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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: TeddyKGB on 16 February 2008, 10:50

Title: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: TeddyKGB on 16 February 2008, 10:50
Hey all,

Was thinking of swapping my front and rear wheels as the fronts have significantly less tread than the rears (but still way above legal) just to keep the wear even (then i can justify getting some decent boots when they go) :laugh:

As long as I keep the wheels on the same side of the car I should be fine yes?

But I'v just read over on mini forums that you shouldn't swop wheels on FWD cars as having more tread on the front can be danjerous!? http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-suspension-brakes/140601-switching-front-rear-wheels.html
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: indublin on 16 February 2008, 10:57
Unless you have directional tyres then it won't make any difference which way you swap them!
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: 2007GTI on 16 February 2008, 11:13
I was told never put brand new tyres on the front of a FWD car if you can help it, but that doesn't apply here, so you should be fine.
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: The Wheel Man on 16 February 2008, 11:50
You should always have the best tyres on the driven wheels :wink:
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: jonathonturner on 16 February 2008, 13:23
not true..if you have a high power front wheel drive car, if the car goes into understeer and you have no rear grip, then you could be in the sh!t.

go and buy 2 new tyres when you need em and wear them down as well...the next time they need doing, change all four.

tyres are the only thing that keep you on the road..running them without tread to save money is stupid.

vredestein ulltrac sessanta's...100 quid a corner...best tyre i've ever used...grip is astonishing and traction controls job is near on removed as tyres are like glue.....these tyres really do let you get the power down. :evil:
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: datracer99 on 16 February 2008, 21:26
If you can, rotate your tyres front to rear regularly, so that all 4 need replacing at the same time.
This keeps the original front to rear balance.

But that doesn't always work out.
If you do need to replace only 2 tyres always fit the new ones to the front. On any car,  FWD or RWD,  since most of your braking is done by the front tyres, and you do want to be able to stop in the wet.


Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: 2007GTI on 16 February 2008, 21:54
thats bollox, as it takes at least a few hundred miles for new tyres to bed in and can be dangerous having 2 new tyres on the front.  thats why any good tyre fitting place will put new ones on the rear, and the put the rear worn ones on the front, then swap them back after a few hundred miles once bedded in.
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: Sweeney on 16 February 2008, 22:32
Ive always been under the assumption that understeer is (for want of a better word) safer than oversteer (be it lift off osteer, loss of traction etc), on a fwd car at least.

Michelins take on it: http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: RedRobin on 17 February 2008, 01:05
....There seem to be too many contradictions in this thread!

I always swop in axle pairs ONLY. And I always put the new tyres (more tread) on the front (FWD) for better grip and better braking. About 80% of braking is on the front and that's why I fitted AP Racing big brakes to the front only (on AP's Senior Engineer's advice).

Am I wrong?
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: Gene Hunt. on 17 February 2008, 11:35
thats bollox, as it takes at least a few hundred miles for new tyres to bed in and can be dangerous having 2 new tyres on the front.  thats why any good tyre fitting place will put new ones on the rear, and the put the rear worn ones on the front, then swap them back after a few hundred miles once bedded in.
..........this is what i always do.
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: 2007GTI on 17 February 2008, 12:04
wheres TT when you need him!?
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: RedRobin on 17 February 2008, 12:33
thats bollox, as it takes at least a few hundred miles for new tyres to bed in and can be dangerous having 2 new tyres on the front.  thats why any good tyre fitting place will put new ones on the rear, and the put the rear worn ones on the front, then swap them back after a few hundred miles once bedded in.
..........this is what i always do.

....Surely it's simply a matter of driving more carefully for the first couple of hundred miles - Not difficult! :cool:
Title: Re: Swapping front and rear wheels
Post by: Cass on 17 February 2008, 19:54
Some guidance from Michelin here:

http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/auto/auto_cons_bib_pqr_neuf.jsp

Other sites have the same recommendations.

Old school view was always to put the new tyres on the driven wheels however this is not the modern doctrine.

4WD cars (R32) should have their tyres rotated so they wear at the same rate and can be replaced as a complete set of 4, so that the rolling circumference of the tyres are all the same.

Cass