I learned something today

[RF Overlord]

How many of you, like me, learned a long (LONG) time ago, that when replacing only 2 tires, always put the new (or the best) ones on the front? It makes sense, right? The front tires do most of the braking and all of the steering.

Well, while looking for info on tire sizes I got onto the Tire Rack's web site and found they have a whole section on Tire Tech / Tech Tips. One of them is titled "Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?" and it opened my eyes. Apparently I've been wrong all these years and the best tires actually belong on the REAR! Here's the gist of the article:

"If the front tires have significantly less tread depth than the rear tires, the front tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the rear tires. While this will cause the vehicle to understeer (the vehicle wants to continue driving straight ahead), understeer is relatively easy to control because releasing the gas pedal will slow the vehicle and help the driver maintain control.

However, if the front tires have significantly more tread depth than the rear tires, the rear tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the fronts. This will cause the vehicle to oversteer (the vehicle will want to spin). Oversteer is far more difficult to control and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout."

Link to the whole article. (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52)

Obviously this doesn't completely apply to the Marauder with its staggered tire sizes, but many of us have winter tire-wheel combos that are the same all around and I think this revelation would be even more important in winter. Many of us also have other vehicles that this tip would apply to year 'round.

[justbob]

I just had new front tires put on the Escort at Firestone and had to sign off because I wanted them on the front. I guess it's their new policy.

[Joe Walsh]

Good post!
I never realized this either.

I rotate my tires (on my other cars) regularly, so I've never had to replace them as pairs...
but I know what to do, or should I say, what not to do now.

:2thumbs:

[frdwrnch]

I'm in the business and just became aware of this last year. After looping and wrecking my Marauder I give a lot of creedence to their explanation.

[TAKEDOWN]

I learned something new as well, thanks for sharing the info!

[Mr. Man]

My ole man used to put the good tread on the drive wheels so if FWD tyres would go on the front, RWD on the back.

[Shora]

Saw the same thing posted somewhere about a yr. ago and didn't post it bc it went against everything i "thought" that I knew and wouldn't be able to defend it.

[RF Overlord]

Mr. Man, after reading your reply ^^^, I now think that may be right.

On a RWD car, if the rear end starts to come around, letting off the gas suddenly would be a mistake...but on a FWD car, it wouldn't matter as there would be no power to the rear wheels, so they wouldn't grab abruptly.

Hmmm...I'd like to hear more input on this.

BTW: "tyres"? You guys move to Australia?

[Marauderjack]

My ole man used to put the good tread on the drive wheels so if FWD tyres would go on the front, RWD on the back.


^^^+1^^^ :beer:

[Stoneblue]

Never gave this any thought until now. Check out the video at the very bottom of linked page, less wordy and much more convincing.
http://www.michelinman.com/tire-care/how-to-buy/
Thanks for the heads up RF Overlord, you may have someone's life tonight!

[Mr. Man]

Basically the only thing the rear wheels on a FWD car are doing is keeping the rear end off the ground (generally speaking). When in a spin in a FWD car you mash the gas to pull yourself out of the spin. In a rear wheel drive car you let off the gas and steer into the spin and pray.

[jgc61sr2002]

Hi Bob,

That is standard procedure for Costco.
Two new tires are mounted on rear.


How many of you, like me, learned a long (LONG) time ago, that when replacing only 2 tires, always put the new (or the best) ones on the front? It makes sense, right? The front tires do most of the braking and all of the steering.

Well, while looking for info on tire sizes I got onto the Tire Rack's web site and found they have a whole section on Tire Tech / Tech Tips. One of them is titled "Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?" and it opened my eyes. Apparently I've been wrong all these years and the best tires actually belong on the REAR! Here's the gist of the article:

"If the front tires have significantly less tread depth than the rear tires, the front tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the rear tires. While this will cause the vehicle to understeer (the vehicle wants to continue driving straight ahead), understeer is relatively easy to control because releasing the gas pedal will slow the vehicle and help the driver maintain control.

However, if the front tires have significantly more tread depth than the rear tires, the rear tires will begin to hydroplane and lose traction on wet roads before the fronts. This will cause the vehicle to oversteer (the vehicle will want to spin). Oversteer is far more difficult to control and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout."

Link to the whole article. (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52)

Obviously this doesn't completely apply to the Marauder with its staggered tire sizes, but many of us have winter tire-wheel combos that are the same all around and I think this revelation would be even more important in winter. Many of us also have other vehicles that this tip would apply to year 'round.

[offroadkarter]

Atleast with oversteer you can control that with countersteering and the gas pedal, with understeer you are going into that tree no matter what

[Spectragod]

Be that as it may, my rear tires always have less tread than the front tires, I wonder why that is? :burnout:

[DOOM]

Only my rears get changed! :burnout:
About 2 times per year. :D

[1stMerc]

Don't think you can get a way with that on an 04 due to the traction control. Just had new tires put on the front today and of course it rained all the way back home. No ill affects. The old fronts had bad outside wear so wasn't much choice.

[Mr. Man]

At Least with over steer you can control that with counter steering and the gas pedal, with under steer you are going into that tree no matter what

Sounds like you have some experience with a tight handling car:D

[Ken]

Be that as it may, my rear tires always have less tread than the front tires, I wonder why that is? :burnout:I've noticed that, at least since I got the alignment issue corrected.

Ken

[Motorhead350]

Good info. Thank you Bob.

Mr. Man I second what your father used to do.

[JohnE]

I feel that the most important grip that you need from tires is emergency braking grip. That means that the front tires are the most important.

If the rears don't grip as well as the front, you'll learn to not accelerate as hard when on slippery surfaces.


---------------------


I had a close call a while back on a wet and slightly muddy road. A vehicle pulled out in front of me without looking behind himself first. It was still raining lightly on a road that 18-wheelers track mud onto quite often. You could see a layer of brown over the asphfalt. I was moving around 45mph and was suddenly 8 car lengths from someone who was making a U-turn from the shoulder.

At the time I had excellent Bridgestone RE960 Pole Position tires on the front and so-so Kuhmo KH11 tires on the rear.


I laid on the horn and hit the brakes to slow down as much as possible first. However, there was not enough room to stop in a straight line in time. So, I turned into the oncoming lane, which was vacant. As result the rear started to come around, creating oversteer. The fronts had an amazing grip, but the backs were not as good (made worse by the wieght transfer on braking). I let up a bit from the brakes, which put the rear back on track. And then got back into the brakes. Had to repeat this process to turn back straight in the oncoming lane as well.


At that moment I was sold on the Bridgestone RE960's wet grip. Have them all the way around the Grand Marquis and the Volvo S80. Wish they made them in Marauder sizes....




John

[252life]

The new tires on the front is what the recommendation is over here also and has been for as long as I can remember, all the tire shops do that or will advise people to do that.
On a FWD car the recommendation is to rotate the tires before the differences in the thread is to big.
The argument for this is that you are much less likely to lose control of the car at high speed and have a head on collision.

[Canadasvt]

Try driving a FWD in snow covered street with snow tires on front and all-season on rear. Go around a nice corner and that rear is coming around faster than you can say 'oh s*it'.