i bought a front wheel drive car last year and didn't check the tires when i bought it. Well now that there is snow on the roads i found out it has summer tires on it. Not fun. Can i go buy just 2 all season tires right now and put them in the front, or do i have to buy 4 tires and change them all?????
2007-12-06 06:24:17 · 5 answers · asked by panayoti74 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I would personally get 2 new tires to put on the front. Depending on how much snow you get, you could either get the all season or the winter tires. I go for winter tires in the winter though, because we get a lot of snow. I like the wintermasters the best.
I would also rotate your tires at the same time by putting the ones on the front on the back, and when you take your new tires of come spring time, the ones that were on the back should go to the front.
2007-12-06 06:37:29 · answer #1 · answered by Hazy Daisy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let me guess, you have some (probably import) hot-compact that comes with High-Performance Summer tires from the factory, right?
If you put two all-season tires on the front and leave the no-traction in the winter UHP's on the rear I can absolutley guarantee you will wreck the car. Why? Because while your front tires are biting and you are feeling good about yourself the rear tires will have no traction, float on top of the ice or snow then put you into a sudden snap-spin and perhaps the nearest utility pole or bus. HP and UHP summer tires use rubber compounds that lose their elasticity in cold temps and have no bite in snow or ice.
If you insist on buying only two tires even though you really need four any knowledgable, reputable shop following standard industry guidelines is going to put those two new tires on the rear axle - to prevent the spin I described above. That means you won't be able to leave your driveway for all the wheelspin.
Tires are the #1 piece of safety equipment on the vehicle. Get all 4.
Some helpful links:
http://www.michelinman.com/tire-care/tire-saving-tips/replacement-questions/#install-tires
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=80
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=64
2007-12-06 22:41:44 · answer #2 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy two tires and mount them on the front if it is front wheel drive. The difference in tread pattern on the rear will make braking a little more slower, but just drive carefully.
2007-12-06 14:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The front two will help.
But if you have the funds all four would be safer.
2007-12-06 14:33:20 · answer #4 · answered by Fred F 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
two should do it an long as they are on same axle and same size as other tires.
2007-12-06 14:35:13 · answer #5 · answered by gary o 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋