For my 99 SC Miata. I want to hit Nasa's Roebling Road gala. But I've been autoxing on a tire that picked up a nail at the autox parking lot last year. Of course I don't want to take a plugged tire on track, so I'm thinking about getting two new Kumho XS's. Replacing what's on there so I don't have two different tires altogether. Then I'd have two new and two kinda used sets. So where should I put the new on the front or the back axle? I'd just buy 4 new, but heck I need new brake rotors and pads after last years trip to Road Atlanta.. Any thoughts?
For a daily, I always put the deeper tread on the front for better rain performance. But deeper tread is going to chunk worse on track, so I'd probably put the new on back for the track event.
The universal smart advice for street use, AFAIK, is ALWAYS to put the better pair on the back if you can't get 4 new ones. FWD, RWD, whatever.
I don't see how autoxing would change that rule, but I'm willing to learn.
For a light weight rear driver, I'd put them on the back. I don't know that you'd know the difference unless it was raining, however.
When Autox or beach driving I just put more air in the semi permeable tire. But on the track I'm thinking that I'll follow the majority advice and put the new ones on the back.
Josh
Dork
3/21/12 5:11 p.m.
DILYSI Dave wrote:
For a daily, I always put the deeper tread on the front for better rain performance.
So, breaking traction in the rear first in the rain is... better?
In the rear, always in the rear.
I'd rather have the better tread on my steering wheels, if I have a tire more prone to a blow out I want it in the back. The better tread in the rear to limit oversteer on wet pavement theory is all well in good, but I can handle a rear tire blow out a lot easier than the front. Furthermore, if my tread is bad enough in the rear to have to worry about my tail whipping around I'm either driving too fast for conditions or have tires that have absolutely no place on a public road in rain.
the Tire Rack did some tests on this.
They found that new on the back was better..
New on the rear keeps the know nothing bozos from dying due to the dreaded and panic inducing oversteer. Thats why its recommended that way. On a RWD race car, I like to run new on the rear for a while to heat cycle and wear a bit off. They do tend to chunk on the front if new.
I don't know if this is a winter driving thing, but I've always heard and believed that you want your tires with the deepest tread upfront. That's the end of the car that does your steering and braking.
I guess if you can't handle any oversteer than the other way around is probably better...
Josh wrote:
DILYSI Dave wrote:
For a daily, I always put the deeper tread on the front for better rain performance.
So, breaking traction in the rear first in the rain is... better?
Tires are water pumps. If the fronts pump all of the water away, then the rears are rolling on wet, but not puddled, road.
Josh
Dork
3/21/12 8:51 p.m.
DILYSI Dave wrote:
Tires are water pumps. If the fronts pump all of the water away, then the rears are rolling on wet, but not puddled, road.
Today I learned that the rear tires of a car follow exactly in the path of the front tires when negotiating a sharp corner on a wet road. Who knew!
If I can only get new tires I always put them on the right side.
Josh
Dork
3/21/12 9:02 p.m.
In reply to Wally:
But then when you parallel park it, the cars driving by won't be able to see your sweet new tires!
Unless you're fond of snap oversteer put them on the rear. My source is the performance tire course I took from Michelin in 2010
