The tyre question?

[2007GTI]

So my 56 plate GTI passed its first MOT and only thing is that came up is the front tyres are down to 3mm.

My question is:

1 - Should I just put 2 new Conti's on the front, as per whats there already?

2 - The backs have 6mm tread left, so I could swap the fronts and backs round, then change them all sometime in the future?

Your thoughts?

[Gene Hunt.]

Put the  rear tyres on to the front & the new rubber on to the rear.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Put the  rear tyres on to the front & the new rubber on to the rear.

Yes, but only AFTER the new ones have been on the front for 250-500 miles - just to 'run in' the tyres.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

So my 56 plate GTI passed its first MOT and only thing is that came up is the front tyres are down to 3mm.

My question is:

1 - Should I just put 2 new Conti's on the front, as per whats there already?

Nearly - get 2 new Michelin PS2s - much better tyre than the Contis - slightly more comfortable, much quieter, and considerably better in the wet.

2 - The backs have 6mm tread left, so I could swap the fronts and backs round, then change them all sometime in the future?

Your thoughts?

After a month of the new tyres being on the front (to run em in, and to check they have been correctly balanced), just swap the fronts with the rears (but don't change the direction of rotation).  It is really important to have the 'freshest' newest rubber on the rear axle on a front wheel drive car.

HTH

[RedRobin]

Put the  rear tyres on to the front & the new rubber on to the rear.

Yes, but only AFTER the new ones have been on the front for 250-500 miles - just to 'run in' the tyres.

....That's a good point! And one I've never realised until now.

Trouble is that this time I've now done well over 1,000 miles with the new rubber (F1 Assyms) on the rear axle.

Cheers!

[2007GTI]

Thanks to all for replies, I was told I while back the opposite, put new rubber on back to bed in and then put on front!
I'll go with TTs advice :-)

[RedRobin]

Thanks to all for replies, I was told I while back the opposite, put new rubber on back to bed in and then put on front!

....Subsequent to T_T's advice of starting off for only the first few hundred miles with new rubber on front (to bed it in) and then transferring that new rubber to the rear axle, I don't move it back to the front axle until the front axle tyres need replacing.

[2007GTI]

So my 56 plate GTI passed its first MOT and only thing is that came up is the front tyres are down to 3mm.

My question is:

1 - Should I just put 2 new Conti's on the front, as per whats there already?

Nearly - get 2 new Michelin PS2s - much better tyre than the Contis - slightly more comfortable, much quieter, and considerably better in the wet.

2 - The backs have 6mm tread left, so I could swap the fronts and backs round, then change them all sometime in the future?

Your thoughts?

After a month of the new tyres being on the front (to run em in, and to check they have been correctly balanced), just swap the fronts with the rears (but don't change the direction of rotation).  It is really important to have the 'freshest' newest rubber on the rear axle on a front wheel drive car.

HTH

TT, I know I'm going to be asked this by various parties, but is the reason for putting new rubber on the rear so if you get into a skid, the newer rubber will hold the car better and theres less chance of it spinning/slideing?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Thanks to all for replies, I was told I while back the opposite, put new rubber on back to bed in and then put on front!

....Subsequent to T_T's advice of starting off for only the first few hundred miles with new rubber on front (to bed it in) and then transferring that new rubber to the rear axle, I don't move it back to the front axle until the front axle tyres need replacing.

Yup, that is also spot on.  But then, technically, by the time you move the rears back to the fronts, they will have become the 'old' set, 'cause you will have just bought another fresh pair! 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

So my 56 plate GTI passed its first MOT and only thing is that came up is the front tyres are down to 3mm.

My question is:

1 - Should I just put 2 new Conti's on the front, as per whats there already?

Nearly - get 2 new Michelin PS2s - much better tyre than the Contis - slightly more comfortable, much quieter, and considerably better in the wet.

2 - The backs have 6mm tread left, so I could swap the fronts and backs round, then change them all sometime in the future?

Your thoughts?

After a month of the new tyres being on the front (to run em in, and to check they have been correctly balanced), just swap the fronts with the rears (but don't change the direction of rotation).  It is really important to have the 'freshest' newest rubber on the rear axle on a front wheel drive car.

HTH

TT, I know I'm going to be asked this by various parties, but is the reason for putting new rubber on the rear so if you get into a skid, the newer rubber will hold the car better and theres less chance of it spinning/slideing?

There are two very specific reasons why you always put the 'newest' rubber on the rear:

Firstly, tread depth: if you have more tread depth on the rear compared to the front, then in slippery conditions, particularly caused by water, the rears will hold their grip much longer than the fronts - so the fronts will just gently understeer, rather than any rear braking away into oversteer.

Secondly, rubber age:  It is well-known that rubber goes 'off' in the atmosphere, and all rubber components (mainly tyres, but also cambelts) should be changed when they are 6 years old.  With that 6year age limit understood, you need to consider how a front wheel drive car wears its tyres.  You may be able to wear out a pair on the front in say 10k miles, but those on the back axle, if not rotated, could last 60-80k miles, or even longer if you drive like Miss Daisy - so that would take them well past their 6 year lifespan.  But by moving the aging rears to the fronts (and therefore brand new to the rears), the ageing but part worn 'rears' will get a fighting chance of being fully worn down on the front - so you don't end up having to skip tyres with would have otherwise have good tread depth on them.

HTH, now past my kip time.  Nighty nite!