2 New Tires - Put 'Em on Front or Back?

[sbrenner]

I'm getting rid of the two rear tires on my 2003 330i. They've got about 39k miles on them, and the dealer said the treads weren't safe anymore. My question is whether I rotate the front tires to the back and put the new ones up front, or leave the front ones alone (they also have 39k but better treads) and put the new ones in the back? With previous front-wheel drive cars I've owned, I'd generally put the better tires up front. But my 330i is rear-wheel drive, so I don't know if that rule still applies. Any advice is appreciated!

[carcrazed4life]

Tires go on the rear.

[joenationwide]

i would say better tires always go on front. front tires do the steering and braking, and will control the car better in an emergency situation. thats my opinion.

[carcrazed4life]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

Its been discussed and beaten quite a few times.

In short, a car is easier to control in a plowing situation then in a spin out. This will only be an effect in wet driving when the worn tires can't disperse water well enough.

[Iron Chef]

One in the front and one in the rear.

[Artikgrau325is]

One in the front and one in the rear.

Yup, like I always say.."if you can't choose one or the other, do both!"

[metale]

Most tire manufacturers advise you to put the new/better tires in the back. It will prevent a spin, but may induce some scary understeer and inability to brake in emergencies.

That's why I rather have them on front. I may get some oversteer, but I know how to control it and It may even be fun (with carefull). Also, I like to keep steering controlable at all times, so I really rather have them at the steering wheels.

Plus, most car manufacturers (at least the one I know...) make FWD cars. On FWD cars, the rear is dead, so a spin is easier to recover if it's mild, but a RWD has more capability to control them even if the car starts doing 360ºs, so that isn't so critical.

[carcrazed4life]

To each their own... But test them yourself in both scenarios.

[metale]

I did ;)

[carcrazed4life]

I don't doubt you :)

[SilverBeam]

How bad are the tires in the front? No use throwing them out if they have more tread on them. i'd put the new ones in the back, unless the fronts are pretty low too, then just get four new tires opposed to two. Blow outs are not fun, and blowouts up front are a lot scarier than blow outs in the back.

[uansari1]

Rears will wear faster. I'd put the new ones on the rear, thinking that by the time they wear out, the front's will be done too.