Tyre Experts - Hairline cracks in treads?

[Craig Senior]

A couple of minutes Googling came up with this:

"It is a good idea to mount new tyres (or those with the least wear) in back instead of in front. The driver has little or no control over loss of rear wheel grip. By mounting new tyres in the back, grip is balanced between the two axles, which improves safety. Despite weak grip, the driver controls the front axle with the steering wheel, while the rear axle grip is optimised by the new tyres."

This obviously applies to all cars, not just Mk1 Leons

 

[Timmbo71]

Well to be honest, i have always been taught to put them on the front!

But never mind.

 

[dmmsta]

A couple of minutes Googling came up with this:

"It is a good idea to mount new tyres (or those with the least wear) in back instead of in front. The driver has little or no control over loss of rear wheel grip. By mounting new tyres in the back, grip is balanced between the two axles, which improves safety. Despite weak grip, the driver controls the front axle with the steering wheel, while the rear axle grip is optimised by the new tyres."

This obviously applies to all cars, not just Mk1 Leons

Check out this link (CLICKY) to a video with VBH doing some tests (all be it in a People Carrier), but it was quite a shock to see the difference depending on where the tyres were fitted.

I'm certainly going to follow the advise.

 

[speedinsaxo]

They should go on the rear

 

[allh2k]

Just to point out in my last thread on replacing the fronts, the rears where very very worn and I like the rear sliding out its more fun that way....

Wow I sound like that advert "My names Jim and I can drive my Folklift faster backwards than the others drive foward, I'm an accident waiting to happen and when it does you can sue me on this number 0845..."

But I would normally put the new ones on the rear.

 

[vwseat]

if there only little ones, you can keep driving!! and if youre not shore shop around and see wat outher garages have to say,,,,,,,


excuse my english ive bin liveing in holland sins 1985 and work with tyres every day........

 

[ChrisUK]

Not as bad as my hair line crack lol

 

[kez]

Sorry guys, but i cant find a single link to back up the "new tyres on the front", all links say the same, new tyres go on the rear. Viki on 5th gear also did a test and tried both, and said new tyres go on the back.

what if you have a RWD car?

 

[bcstudent]

what if you have a RWD car?

The same applies.

 

[cupradarren]

A couple of minutes Googling came up with this:

"It is a good idea to mount new tyres (or those with the least wear) in back instead of in front. The driver has little or no control over loss of rear wheel grip. By mounting new tyres in the back, grip is balanced between the two axles, which improves safety. Despite weak grip, the driver controls the front axle with the steering wheel, while the rear axle grip is optimised by the new tyres."

This obviously applies to all cars, not just Mk1 Leons

you are spot on craig im a tyre fitter and have been for 15 yrs on and off i work for a well respected company to, the correct location for new tyres is to be fitted on the rear of vehicles, michelin have done extensive reserch in to this and support this fact its to help with the handling ,tyes come with a protective coating on them to help preserve the shelf life . and in wet conditions they can loose grip/traction, and by putting new tyres on the rear it nearly eliminates the cracking on the side walls and in the tread itself and its easier to control the rear end if it was to step out if you were to loose all traction on the front it could get very messy and expensive .tyres only have a 10 year shelf life to any any tyre over 5 yrs old i would seriously sugest getting changed as for tyre recomendations my personal pref is toyos T1R or mich PS2