New Tyres Safer on Rear Wheels – Tyresafe

Established wisdom amongst a large section of the motoring public and even within the tyre industry dictates that new tyres should be fitted to a vehicle’s front wheels. At least 50 per cent of motorists, according to Tyresafe, believe this front fitting preference to be correct practice. However recent tests indicate that fitting new tyres to a vehicle’s rear wheels may be of greater benefit, regardless of whether the vehicle is front or rear drive.

Research suggests that fitting new tyres to the rear wheels will allow for better dispersal of water on the road surface, improving straight line braking. Partially worn rear tyres can, conversely, increase a vehicle’s tendency to oversteer, and sudden failure of a rear tyre will cause a vehicle to become much harder to control than a similar failure occurring in a front tyre.

As rear tyres wear at a relatively lower rate to those up front, new tyres fitted to the rear rims will have a longer lifespan. Fitting new tyres to the rear and moving their partially worn counterparts to the front ensures rear tyres will be less vulnerable to the effects of age-related deterioration.