Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:26:59 +0000 From: "Charles C." <c.k.christacopoulos.removeme.nospamee.ac.uk> Subject: Re: New tyres fitted to rear?
Fred W wrote: > 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... > Hi, For information and not wishing to prolong the debate I used to fit new tyres to the front until I read a sensible explanation a while ago in this group. The explanation went along the lines of ... if there was snow (and in the UK and Europe to a lesser extent winter tyres are unknown) and if the camber of the road takes the rear of the car into a ditch because the tyres were not good enough little you can do. If however the front tyres are more worn than the rear, and there is no traction you won't be moving at all but you will not be in a ditch. The idea being that we have control of the front wheels of the car but not of the rear. If the front are not good enough to give confidence then they need replacing or adjust the driving style to their condition. I've only had one espresso so far, so I am not sure if it makes any sense. Regards Charles -- Please remove _removeme_ to reply.
