replacing 3 tires on a car. where to put the new ones?

attgig · 02-23-2004, 08:13 AM

OK, my buddy just got 3 new tires on his 96 del sol (front wheel drive).

he asked the tire shop to put the 2 new ones on the front and the mismatching ones on the rear.

Now, when he picked it up, the guy actually put the 2 new ones on the rear, and said that he drives a civic and he purposely did that because the 2 new ones on the rear will help with the turning & cornering. Also, putting them on the front will just make them wear out faster.

Is that true?

seems like the 2 front tires should be matching, and help corner better if they're the steering. Also, if they're going to wear out faster, shouldn't they be the front two tires???

where would u put the 2 new tires on a del sol?

Merlin · 02-23-2004, 09:20 AM

First off you're always better replacing them in pairs so tell your buddy to suck it up and buy the fourth tire. Now that that's out of the way...Put the new ones on the front. The bulk of your brake's stopping power comes from the front. Those are, therefore, the tires you want with the best tread. Also, for steering you want the front wheels to have better grip.

nomoney · 02-23-2004, 09:40 AM

ya, get the other one. And just out of curiosity, why only 3?

bachviet · 02-23-2004, 11:12 AM

It's a FWD car so put the new tires in the front. I always replace tires in pair.

wxtwiztidxc · 02-23-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bachviet
It's a FWD car so put the new tires in the front. I always replace tires in pair.

What kind of tires is he buying that he can only buy 3? 1 more to go.

jase71 · 02-23-2004, 01:02 PM

One more vote for getting the 4th tire.

If you're "turning and cornering" fast enough that it really matters whether the new tires are on the front or the back, then you're "turning and cornering" faster than is safe on a mismatched set of tires.

If it's a boring daily driver/commuter, you can probably get away with it for a while. But if this thing is driven even a tiny bit aggressively from time to time, get the 4th tire.

attgig · 02-23-2004, 01:34 PM

it's not like he's a reckless driver.

that turning and cornering thing is what the guy at the tireplace said.

jase71 · 02-23-2004, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by attgig
it's not like he's a reckless driver.

that turning and cornering thing is what the guy at the tireplace said.

Yeah, sorry, I was aware of that, attgig... I didn't mean to sound like I was scolding you.

It still would be safer to get the 4th tire, unless it's absolutely not possible. All it takes is one emergency lane change...

rasetsu · 02-23-2004, 02:44 PM

I'm sorry, but that's just really cheap to skimp out on the fourth tire. That's what credit cards are for.

Another vote for just sucking it up and getting the last one. Your friend might have gotten a better deal if he haggled the price on all four in the first place. In the meantime, put the two new ones on the front. My dad lost control and totaled his Integra because he was cheap and rolled on two old tires with about 30% unevenly worn tread AND rotated them to the front.

Maarchk · 02-23-2004, 05:05 PM

But enough people have said 4 tires.
My mechanic said that if i ever flatten a tire in my rsx that i should put the spare, (mini tire) on the back. He said even if i flatten a front tire, i should put a back tire on the front and the spare tire in the back. The fron tires take on more weight and braking like merlin said, and its also where the power comes from in both my car and your car i believe. So yes, definitely get the best tires up front.
I have to go switch mine this weekend cause i slid off the road in a hail storm and cleaned the tread clear off a couple spots in front.

So as everyone else has said. Rotation at the very least. 4th tire at the very least.

attgig · 02-24-2004, 09:09 AM

so let's say you get one flat... do you replace 2 tires when you get one flat? and throw away the perfectly good one?

Merlin · 02-24-2004, 09:46 AM

No, you have it repaired. If the tire is worn down beyond repair you probably need to replace the pair. If it is a highway blowout where a good tire is destroyed, then you can get away with replacing one. Just let common sense be your guide.

TERRIBLETOM · 02-26-2004, 02:07 PM

Hey, if thats what you have to work with is 3 new tires then just go with it. If the 4th tire that is on the vehicle is in good shape and the same size you'll be ok. I can assure you that it's not dangerous regaurdless of what others may think, it's not like your going to drive off a cliff because of it and I dont think you'll be racing the daytona 500 with it any time soon. Regaurdless whether your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive you should put your best matching tires up front. Keep the non matching tire in the rear and when rotating your tires keep it in the rear and rotate it from left to right. The third matching tire that is on the rear should be crossed forward when rotated.

02-23-2004, 08:13 AM	#1
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	replacing 3 tires on a car. where to put the new ones? OK, my buddy just got 3 new tires on his 96 del sol (front wheel drive). he asked the tire shop to put the 2 new ones on the front and the mismatching ones on the rear. Now, when he picked it up, the guy actually put the 2 new ones on the rear, and said that he drives a civic and he purposely did that because the 2 new ones on the rear will help with the turning & cornering. Also, putting them on the front will just make them wear out faster. Is that true? seems like the 2 front tires should be matching, and help corner better if they're the steering. Also, if they're going to wear out faster, shouldn't they be the front two tires??? where would u put the 2 new tires on a del sol? __________________

02-23-2004, 09:20 AM	#2
Merlin Admiral Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Square On My Arse Posts: 7,410	First off you're always better replacing them in pairs so tell your buddy to suck it up and buy the fourth tire. Now that that's out of the way...Put the new ones on the front. The bulk of your brake's stopping power comes from the front. Those are, therefore, the tires you want with the best tread. Also, for steering you want the front wheels to have better grip. __________________

02-23-2004, 11:12 AM	#4
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	It's a FWD car so put the new tires in the front. I always replace tires in pair. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

02-23-2004, 01:02 PM	#6
jase71 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: East of Eden Posts: 2,060	One more vote for getting the 4th tire. If you're "turning and cornering" fast enough that it really matters whether the new tires are on the front or the back, then you're "turning and cornering" faster than is safe on a mismatched set of tires. If it's a boring daily driver/commuter, you can probably get away with it for a while. But if this thing is driven even a tiny bit aggressively from time to time, get the 4th tire. __________________ And I found that hope and a lucky card were all I had to walk with me...

02-23-2004, 05:05 PM	#10
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,066	4 tires make a car go. But enough people have said 4 tires. My mechanic said that if i ever flatten a tire in my rsx that i should put the spare, (mini tire) on the back. He said even if i flatten a front tire, i should put a back tire on the front and the spare tire in the back. The fron tires take on more weight and braking like merlin said, and its also where the power comes from in both my car and your car i believe. So yes, definitely get the best tires up front. I have to go switch mine this weekend cause i slid off the road in a hail storm and cleaned the tread clear off a couple spots in front. So as everyone else has said. Rotation at the very least. 4th tire at the very least. __________________ "The girl is crafty like ice is cold." "I left my heart in san francisco... And my liver at Moe's Tavern." A real friend is one who listens to you as much as they talk to you.

02-23-2004, 09:40 AM	#3
nomoney Lieutenant Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 493	ya, get the other one. And just out of curiosity, why only 3?

02-23-2004, 01:34 PM	#7
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	it's not like he's a reckless driver. that turning and cornering thing is what the guy at the tireplace said.

02-23-2004, 02:44 PM	#9
rasetsu Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 529	I'm sorry, but that's just really cheap to skimp out on the fourth tire. That's what credit cards are for. Another vote for just sucking it up and getting the last one. Your friend might have gotten a better deal if he haggled the price on all four in the first place. In the meantime, put the two new ones on the front. My dad lost control and totaled his Integra because he was cheap and rolled on two old tires with about 30% unevenly worn tread AND rotated them to the front.

02-24-2004, 09:09 AM	#11
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	so let's say you get one flat... do you replace 2 tires when you get one flat? and throw away the perfectly good one?

02-24-2004, 09:46 AM	#12
Merlin Admiral Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Square On My Arse Posts: 7,410	No, you have it repaired. If the tire is worn down beyond repair you probably need to replace the pair. If it is a highway blowout where a good tire is destroyed, then you can get away with replacing one. Just let common sense be your guide.

02-26-2004, 02:07 PM	#13
TERRIBLETOM Commander Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,261	Hey, if thats what you have to work with is 3 new tires then just go with it. If the 4th tire that is on the vehicle is in good shape and the same size you'll be ok. I can assure you that it's not dangerous regaurdless of what others may think, it's not like your going to drive off a cliff because of it and I dont think you'll be racing the daytona 500 with it any time soon. Regaurdless whether your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive you should put your best matching tires up front. Keep the non matching tire in the rear and when rotating your tires keep it in the rear and rotate it from left to right. The third matching tire that is on the rear should be crossed forward when rotated.

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