24 replies to this topic

[croc7]

 

Would there be a problem with switching A008s from left side to right side instead of front to rear when rotating tires?

There's a distinction between "asymmetric" and "directional". If there's asymmetric you can swap them left to right-- it just means they have to be on the rim the correct way round, which they already are. But if they're directional you can't swap them left to right, only front to rear.

 

Google seems to say those are directional, but this is the thing to check.

 

I did check the Yokohama website which says they are symmetrical rather than directional.  Thanks. 

[weef]

There appears to be the misconception that the best tyres should be fitted to the front, this is not really the case.

Without going into to much technical detail simply put with the best tyres fitted to the rear understeer is more likely to occur and is more easily controlled than oversteer.

Unless vehicle manufacturers state otherwise, or the tyres are a different size, fit the best tyres to the rear.

[stuart bowes]

I think the general assumption certainly on my part is, the front wheels do the steering, the power, and something like 60-70% of the braking.   whereas the back wheels are just along for the ride  (on a FWD car)

 

with that in mind I will always put the less worn on the fronts.   clearly the wear should be kept to a minimum and replaced before they are a risk.. but until then, over time the fronts will wear and you can swap them for the less worn ones from the back to gain a bit more time before you need new ones

 

that's nothing to do with handling characteristics, it's just day to day practicality

Edited by stuart bowes, 09 May 2024 - 07:20 PM.

[68+86auto]

How about just having five good tyres and rotating them?

Even if you have to replace one tyre you then still have four matched ones. If you are rotating them and have a good alignment there should be no reason to need to replace two at once. All five can be done at once.

If you can't afford five tyres then you should probably reconsider if you can actually afford to own a car.

Edited by 68+86auto, 10 May 2024 - 02:59 AM.

[stuart bowes]

I don't entirely agree, there are cases like mine recently where it wasn't necessary to replace them all, I got a puncture and actually went a little over the top by replacing both at that end, I could have just replaced the one and been fine for probably another year or 18months before tread was too low

 

this is ref: daily drivers by the way, I'm assuming none of this relates to optimum grip required on a race car (changed every few races or twice a season or whatever)

 

it was more a matter of convenience that if I was going to replace one, and I was already maybe halfway through that pair anyway, might as well just do two

 

it's not a matter of 'being able to afford' or not,  I just don't feel like it's financially sensible (or environmentally friendly!) to replace £5-600 of tyres on a whim..  if you've already rotated them and they're all showing reasonably equal degrees of wear (still within legal limits but getting a bit near the end) then yeah sure do all of them

Edited by stuart bowes, 10 May 2024 - 08:51 AM.

[stuart bowes]

on the subject of front vs rear there's some interesting reading here

 

https://www.oponeo.c...ck-test-results

 

---

 

Results in terms of individual performance:

 

Aquaplaning – BEST TYRES ON THE FRONT AXLE

 

Wet braking with ABS – BEST TYRES ON THE FRONT AXLE 

 

Cornering on a wet surface – BEST TYRES ON THE FRONT AXLE 

 

Wet steering without ESP – BEST TYRES ON THE REAR AXLE 

 

Wet handling with ESP – BEST TYRES ON THE REAR AXLE with large tyre difference / BEST TYRES ON THE FRONT AXLE with small tyre difference

 

Changing lanes on wet roads without ESP – BEST TYRES ON THE REAR AXLE 

 

ABS dry braking – BETTER TYRES ON THE FRONT AXLE  (the differences in the results were not big)

 

-----

 

 

TL:DR - it's a mixed bag of pros and cons and as already stated of course the ideal choice is good tyres on all 4

Edited by stuart bowes, 10 May 2024 - 09:21 AM.

[Bobbins]

I think the general assumption certainly on my part is, the front wheels do the steering, the power, and something like 60-70% of the braking.   whereas the back wheels are just along for the ride  (on a FWD car)

 

with that in mind I will always put the less worn on the fronts.   clearly the wear should be kept to a minimum and replaced before they are a risk.. but until then, over time the fronts will wear and you can swap them for the less worn ones from the back to gain a bit more time before you need new ones

 

that's nothing to do with handling characteristics, it's just day to day practicality

 

If you fit new tyres to the front and have older, usually harder tyres on the rear, you massively increase your prospects of going through a hedge backwards. Many tyre fitters will not fit new tyres to the front axle unless it's an asymmetric setup.

[stuart bowes]

according the the research done in the link above, good front tyres reduce aquaplaning, improve cornering in the wet, improve braking in a straight line .. all of which makes sense really if you consider the physics ..

 

but again it is a mixed bag and the only 'best' option is good tyres on all 4

 

I never let my tyres get out of date or below a minimum tread level, that's just the most basic level of maintenance obviously

Edited by stuart bowes, 10 May 2024 - 10:17 AM.

[68+86auto]

I don't entirely agree, there are cases like mine recently where it wasn't necessary to replace them all, I got a puncture and actually went a little over the top by replacing both at that end, I could have just replaced the one and been fine for probably another year or 18months before tread was too low

this is ref: daily drivers by the way, I'm assuming none of this relates to optimum grip required on a race car (changed every few races or twice a season or whatever)

it was more a matter of convenience that if I was going to replace one, and I was already maybe halfway through that pair anyway, might as well just do two

it's not a matter of 'being able to afford' or not, I just don't feel like it's financially sensible (or environmentally friendly!) to replace £5-600 of tyres on a whim.. if you've already rotated them and they're all showing reasonably equal degrees of wear (still within legal limits but getting a bit near the end) then yeah sure do all of them

Question, what is your spare like?

I can't write for every situation. I just see people replacing tyres as pairs and often the spare isn't even useable. I wouldn't want to waste good tyres either. It also depends who is doing this, it sounds like you are well aware of what you are doing and not leaving dodgy tyres. People often end up having unsafe or mismatched tyres on whichever they consider the least important axle. Whichever axle that is still needs safe tyres.

If one keeps replacing just two tyres then it's just a never ending cycle of not having a good set of tyres.

If one has five tyres of the same age and rotated them then if a puncture happens then that tyre can be replaced and used as the spare. All four tyres are then still the same age. It then becomes rare that one would have to throw out a useable tyre.

Not trying to be grumpy or angry etc. It's just how I end up sounding.

Edited by 68+86auto, 10 May 2024 - 10:26 AM.

[stuart bowes]

that's a fair point actually the spare in that case is actually a space saver, so it isn't part of the normal rotation as such

 

in the past where I have had full sized spares I'd get them replaced at the same time with the same type of tyre and keep them as part of the rotation, as you say