Swapping front and rear wheels

[TeddyKGB]

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)

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

[indublin]

Unless you have directional tyres then it won't make any difference which way you swap them!

[2007GTI]

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.

[The Wheel Man]

You should always have the best tyres on the driven wheels

[jonathonturner]

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.

[datracer99]

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.

[2007GTI]

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.

[Sweeney]

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

[RedRobin]

....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?

[Gene Hunt.]

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.