Tires on front wheel drive car

[KR-S]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

All those years I did it wrong (well not to many years with FWD and bad tires) still managed to never have over steer or spin out even in the worst condition and really bad tires.
I guess if your tires are that bad you just learn to drive more carefully. I do sometimes miss the sound of steel belts sticking out and creating that cool swish swish swish swish sound though.

The solution here is to have all four good tires all around.

That way, you won't have to worry about where the bad tires go, except straight to the trash.

[Captain Snooze]

I am suggesting the question doesn't have a black/white either/or answer.
I had a slightly warm Peugeot 206. I always had sticky tyres on the front and rim protectors on the rear. It had beautiful creamy smooth lift off over steer in the dry. I much preferred having the option of over-steer as opposed to permanent under-steer.
In the wet I drove cautiously.
Because compromise.

Driving any car with next to no tread is asking for trouble in the wet regardless of where the tyres are..

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by KR-S 86

The solution here is to have all four good tires all around.

That way, you won't have to worry about where the bad tires go, except straight to the trash.

See post #5

[KR-S]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

See post #5

In which case, I agree.

On another note, I just so happen to be in this situation myself with my daily driver. The bad ones are on the front; the good ones on the rear. Based on the responses to the thread, the tires will stay where they are.

[pushrod]

Lots of internets in this thread. Always put your good ones out back.

[TheVoiceOfReason]

Wait, if the better tires always go in the rear, does that mean you should never rotate the tires on a front wheel drive car because the front always wear faster and would always be worse?

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by TheVoiceOfReason

Wait, if the better tires always go in the rear, does that mean you should never rotate the tires on a front wheel drive car because the front always wear faster and would always be worse?

You're contradicting your username. I think everyone has said that its preferable to have 4 tires with equal tread.

[TheVoiceOfReason]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

You're contradicting your username. I think everyone has said that its preferable to have 4 tires with equal tread.

I'm not arguing that 4 are not better, but that is not an option in the poll. I'm just saying that if you should always have the worse tires at the front of a FWD car, then tire rotations are illogical. As soon as you start driving on your brand new set the fronts are worse off, so rotating the back to the front when rotation time comes would almost always put the better tires in the front assuming they all started new.

[pushrod]

Originally Posted by TheVoiceOfReason

I'm not arguing that 4 are not better, but that is not an option in the poll. I'm just saying that if you should always have the worse tires at the front of a FWD car, then tire rotations are illogical. As soon as you start driving on your brand new set the fronts are worse off, so rotating the back to the front when rotation time comes would almost always put the better tires in the front assuming they all started new.

40% worn vs 60% worn is not terribly relevant. OP was comparing a more extreme case, and in such a case, you you be compelled to put the bad ones up front.

Let's not get into shades of grey or edge cases just to prove some sort of alternate point. The fact is, a severe grip imbalance should always be biased rear.

The poll is useless. Truth isn't democratic. You can't vote on vehicle dynamics; they are what they are.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by TheVoiceOfReason

I'm not arguing that 4 are not better, but that is not an option in the poll. I'm just saying that if you should always have the worse tires at the front of a FWD car, then tire rotations are illogical. As soon as you start driving on your brand new set the fronts are worse off, so rotating the back to the front when rotation time comes would almost always put the better tires in the front assuming they all started new.

My parents only bought two tires at a time for their shitboxes, but I think they only put the good tires on the front. No snow or serious inclement weather so the logic was 'more useful grip' > 'understeer safer than oversteer'

Most economy cars are so understeer biased you could put R-comps on the fronts and spare donuts on the rear and still push.

[stugray]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

It was a heated debate between myself and my son.
He drove my 99 Toy Solara until the front tires were nearly bald while the rears were still in good shape.
I told him to move the better tires up front and he argued with me.
He used to work at Discount Tire and they were told to ALWAYS put the better tires on the rear.

My point was that a FWD uses the front for braking, drive, and steering, and since the fronts are worn more quickly, they CLEARLY take the majority of the forces applied to the car or they wouldnt wear faster.

So after this thread, I can see the point.

It is the same as making sure that you ALWAYS have more front brake bias than rear, because you never want the rears to break loose before the fronts or you swap ends.

So we are just getting new tires all the way around.
However I dont think this is a black & white argument and "it depends".

I say that if you can guarantee that you will not get on the freeway,
keep your speed below lethal levels, and dont drive in the snow, then the better tires should be on the fronts.

My logic there is that 99% of the time the car would benefit from the better tires on the front, while 1% (panic braking) they would be better on the rears.

However it is that 1% that can kill you the fastest.

Thanks again

[pushrod]

If I had two down to the carcass, and two that were brand new R-compounds, I would put the good ones on the left and make right turns everywhere.

lol jk

[rice_classic]

I just used my brains instead... it's easier than the internet.

FWD car.. grew up in the snowy mountains. Guess where I needed traction.. Yup front tires. Slowing down in slush/snow.. yup front tires.

Raining outside?... Maybe my smart brain can tell me not to drive faster than the conditions. Maybe my brain knew that I had no ABS on my 1985 Jetta or 88 Civic and that sliding into the car in front of me because I listened to dude at Discount tire is bad idea..

My smart brain also knows I'm lazy and likes symmetry. So I put the "more traction" up front so they reach the "point of replacement" at the same time and all 4 are needed simultaneously. Awwwwww yeahhhh.. Symmetry.

So in that 1 situation, having the more tractive tire on the rear is better, but in more situations it isn't.

Keep the debate alive!

[pushrod]

I think a person with a brain would not have shit tires on their car, whether it be on the front, the rear, or on one side.