Where do you fit new tyres???

[ub7rm]

^^^Thats not actually true.


If you have to slam on for whatever reason would you want your back end loosing grip or the front?? Likewise for any other situation where you have to swerve to avoid something, hit a pot hole or and other obstruction.

The front of the car car be steered where as once the rear has gone it has gone. Your also forgetting about the balance of the car under breaking.

I do see the theory, and its a valid one certainly.  But my tyres are never 'that' close to the limit, ESP will (hopefully) save me, and I've never found myself in the situation where I'd be pushing it THAT hard.

[R32UK]

^^^Thats not actually true.


If you have to slam on for whatever reason would you want your back end loosing grip or the front?? Likewise for any other situation where you have to swerve to avoid something, hit a pot hole or and other obstruction.

The front of the car car be steered where as once the rear has gone it has gone. Your also forgetting about the balance of the car under breaking.

I do see the theory, and its a valid one certainly.  But my tyres are never 'that' close to the limit, ESP will (hopefully) save me, and I've never found myself in the situation where I'd be pushing it THAT hard.

Im quite sure T_T posted quite alot on this subject a while back cant quite remember which thread though... might be worth a search.


p.s. You need to drve a little harder

[smartypants]

Having had a rear wheel drive car for a long time, I was certainly not fussed about wearing down the rears - give me oversteer any day over uncontrollable understeer - as long as the fronts had grip you could aim the car where you wanted.

I can't think the same would change in a front wheel drive car, and to be honest if you are driving within the limits of the road conditions, your ability, the handling of the car and the remaining rubber on your tyres, you won't run into these problems. If not, no amount of rubber is going to save you when you get it all wrong - front or rear.

Personally I would change tyres purely on a financial basis - fronts wear quicker, so put the new boots on the front lengthening the time you need to visit the garage again.

[ub7rm]

The other way to look at it is that 99.9% of the time you want the most grip at the front (for us FWD boys anyway).  This is where you need it in everyday driving.  In very limited circumstances you need it at the back, in some sort of emergency situation.  Is it worth making your driving experience a little bit more dangerous 99.9% of the time for a little bit of an advantage 0.1% of the time?  I would also argue that with care most emergency situations can be mitigated against.  OK its hard to predict a child running out between parked cars but this is where your ESP comes in.

I do, hard AND (touch wood) safe  

And just cos T_T says it doesn't make it so  

[smartypants]

The other way to look at it is that 99.9% of the time you want the most grip at the front (for us FWD boys anyway).  This is where you need it in everyday driving.  In very limited circumstances you need it at the back, in some sort of emergency situation.  Is it worth making your driving experience a little bit more dangerous 99.9% of the time for a little bit of an advantage 0.1% of the time?  I would also argue that with care most emergency situations can be mitigated against.  OK its hard to predict a child running out between parked cars but this is where your ESP comes in.

I do, hard AND (touch wood) safe  

And just cos T_T says it doesn't make it so  

/runs for cover

[R32UK]

The difference with RWD cars is that you can always counter the back breaking loose with more/less power. Not the case with FWD cars.

Think of it this way.. your driving along in the rain and you have to break heavily whilst avoiding an object. The front will grip alot better due the huge amounts of force being put on the front wheels (ESP etc stopping any kind of skid) . The back however becomes lighter and weight on the rears is reduced considerably, its at that point that you DO NOT want them to loose grip/let go.

[smartypants]

I agree with the first point, but under heavy breaking, even a RWD car will do that - and no amount of rubber on the rear will stop it if you get the car that unstable.

IMO of course - I haven't taken a car to such limits on a public highway to experience it

[R32UK]

I agree with the first point, but under heavy breaking, even a RWD car will do that - and no amount of rubber on the rear will stop it if you get the car that unstable.

IMO of course - I haven't taken a car to such limits on a public highway to experience it

See the point wasnt made in reference to a RWD or FWD car is any car... you want the tyres with more grip on the rear. Its common knowledge as far as I know. Maybe a call to a local tyre fitter is in order??? anyone??

[smartypants]

The point I was trying to make is that in everyday driving the difference in rubber between the front and the rear will make very little difference (within reason of course, inside legal limits), I would always go for the longevity and financial option, and get the fronts replaced.

There are lot more factors involed in front and rear grip than just the depth of the tyres.

[Gene Hunt.]

Option 1.As recomended by my garage.