Should you fit the new, best tires in the front or the rear?
Is the time for new car tires? Then you can of course choose to buy a set of four new tires right away. In that case, it doesn't matter on which axle (front or rear) you mount each tire. But what if you only have to replace two tires because they are worn? Do you have to automatically place the new tires in place of the worn tires, or is it smarter to swap the front and rear tires? In this blog we give you advice on whether it is best to mount the tires on the front or the rear.
Should you install new tires with the best tread at the front or rear?
You can better place the tires with the best profile on the rear axle, to answer the question: where should the new tires be mounted? Front or rear both have their advantages, but what ons In terms of rear, the preference is definitely there.
Why is it best to place the tires at the rear?
Rear tires are more sensitive to loss of grip. It is much more difficult to correct a rear wheel slip (oversteer) than a front wheel slip (understeer). For this reason, it is better to mount the best tires on the rear axle. This creates more stability and safety.
Imagine you are in an emergency situation: you are driving quite fast on the highway and suddenly you see an obstacle on the road that you have to avoid. When you give your steering wheel a jerk, the rear axle is 'loaded' the most. The rear tires are the most sensitive to loss of grip. Loss of grip on the rear tires is almost impossible to correct or control. If the front tires show a loss of grip, you as a driver can still control this reasonably well by steering.
An additional reason not to place the new tires on the front axle
If you were to put the best tires on the front axle, the steering wheel and pedals could feel so safe and stable that you would be inclined to drive too fast. Faster than the rear tires can actually handle. Because once you drive too fast and the rear wheels start to slip in a bend, it is often no longer possible to save the situation and stabilize the vehicle.
Why some prefer to place the tires in front
Opinions on whether it is better to put the best tyres on the front or the rear are sometimes divided. Why is that? If you have the new, best tyres fitted to the rear axle, it can make some things a bit more difficult. Examples include braking and steering on a wet road surface in cars without ESP or resisting aquaplaning. However, if you encounter one of these problems, it is much easier to stabilise your car than if you are faced with a loss of grip on the rear tyres. This is much more unexpected, dangerous and difficult to control. That is why our answer to the question of whether it is better to put tyres on the front or the rear is a resounding “behind”.
Other tips when fitting new tires (front or rear)
Now that you know why it is smart to fit the best tires in the front or the back, we would like to give you a few more tips about fitting. The most important thing is that you replace your tires in time when a large difference in tread depth becomes noticeable between the tires. As soon as you are going to replace two of the four tires, they must be replaced with two of the same or comparable car tires. It is not necessarily important that the brand is identical, but the characteristics of the tire must be the same.
Should you mount your tires yourself or have them mounted?
If you or someone in your area knows a little about cars, you can of course choose to mount the car tires on the car yourself. However, it is advisable to outsource this work to a professional. You will spend about 10 to 25 euros per tire, but you will know that the tires are mounted properly and safely. The amount of the rate depends on the tire inch size. The larger the tire, the more difficult it is and the longer it takes to mount the tires. However, mounting tires does not take that long. Usually a tire is mounted within 10 to 15 minutes.
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