Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Halmerend
I’m replacing two tyres next week, one on the front, one on the back. The other two tyres have about 4.5 mm left. All in readiness for it’s mot. Would you:-

1. Just replace the tyres as they are or
2. Put the two new ones on the front or
3. Put the two new ones on the rear?

Obviously a front wheel drive car.

Thanks, H.
Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - elekie&a/c doctor
My preference would be 2 new on the front . No doubt others will have a different opinion.
Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - daveyjp

What does the manual say? When I had Audis it stated newest tyres on the front.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Halmerend
Thanks, I’ll take a peep tomorrow.
Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - RT
My preference would be 2 new on the front . No doubt others will have a different opinion.

Most advice is that the best tyres should be on the rear, regardless of the axle(s) driven - if you exceed the grip limit, it's better/safer to understeer than oversteer.

For me, regular rotation alternating front-back with diagonal is best - it does mean replacing all 4 tyres at once but no different in overall cost.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - bathtub tom

Most advice is that the best tyres should be on the rear, regardless of the axle(s) driven - if you exceed the grip limit, it's better/safer to understeer than oversteer.

It all depends on if you prefer to go through the hedge forwards or backwards!

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - John F

Most advice is that the best tyres should be on the rear, regardless of the axle(s) driven - if you exceed the grip limit, it's better/safer to understeer than oversteer.

It all depends on if you prefer to go through the hedge forwards or backwards!

Best post so far! Although aware of this 'expert' safety advice, I too would put them on the front so that eventually the tread depth on all four will probably be much the same when it's time to replace them.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Andrew-T

<< ... regular rotation alternating front-back with diagonal is best ... >>

Diagonal is wrong if the tyres are rotationally directional !

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - RT

<< ... regular rotation alternating front-back with diagonal is best ... >>

Diagonal is wrong if the tyres are rotationally directional !

That's why I never buy directional tyres!

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - gordonbennet

<< ... regular rotation alternating front-back with diagonal is best ... >>

Diagonal is wrong if the tyres are rotationally directional !

That's why I never buy directional tyres!

Nor i if i can help it.

Had the Landcruiser wheels refurbed by my handy little bodyshop during the summer, 20 year old diamond cut/laquered finish was looking decidedly scabby, got them to refit the tyres the other way round on the wheels, they're not directional but inevitably when on the front the outside edges see a bit more wear due to cornering, so took the opportunity to even things out, tyres should see a comfortable 10 years.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Andrew-T

Wherever you put them, I think they should be on the same 'axle'. As I have always driven FWD cars, I would put them on the front, where they wear 2-3 times as fast as on the rear. Each to his own.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Halmerend

The only reference in the manual refers to the same grade of tyres all round and rotation so that all four are replaced at the same time. Also says replace at least in pairs front or rear, never individually. I might put them on the rear so that the older two tyres get worn quicker if that makes sense.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Orb>>.

When I fitted 2 new tyres last summer the fitter refused outright to put them on the back.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - gordonbennet

When I fitted 2 new tyres last summer the fitter refused outright to put them on the back.

Most unusual Orb, presumably he wanted to fit them on the driven axle? i have no gripe with his thinking.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Falkirk Bairn

The last FWD car I owned was bought brand new.

Fronts lasted around 20K, recommendation at that time was to put them on the back.

Again the original rear tyres lasted around 18K - they were hardly worn at all on the back.

As I was doing around 20 to 25K per year the tyres were always under 2 years old.

The last 3 cars have been on demand 4WD. Rotated tyres around 10-12K. Then bought 4 new tyres.

Current annual mileage is extremely low (around 6K) as walking for both of us is getting more difficult, we go out less / drive shorter distances, so tyres could last longer than us!

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - gordonbennet

Fitting new tyres to the rear is the answer given by most tyre makers, and seems to have been adopted by many fitting shops which is understandable these days when certain types want someone other than their own competence held responsible for their failings, how they get around this with staggered sizes isn't mentioned.

We're not all one size drivers or cars however and those who take a bit of interest in their driving and their cars might think differently from long won experience, ie i don't want a car that ploughs straight on and would rather have an oversteer which is reasonably quickly corrected...that being said we are talking equivalent tyres all round not a pair really good ones on one axle and hopeless already half worn ditchfinders on the other.

Personally i rotate wheels and always replace 4 at a time, if forced to choose where to fit a single pair they would go on the driven axle, but fully understand the OPs wish to get some wear out of the older pair which will obviously wear faster on the front of the car in question.

Edited by gordonbennet on 30/01/2025 at 09:54

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - galileo

Like many older drivers I had rear wheel drive cars for many years. In the days when there was substantial snowfall every winter, I had a Ford Zephyr 6 for which a couple of bags of sand or cement in the boot and Town and Country tyres were often the only way to make progress on snowy roads.

I did have a few sessions on a skidpan, which were valuable in learning how to correct oversteer and on FWD cars I always put new tyres on the front: they provide 60/70 % of the braking effect and 100% of the traction and change tyres when down to 3 mm tread.

All - season tyres have been my choice for the last few years, I find them well worth the cost,

.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - gordonbennet

Far too much common sense there Galileo, as the enemy officer famously told Pike in that wonderful Dads Army film , you vill also go ze list :-)

I too have now standardised on all seasons, my last full winter set finally retired having served many winters on both Subarus.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - FoxyJukebox
I’d replace all four tyres, then you’ll know you’re nicely shod for at least three years.These days, tyres suffer all sorts of challenges with potholes and road debris, so it’s not just the tread that should be a deciding factor.
BTW-keep one of the the best of the old tyres for the spare.
Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - bathtub tom
BTW-keep one of the the best of the old tyres for the spare.

What chance the car's got a spare?

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - gordonbennet
BTW-keep one of the the best of the old tyres for the spare.

What chance the car's got a spare?

I think he meant to keep the best one of the old tyres in the garage, just in case, as sods law dictates, one of the new set gains an unrepairable puncture in short order.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Andrew-T
BTW-keep one of the the best of the old tyres for the spare.

What chance the car's got a spare?

I think he meant to keep the best one of the old tyres in the garage, just in case, as sods law dictates, one of the new set gains an unrepairable puncture in short order.

And Sod's law dictated exactly that for us a month or two ago ... :-( Sadly I hadn't kept an old tyre, but they all needed renewing, so it wouldn't really have helped.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Halmerend
I’d love to replace all four but with over 4ml on remaining two can’t really justify it. I usually change them once they get below 3ml. Someone once said to me that at any one time you’ve got the equivalent of four hands on the road which is pretty sobering.
Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Engineer Andy
I’m replacing two tyres next week, one on the front, one on the back. The other two tyres have about 4.5 mm left. All in readiness for it’s mot. Would you:- 1. Just replace the tyres as they are or 2. Put the two new ones on the front or 3. Put the two new ones on the rear? Obviously a front wheel drive car. Thanks, H.

It could also depend upon what type of tyres they are as much as the advice others have already said about FWD cars and safety in which axle to fit new tyres.

1. If the existing tyres (assuming they are all matching) are of the asymmetric type, then you can safely transfer existing (part worn) tyres (plus attached wheel) so that the new ones are on the rear axle and the existing ones are on the front.

The fitter may charge a small extra fee to change where you have to swap one fitted tyre to the other axle, but a nice one may not bother to charge you.

2. If the existing tyres are of the directional type, then what you can do depends upon where the remaining two are fitted and the costs involved to resolve any issues as a result. If the remaining tyres are fitted at opposite corners, then you're ok to move the one from the front to the rear, like in one, just like when 'rotating' tyres to keep the wear even.

If they are both fitted on the same side, then the only way to safely put that remaining rear tyre on the front axle is to remove it from the wheel and have it refitted to the other front wheel so that the direction (>>) is still forward on the tread in order to get the proper (safe) traction. That means essentially the same fitting (and balancing) cost as the two new tyres, both of which will now go on the rear axle.

You'd have to pay for 3 fittings instead of two.

At least your wasn't a 4WD Audi - you'd probably have to change out all 4 tyres to avoid issues with variances in tread depth that some systems chuck a wobbly over, which wouldn't be good for safety, reliability / driveability or likely wear of the tyres.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - edlithgow

I toe the "official line" on this one.

Having twice "lost the back end"" on FWD cars due, I think, to lift off engine braking in greasy conditions, in one case going through a hedge backwards and stopping on the edge of a sea cliff, new tyres go on the back.

That is, and always has been, the official advice for both front and rear drive vehicles

On a FWD vehicle the front tyres wear out first, so I move the rears to the front, and get a couple of new (or nearly new) for the back. Simple.

It takes a bit more management with a RWD car but its a while since I had one of them.

Edited by edlithgow on 03/02/2025 at 03:08

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Andrew-T

I toe the "official line" on this one. having twice "lost the back end"" on FWD cars due, I think, to lift off engine braking in greasy conditions, in one case going through a hedge backwards and stopping on the edge of a sea cliff, new tyres go on the back.

There are clearly several variables at work here - quality of tyres and road surface, correct tyre pressure - but I am wondering at what point (depth of tyre rubber) does the difference between front and rear tyres become significantly large ? Might not this hedge incident have happened on nearly-new rubber ?

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - edlithgow

I toe the "official line" on this one. having twice "lost the back end"" on FWD cars due, I think, to lift off engine braking in greasy conditions, in one case going through a hedge backwards and stopping on the edge of a sea cliff, new tyres go on the back.

There are clearly several variables at work here - quality of tyres and road surface, correct tyre pressure - but I am wondering at what point (depth of tyre rubber) does the difference between front and rear tyres become significantly large ? Might not this hedge incident have happened on nearly-new rubber ?

Well, I dont think I have an exaggerated idea of the importance of tread deapth, given that I have in the past argued quite logically for the superiority of bald tres in the Taiwan dry season,

bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/please-maintain-...3

(Really upset some Americans).

But given that it is an accident that can happen, that it involves differences in traction between fron and back, that in some conditions tread depth and rubber age is a factor in that, that it is in any case the "official" advice, and that it is the most convenient way of managing replacement of FWD tyres anyway, why not?

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Engineer Andy

Please note that my post on Sunday incorrectly stated about putting those existing directional tyres on the rear.

Whilst technically correct in that you don't need to take the tyre off the wheel to do so, as others have said (and I did say elsewhere in the post, so rather confusing to the OP), new tyres should go on the rear and existing go on the front when replacing pairs for FWD cars.

Sorry.

Audi A1 Sportback - Where to put two new tyres - Halmerend
It had Hankook Ventus Primes when new and I’ve always bought the latest version of that tyre when replacing worn ones.