Replacing two tires?
04-15-2004, 02:30 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 880
Replacing two tires?
There is a good article in the May, 2004 issue of Motor Trend, where they visited the Michelin testing grounds to learn about tire testing.
One of the questions they brought to the party was this: If you wear out your front tires first (like most of us do), should you put the 2 new tires on the front (like most of us do), or on the back?
To answer this question, Michelin had them drive two identical Altimas ... one with new tires on the front and worn ones on the back, and one set up just the opposite. They took the cars on a wet stretch of test track, and the car with the new tires on the front spun out on them and they lost it. Twice in a row. The one with the new tires on the back handled virtually normally.
The point is that the usual tendency of most of us to put the new rubber on the front is the wrong thing to do! Put it on the back!
(Yes, those of you who believe in rotating your tires probably won't have to deal with this issue, but the rest of us should take notice.)
Mike
One of the questions they brought to the party was this: If you wear out your front tires first (like most of us do), should you put the 2 new tires on the front (like most of us do), or on the back?
To answer this question, Michelin had them drive two identical Altimas ... one with new tires on the front and worn ones on the back, and one set up just the opposite. They took the cars on a wet stretch of test track, and the car with the new tires on the front spun out on them and they lost it. Twice in a row. The one with the new tires on the back handled virtually normally.
The point is that the usual tendency of most of us to put the new rubber on the front is the wrong thing to do! Put it on the back!
(Yes, those of you who believe in rotating your tires probably won't have to deal with this issue, but the rest of us should take notice.)
Mike
04-15-2004, 02:44 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 240
The online story ==>Motor Trend: A Taste of Tire Testing
04-15-2004, 09:49 PM
#4
only found intro to the article:
Our questions: How much does air pressure affect a tire's performance in wet and dry conditions? What are the benefits and shortcomings of plus-size tires? If you buy only two new tires--because all four rarely wear out at the same time--should the new pair go on the front or the back? Finally, with all the hype surrounding blowouts and sport/utility vehicles, what should a driver expect and, more important, do in the event of a catastrophic tire failure at 60 mph?
Our questions: How much does air pressure affect a tire's performance in wet and dry conditions? What are the benefits and shortcomings of plus-size tires? If you buy only two new tires--because all four rarely wear out at the same time--should the new pair go on the front or the back? Finally, with all the hype surrounding blowouts and sport/utility vehicles, what should a driver expect and, more important, do in the event of a catastrophic tire failure at 60 mph?
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