Always mount your best tires on the rear!

Tires

Tires have been a big focus of late: I’ve replaced all four and followed that up by clipping a curb and needing to replace a tire within just a few weeks.

Now, Consumer Reports offers up a good guide on tire replacement, with a discussion of whether to replace just two or all four. They got it right, I’ll simply recommend reading it here.

Tire wear is the main focus of the article, and for the record, my need for a single tire after only a few weeks did not trigger any issue with wear.

Within it however, is that if only two tires are purchased, they should be mounted on the rear. This is an only bug in my craw that I need to expand on.

I worked for a tire store for a short time many years ago, and I never forgotten an incident with a tire salesman who was selling two tires to a customer with a front wheel drive vehicle and he was having them mounted on the front.

I knew they belonged on the rear and knew why — and he should have — but while I tried to convince him they belonged on the rear, I did not have the power to insist.

“They go on the front. Everyone knows that.” He sneered that statement, and he was putting his customers at risk of a spin out or worse. Its simply not safe.

Below I have embedded a 15-year old video from Michelin which points the problem out better than anyone could ever explain it.

I hadn’t watched it in a while, but did again, and it begins by saying that as a customer, they should insist that the new tires be mounted on the rear!!

In other words, even Michelin knew that too many people would think that new tread belongs on the drive wheels. This is simply not the case with front wheel. Or even all wheel drive vehicles.

Of course, this only applies if only two tires are being replaced. Replacing all four may cost more, but they are the only thing between you and the pavement…

——————————————————————-

The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business, nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Remember — only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Privacy Policy