gordon77 wrote:Stealer Of Souls:
thats silly man, think about your breaking distance. in most cars the break bias is greater at the front.
good tyres should be on the front for conering and breaking purposes. and as long as there is tread (not slick) there is still grip...
It's not as silly as it sounds...
E.G:
You're very confidently driving your FWD rolla along (cause your good tyres are on the front) the motorway at 100kph (aren't we law abiding!) and it's pouring with rain. You approach a fast bend. No problem. 100kph in the dry easy. These front tyres are brilliant and won't have any issues with the rain...
And you're right. Mid corner you hit a HUGE puddle, but your nice front tyres just plow through without missing a beat. But then you're not so good rear tyres hit that puddle. WHAM. Massive amounts of aqua-planing. The rear end shifts suddenly and violently as it skips across the top of the puddle. The car is now a good 10 degrees off axis when the rear tyres leave the puddle and re-connect with the ground. But it's 100kph, and it's still wet. It's all over as the momentum of the car keeps the rear tyres skidding violently. The car spins and smashes into the centre barrier.
Your parents visit you in the hospital as you nurse some minor injuries (man, we're a lucky bunch). Good thing you were wearing a seat belt.
Imagine the same scene but as a RWD... It's probably a whole lot uglier...
If you've got the crappier tyres on the front, you'll know all about it and compensate with the way you drive. You'll drive slower, and be more conservative.
EG:
Same scene, but because the car felt dodgy due to puss tyres on the front you're only doing 80kph. When you hit that puddle and start to aqua-plane (this time the front end) you react and back off the throttle and try to compensate. When your front tyres leave the puddle surface and rejoin the road you're going slower (less than 80kph and slowing even more) and the chances are they'll regain full grip, in time to pull you through the corner. The back is fine since it's got the good'uns on there.
After crapping yourself due to that experience (the fear of paying the insurance excess) you decide to take corners slower...
I believe this is the reason that they are recommending best tyres on the back (contrary to original thoughts).
Remember, you can always feel what the front wheels are doing. Where-as the rear tyres may be doing something long before you can feel what's going on...