rear.

I bought my car (Mazda) new, 2 years ago, at about 16k miles it started asking for tyre rotation from rear to front.

So my car manufactures advice is to now put the best tyres on the front.

I'd suggest following your car manufactures guidance is probably a good idea in the long run, or do folks disagree with that?

cb1979

If your car is only a few years old and the spare tyre is the same size as the rest and still new i would be tempted to buy one new tyre, and fit the new spare to one of the wheels that the tyre only has 4mm on, then fit the 4mm tyre to the spare wheel

Joe_Horner

ohreally wrote: »

Take your car to Costco and they will always place the new tyres on the rear axle (Michelins guidelines).

Although, Michelin's guidance is also to use tyres all the way to the 1.6mm limit (and has been since at least 2010):

https://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/learn-share/buying-guide/when-should-i-change-my-tyres

Funny how so many forum experts will pick & choose which bits of manufacturer's advice they follow!