Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 09:03:15 -0500 From: Fred W <Malt_Houndnospamm-me-not*yahoo.com> Subject: Re: New tyres fitted to rear?
Johannes H Andersen wrote: > > Al wrote: > >>Just had two new tyres fitted to my 1987 900 Aero. >> >>Costco insisted that the new tyres were fitted to the rear not the front, >>apparently they have been told by Michelin not to carry out customers wishes >>and fit newer tyres to the front. They were playing a "police" video which >>demonstrated the "problem" i.e. more grip on the new front tyres leads to >>the car oversteer and skidding/spinning. > > > I have heard this explanation, but it is also a bit of a mystery to me. > If braking in the wet depends on thread depth, then you get the shortest > braking distance when the new tyres are fitted at the front. The instability > problem must be an extreme case with worn out rear tyres and a very front > heavy car. > > In practical terms, new tyres are always better than old tyres; they degrade > in a linear fashion from 8mm and down to 1.6mm or whatever. Since we can't > afford to change tyres as often as a F1 racing team, we must adjust our > driving to the current state the tyres. As an aside, and in support of your position, I have never, ever heard of a FWD car that exhibited oversteer. I do not think it is even possible... -- -Fred W
