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Old 07 Oct 2008, 07:48 am
Siskuwihane
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Default Re: Two new tires, front or back?

On Oct 6, 10:39*pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Siskuwihane wrote:
> > On Oct 6, 3:20 pm, dgk <d...@somewhere.com> wrote:
> >> I was going to get two new tires for my 91 Accord at Costco. They will
> >> only mount new tires on the rear if you only get two. Apparently a
> >> study tells them that the better tires should be on the rear to
> >> prevent fishtailing. Odd, I would think that the front would be
> >> better, having the steering, power, and brakes. So which is better?

>
> > New on the rear and here's why...

>
> > From Tire Rack:

>
> >http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=52

>
> > Intuition suggests that since the front tires wore out first and
> > because there is still about half of the tread remaining on the rear
> > tires, the new tires should be installed on the front axle. This will
> > provide more wet and wintry traction; and by the time the front tires
> > have worn out for the second time, the rear tires will be worn out,
> > too. However in this case, intuition isn't right...and following it
> > can be downright dangerous.

>
> > When tires are replaced in pairs in situations like these, the new
> > tires should always be installed on the rear axle and the partially
> > worn tires moved to the front. The reason is because new tires on the
> > rear axle help the driver more easily maintain control on wet roads
> > since deeper treaded tires are better at resisting hydroplaning.

>
> > Members of Tire Rack team had the chance to experience this phenomenon
> > at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds. Participants were allowed to
> > drive around a large radius, wet curve in vehicles fitted with tires
> > of different tread depths -- one vehicle with new tires on the rear
> > and half-worn tires on the front and the other with the new tires in
> > the front and half-worn tires on the rear.

>
> > It didn't take long for this hands-on experience to confirm that the
> > "proving grounds" name for the facility was correct. The ability to
> > sense and control predictable understeer with the new tires on the
> > rear and the helplessness in trying to control the surprising
> > oversteer

>
> oversteer on a honda???? *obviously they're not talking about fwd vehicles.


Obviously they are talking about old tire position and wet conditons
causing the oversteer (which is fully explained in the link that was
provided). Michelin tests were done using FWD vehicles and are
available on their website videos.

http://www.michelinman.ca/care/buy_how.html#a3

Contact them if you want to argue the results.



> > with the new tires on the front was emphatically proven.

>
> > And even though our drivers had the advantage of knowing we were going
> > to be challenged to maintain car control, spinouts became common
> > during our laps in the car with the new tires on the front and the
> > worn tires on the rear. Michelin advises us that almost every driver
> > spins out at least once when participating in this demonstration!

>
> > Experiencing this phenomenon in the safe, controlled conditions of
> > Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds rather than in traffic on an
> > Interstate ramp in a rainstorm is definitely preferred!- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


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