do I need better tire tread on the front or the back wheels?

Question

I bought two tires for my car last winter and had them put on the back wheels. I just recently bought two more new tires (same kind) and they were put on the front wheels. My car is a mustang which is rear wheel drive. The new tires have slightly more tread than the older ones (of course). Should I put the new treads on the back for better traction or leave them on the front for more steering control?

Answer 1

Every tire manufacturer, most reputable installers AND the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) advocate that when replacing only 2 tires the new tires ALWAYS be placed on the rear axle.

On the Michelin Tire Co. web site you can even find a nice little video explaining why this is so. Loss of traction at the front will cause an understeering condition ("push" to you NASCAR fans) - a condition which is easily controlled by the average driver and typically gives some warning before it gets really bad. A loss of traction at the rear of the car (oversteer) is usually sudden and VERY DIFFICULT for even an experienced race car driver to control, let alone your average soccer-mom or Joe-sixpack. Basically the car can fishtail with little or no warning and can spin very rapidly, causing a serious accident.

In the aforementioned Michelin safety video it shows 2 identical cars driving together on wet pavement at 45mph (hardly excessive speed for most driving conditions). One car has new tires on the front axle, half-worn (ie: still "good") tires on the rear axle. The other has the new tires on the back axle. At 45 mph the car with new tires on the front suddenly snap oversteers and fishtails while the car with the new tires on the back is motoring along in complete control.

Nuff said.

Answer 2

Need as much traction as you can get on the rear end of a mustang not to mention i the others have been on for a year they probably need to be rotated anyway so they done wear out on the back. If the ones on the back right now only have a little less tread they should make great steer tires. Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

On rear wheel drive cars I would put the new tires on the rear, but all tires should be rotated at 5000 miles to get the most out of the tires anyway.

Answer 4

the best tread should be on the drive wheels for best traction especially for snow but you dont want the front tires to get to bad aether for stearing resons and the front brakes do the most stoping

Answer 5

Contrary to popular belief (and, some would say, common sense), the new tires should always go on the back for safety reasons. Believe it or not this is true even on front wheel drive cars. The reason has to do with hydroplaning. If the front tires hydroplane first, you're out of control right away; if the rears hydroplane first, you have a chance of steering out of the situation. Therefore, you always want the best tires on the rear.

Answer 6

I'll say the front, & only because I've had the experience of lots of brothers & taking care of myself my whole life....

not a brain surgeon ?,

Answer 7

leave on front for better steering control. that the new law according to NHTSA and Highway Patrol and in my opinion is the better way to go

Answer 8

you want the best tires on your drive wheels so with your car yes you want them on the back

Answer 9

i'd say replace all of them

good grip on all the wheels

front tires to steer

rear tires to transmit power from your engine to the floor

unless you want to get old tires or toyo's and drift in the winter:)
roooom.

Answer 10

6 for 1 half dozen the other more of a individual preference