I recently had a puncture and took the car to a well-known chain for repair.
They gave me two new tyres as the punctured one was knackered and another apparently had damage to the sidewall. (It's a company car, so the costs of this are not an issue.)
However they fitted the 2 new tyres to the front wheels. I'm no expert, but this seemed odd on a rear-drive car (IS200).
I now have ANOTHER puncture(!). When I take the car in, should I ask for them to switch the new tyres to the rear?
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peterb
The current advice to fit new tyres to the rear is aimed at preserving the understeering bias of modern FWD cars when fitting new tyres. In particular, new fronts with well worn rears can result in rear breakaway and sudden oversteer if the throttle is released suddenly in a tight, wet, corner. The concern is that fewer drivers these days have driven rear wheel drive and oversteer would be a whole new experience.
With a RWD there is the factor that in either an under- or oversteer situation lifting the throttle is usually the correct thing to do, so the f/r tyre wear pattern may not be so critical.
That said, I suppose that, to minimise the potential oversteer, perhaps using the best tyres on the rear may also be appropriate for a RWD, but I suspect it's less critical. However, I must admit swapping the 5yo fronts to the rear of my BMW to wear them out to prevent them cracking with age.
JS
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My 328 Touring has such negative camber that the rears wear on the inside very badly. I not only have to switch them for the fronts but also have them turned on the rims to get any decent mileage at all.
Also I just bought some Arrowspeed tyres for my daughter's Micra and within 1000 miles BOTH were no longer round. Never again.
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What model is that? I have an E36 Coupe, and I've been impressed by how evenly the tyres wear. There was only a mm or so variation across the rears I've just replaced.
JS
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I need two new tyres for my E36, so the rear is the best place to stick them?
Blue
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Blue
Probably yes. Most tyre dealers these days will insist on it.
JS
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Strange they fitted them on the front,general opinion in the DOT is that most tyre blowouts on cars are due to old/cracked tyres failing.As rear tyres tend to last much longer than the fronts it is now becoming common practice for garages to fit new tyres to the rear and fit the old rears on the front.Many manufacturers now state that tyres should be rotated(swapped front to rear after 10,000 miles).
I heard a rumour that there are plans to have the age of the tyres on your car as a part of your MOT,ie.- tyres now have their date of manufacture on them and if they are still on your vehicle after 3,4 or 5(?) years you would have to replace them(irrespective of wear)to pass your MOT.A good idea I think.
PS.The AA reckon that the average driver gets a puncture every 90,000 miles.How about a poll asking how many punctures you've had.I reckon I have had 7 in 23 years of driving.
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PS.The AA reckon that the average driver gets a puncture every 90,000 miles.How about a poll asking how many punctures you've had.
Oh damn, 86k since the last one. Any time now then.
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Another question;if you have run flat tyres,you are only supposed(able?) to travel about 50 miles after a puncture.What do you do if its a sat.night or sunday as no tyre garages are going to be open.With no spare in your car,you have got a problem.
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Tempting fate! Haven't kept count, but I'd guess about half your rate. However, wallet still smarting after buying two low profile Michelins last week after my first puncture for 5 years or so!
JS
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The AA reckon that the average driver gets a puncture every
90,000 miles.How about a poll asking how many punctures you've had.
Doing some quick metal maths, I've been driving 15 years (almost to the day), in that time I should think I've averaged 25000pa thats 375,000 miles, I've had 3 punctures, and the last was about 8 years ago.
I'm now getting paranoid.
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www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=94...8
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Thanks all.
The ones on the rear have loads of tread. However I think I might swap them next time a take the car in somewhere.
Cheers.
Peter
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