I am buying two new tires (summer tires). Should I put them on the front or on the back of a Nissan Sentra - front wheel drive? My other two tires are not new. My main concern is which setup will prevent hydroplaning the best. I know from winter driving experience, that putting new winter tires on the front and older ones on the back is plain dumb, since the back end of the car tends to fishtail (on front-wheel drive cars).
2006-06-26 07:56:42 · 9 answers · asked by bigbobbadoobob 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sorry everyone, but, WRONG WRONG WRONG.
New tires should always be mounted on the rear (YES! THE BACK) of any vehicle. Here is why:
When a vehicle encounters a loss of traction scenario on the front wheels, traction can easily be established by the average driver by..........................................
slowing down
this is easily recoverable
it is called Understeer
When a vehicle encounters a loss of traction scenario on the rear wheels
, the driver cannot compensate, effectively. This is called Oversteer, or "Fishtailing", and is not easily recoverable by the average driver.
Therefore, the tires with the "best" tread should be mounted on the rear axle, to avoid possible life-threatening vehicle control problems
2006-06-26 19:40:19 · answer #1 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
hydroplaning occurs most notably when you are driving at a high rate of speed and your drive tires start to lose grip and the tires spin regardless of speed...hydroplaning is preventable by not driving that fast...there are no tires that completely prevent hydroplaning, just move the water from the tire quicker than others...i would put them on the front, but again, it does not stop it if you are driving too fast...leave 10 minutes earlier, prevent the accident by not speeding and live...
2006-06-26 08:01:07 · answer #2 · answered by D K 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I would rather loose control of my rear tires then I would my front(steering\power) but new tires is no guarantee of not hydroplaning, it does reduce the chance more than bald tires, but the best thing to do is slow down if the road looks glassy
2006-06-26 08:04:52 · answer #3 · answered by bestwrencher 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The tire companies want to sell a lot of tires. It doesn't bother them if poor people, who can't afford 4 new tires this week, can only drive 40 MPH on the interstate because their bald front tires are hydro-planing. Leaving the balder tires on the front, where they will wear faster, is insane. Big Government + Big Corporations = Insanity & Oppression.
2013-12-14 11:18:20 · answer #4 · answered by Tom M 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Actually putting new ones on the front is not dumb if you cant afford all new ones. 60% of you braking and steering rely on the front tires and it is much better to be able to steer and stop and have to worry about fishtailing than not be able to stop at all.
To reduce hydroplaning you should put narrower tires on the vehicle. Having good tread helps but if the tires are too wide it reduces the contact pressure of the tires and increases lift.
Hope I have been helpful.
2006-06-26 08:05:24 · answer #5 · answered by king_davis13 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
You would be better served to put the two new tires on the front during both summer and winter. They have a deeper tread, so more water can escape. In winter, the rear of the car will fishtail no matter what, since it's front wheel drive. To minimize that you can put weight in the back of the car.
2006-06-26 08:01:07 · answer #6 · answered by Mark 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋
I would put the new tires on the front. Even so if it was a rear wheel drive. The front is first to hit the water. If the front end starts to lift and turn, the back will not affect to get it back into control. New tread on the front makes the most sense.
2006-06-26 08:23:54 · answer #7 · answered by William G 1 · 1⤊ 5⤋
It depends. is your car front wheel drive or rear wheel drive? the only time hydroplaning take place is when you go to fast for the condishions. hydroplaning can happen on eaither front or rear.
2006-06-26 08:04:44 · answer #8 · answered by puggyoldman1962 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
EVERY site BUT this one says back for new ones - including the dealership that just changed my tires after a freeway blowout.
2014-08-26 11:47:19 · answer #9 · answered by itsjustmarie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you want them on the front with both winter and summer. It is your main drive tires. The traction from the new tires in bad weather on the front regaurdless of front or rear wheel drive. You want the first 2 tires to have traction.
2006-06-26 08:02:57 · answer #10 · answered by dutchfam7 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋