Any car mechanics here? car tyre question.

[Dave The Rave]

Now then. I wanted to swap the tyres on my car. Front wheel drive car so the front is getting thin a bit and both tyres have maybe 3k miles left in them. Both of the back ones are more or less untouched with plenty of life left in them. So I suggested to swap the front ones with the back ones. However was told at the garage not to do so. The argument used were:

You need more traction at the back so better tyres need to stay in the back.

Any of you work in the garage and can confirm that for me? I have never heard that argument before and remember swapping tyres from back to front before.

[fizzwheel]

I used to that all the time to get maximum life out the tyres.

Personally being a front wheel drive car you're going to want your better tyres on the front as the drive and also steer the car.

I'm not a mechnic just my opinion though...

[454697819]

load of ****e.. (read different opinion)

Usually means you have to replace the full set at once, but its irrelevant really

[Bluepete]

Leave 'em where they are, then get a new set when needed. Swapping them usually means you'll need four at a time = lots of cash in one go!

[kwak zzr]

my car wheels are diff? the front rims seem fatter than the rear? i think they used to be on the back and someone swapped them round? i think the wider rim should be on the rears as its rear wheel drive.

[Woz]

You need more traction at the back so better tyres need to stay in the back.


Never heard so much garbage. On a front wheel drive car, all the drive (obviously), steering and most of the braking are done through the front so that's where you want the most traction.

I take it this garage sells tyres? Last time I went to Kwik Fit for a puncture repair, they tried to tell me that the other three tyres needed replacing as there was ONLY 5mm of tread left. "Err, legal limit is 1.6mm pal so don't give me that" to which he had no reply. They are just brainwashed into obtaining the most sales possible even if it means ripping off those who may not know any different.

[southy1978]

He's talking sense!
http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

[simesb]

He's talking sense!
http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

Michelin have nothing to lose (can't be sued for saying you should have new tyres) and only sales to gain from that argument.

I don't subscribe :-?

[timwilky]

Have you ever lost the back end?. I have and it wasn't pleasant. Far worse than trying to recover a front.

[simesb]

Have you ever lost the back end?. I have and it wasn't pleasant. Far worse than trying to recover a front.


Quite a lot, but my car has the engine in the right place (the middle) and the right wheels driving it (the rear). :thumright:

Agreed though, FWD is much harder to catch the rear as it tends to snap. Depends how hard you drive though...

[Ace-T]

As SimesB says it depends on how you drive. It also depends on the car.

You say it is FWD. Is is a FWD 'performance' car or a shopping car or a rep mobile? How do you use it? Is it a 5 mile a day through no more than 30mph traffic or do you take it for a hoon on the twisties at weekends (some people do that you know! ;))

If you are a 'driving miss daisy' type then it should be perfectly ok to swap as long as you don't swap sides if you have directional tread and the wheels and tyres are the same size.

If you are a bit more 'sporting' with your driving/car then get new ones on the front as it is FWD and leave the old ones on the back. BUT as with bike tyres take it easy for the first couple of hundred miles.

Just be thankful you don't have a car that the manufacturers tell you to swap all 4 at once :smt119 (we are currently saving up :)).

Trace :)

[caz650s]

The latest advice from the major tyre 'MANUFACTURERS' is to always have the best tyres on the rear ... regardless of whether it is a front or rear wheel drive .

Something to do with the fact it is easier to keep control of a car with a front tyre blowout ...

[punyXpress]

I used to that all the time to get maximum life out the tyres.

Personally being a front wheel drive car you're going to want your better tyres on the front as the drive and also steer the car.

I'm not a mechnic just my opinion though... Nor am I

Unless thrashing the car the rear tyres don't do much more than stop it dragging its a**e. Our dog does that & it's 4 wheel drive

[Dave The Rave]

I Think I will stick with the Michelin's advice and keep the better ones in the back. So I have few months left before dishing out some cash. They are low profile Michelins Pilot Sports and if I remember from last time they were around £130-£150 per tyre. :-(

[embee]

The latest advice from the major tyre 'MANUFACTURERS' is to always have the best tyres on the rear ... regardless of whether it is a front or rear wheel drive .

Something to do with the fact it is easier to keep control of a car with a front tyre blowout ...

That's how I understand it. Best plan if you're having 2 new ones is to fit them to the rear and then put the "good" older ones on the front to wear them up (FWD).

[Gazza77]

That's how I understand it. Best plan if you're having 2 new ones is to fit them to the rear and then put the "good" older ones on the front to wear them up (FWD).

Most advice nowadays is to have the best on the back. However, if you rotate them regularly, they will all wear at the same rate, which is personally what I prefer; the same level of grip (in most situations) at all four corners.

[DoubleD]

best to keep the good tyres on the back.

A test was done on top gear/fifth gear with a front wheel drove car and 2 newer tyres and 2 bald tyres, with the bald on the front the car was stable with the bald on the rear the car was off the road at every corner.

keep the good tyres on the rear and when the fronts wear out replace them.

[markmoto]

Doesnt matter if its front or rear you need good grip from both, basicaly it doesnt matter how much tread depth you have until it starts raining, the less tread depth you have the higher the chance of aqua planning because the tyres cant dispurse the water quick enough and the car will have no contact with the road "very dangerous".

There is nothing to be gained from swapping worn tyres from front to back or back to front if they are worn change them! for the pirce of tyres now its not worth it, those four black round rubber things are the only things keeping you on the road. Always amazes me how people treat neglect there tyres dont even check the preasures between services. :smt013

[Viney]

I had to but a couple of tyres for my car a couple of weeks back. Sadly i was low on cash so had cheap branded ones (Firestone) Horrible horrible tyres. I should have borrowed some extra cash for some more Toyo's

As for that statement, its balls.

[jimmy__riddle]

I guess most peoples reaction if the back steps out is straight off the throttle, which is not so good for the FWD cars as you will end up backwards! The average person will probably react better to understeer than oversteer.

But i prefer just to wear all 4 evenly