New Tires on Front or back?

[coopns]

2 new tires on Camry today. They recommended back, but I though Front Wheel Drive, put them on the front.

Town Fair were good to match price with tiretrack on a new Hankook tire but got me on balancing/stem which I think are typically free if bought there.

 

[aznboi24]

New tires (or tires with more tread) are always recommended to be put on the back regardless of FWD or RWD.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: aznboi24
New tires (or tires with more tread) are always recommended to be put on the back regardless of FWD or RWD.

Yup.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

 

[rjacket]

I understand the dilema because the front wears out faster.

If the existing pair that you are keeping have most of their tread left, then I think you are ok putting the new ones on the front.

But if they are low - the video demos the used tires having half tread, then put the new ones on the back and replace the front ones when their time comes. Over the life of the vehicle it all evens up.

 

[bdcardinal]

New tires in the back always. Heard this from almost every tire manufacturer rep, brochure and video.

 

[coopns]

Good to know, someday I could swap them out myself.

Whoops.

 

[JHZR2]

I prefer 4 new tires for safety.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: coopns
Good to know, someday I could swap them out myself.

Whoops.


You shouldn't swap them in future because the front will always wear out faster than the rear so swapping them later will make your grip differential worse.

 

[tommygunn]

Sorry but I want the new ones up front! New ones less likely to blow out and if it does blow out, you can't steer a car with the back wheels only forklifts.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Sorry but I want the new ones up front! New ones less likely to blow out and if it does blow out, you can't steer a car with the back wheels only forklifts.

If the tires are that worn or even questionable, 4 new tires should be installed. As shown in the video that Pete posted, new tires on the front did not help with the spin out caused by the worn tires in the back.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I prefer 4 new tires for safety.


That is ideal. Although on my Volvo I have no option but to do 4 at a time.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Sorry but I want the new ones up front! New ones less likely to blow out and if it does blow out, you can't steer a car with the back wheels only forklifts.

If the tires are that worn or even questionable, 4 new tires should be installed. As shown in the video that Pete posted, new tires on the front did not help with the spin out caused by the worn tires in the back.


Exactly. If the tires you're keeping are old enough that you worry they'll blow out, then replace all four. Otherwise. The tires with the most grip always go in the rear. It's better to have a car prone to understeer than oversteer, which having more grip in the rear induces.

This is safer in all low-traction conditions. Why? Because it's better to not be able to move than to spin out of control with a car prone to unpredictable oversteer.

If the old tires aren't that bad (>6/32), then it might be a moot point - do whatever you want. If they're 32, I'd definitely want them in the front or replaced.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Sorry but I want the new ones up front! New ones less likely to blow out and if it does blow out, you can't steer a car with the back wheels only forklifts.

Now ask yourself this: What is a typical driver more likely to experience while driving: a tire blow out or spin out due to loss of traction?

A tire blow out is typically a result of neglect that can be easily avoided: check your tire pressure regularly and don't drive on 20-year-old rotten rubber.

In my 20 years of driving, I've spun out on a number of occasions. I have never experienced a blow out. Other drivers' experience may have been different. But at the end of the day, you should ensure that you have a tire in good condition on every corner, and one in the trunk as well.

 

[bepperb]

Every time you rotate tires on a front wheel drive car you are doing the exact opposite... you are putting the better tires (with less wear) on the front.


So I guess the question is what is the condition of the two not-new tires. If they are really worn I would agree and put them up front as to keep the dynamics safe. If they are relatively new and would have comparable traction I would put them in back so that over the next 10,000 miles all tires would become even and you could use a normal rotation pattern.

 

[zorobabel]

Considering you have a Camry (a boat with fierce nose dive), I'd put the grippier tires on the back for summer/dry conditions and on the front in winter/wet conditions. On FWD cars with decent suspension I'd put the grippier tires on the front.
I say grippier because your old tires might have more grip than the new ones.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: zorobabel
Considering you have a Camry (a boat with fierce nose dive), I'd put the grippier tires on the back for summer/dry conditions and on the front in winter/wet conditions. On FWD cars with decent suspension I'd put the grippier tires on the front.
I say grippier because your old tires might have more grip than the new ones.


And ignore what every tire manufacturer says? Better tires on the front leads to loss of control due to oversteer...not fun oversteer like a RWD car when you're drifting...the kind of oversteer that puts you in the ditch, like lifting off the gas in a old Porsche....

Stick with the other recommendations above and consider handling, not just traction for stop/go. Put them on the rear.

 

[scurvy]

Anyone putting two new tires on the front has a terrible grasp of physics. The manufacturers don't blindly recommend putting two news on the rear only - it just makes good scientific sense.

 

[Donald]

Walmart will only install them (two new tires) in the rear. If you come back in 6000 miles they will probably rotate them to the front for free.

Sams Club checks for how much tread is left for 4WD or AWD. I think if there is not a lot left, they force 4 tires.

 

[dblshock]

what about braking dynamics?

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: dblshock
what about braking dynamics?


Precisely the same issue - stability.

Though, with ABS, it doesn't matter like it used to...

Did you watch the Tire Rack Videos? They're pretty convincing: professional driver, on a closed course, who knows the oversteer is coming and can't control it (like an old 911...). so, what makes folks think they can handle it on the street?

Put 'em on the rear...