THSCC Forums

So a recent experience with having the tires rotated on the p.o.s. PT Cruiser has left me wondering. For a FWD vehicle, tire rotation wisdom holds that if you have two tires with more wear, then those go on the front, and the newer tires to the rear. Tire Rack offers a good explanation why here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52.

I get that; makes good sense. The thing is, though, I reeeaally want the newer tires on the front. These kinds of automotive guidelines are made for Joe Schmo who doesn't know how the hell to react when the back end starts to slide out from him. So I'm left to wonder if the rules should be different for more learned drivers? (And, as an aside, what about for racing? Let's say you've already chewed up a bunch of tires and have only two new ones left for your FWD racer; where would you want the worn versus new tires?)

What say ye?

Yeah, I've recently heard of this and I think this is to keep the car in understeer mode from a legal perspective for tire sellers. Personally, I'd want the better tread up front, especially on FWD car, that's where all the action takes place in regard to turning and pulling the car.

I vote better tread/traction up front, but I'll let the FWD experts chime in here....

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

I've always rotated the better tires to the front of the car. I agree with Rodney, this is a legally motivated suggestion. Oversteer is "dangerous".

The only exception, if I had a set of tires with NO tread and a set of tires with marginal tread on them, I would put the ones with no tread on the front so that I can feel when they are hydroplanning, but if your tires aren't on the wear bars, keep the better set of tires on the front. If they ARE on the wear bars, replace them, don't fret over where the bald tires should go.

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2012 MX-5 Sport SUV

If your driving pleasure is to cruise around town with your DD then tire rack is 100% spot on. If you're driving in competition then you have to decide whether its better to understeer or oversteer, simple as that!!! Most autocrossers are looking for rotation so the rear is where the old tires go.

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

I've always rotated the tires on the Volvo every 3k miles or so as it eats the front tires alive compared to the rears. I bet this thing would go through three sets of fronts compared to the rears if I didn't rotate at all (well, at least the way my wife and I drive it that is). This winter we will have had this thing for 16 years, and I still hate FWD.

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2