Another tyre question - wets......

[Slowcoach]

I have just bought 2 new wets for my Rover saloon , now should I put them on the back , to help when I try and put the power down coming out of corners or should I put them on the front to help with directional issues i.e. steering and also braking ? Assume that the 2 worn ones I have are quite old ...... so front or rear ?
I ask this question in the aftermath of watching that piece on Top Gear about tyre choice on a road car in the wet which I think suprised a few people - and made me question my assumption that I should just stick them on the rear ? Any thoughts - particularly as it may well be wet at the "Snetterton Classic" this weekend.......

[THR]

i guess your old man rover car is FWD???

then id go with top gear, and put them on the rear.

do u get a problem with wheel spin or MASSIVE understeer in the wet compared to the dry?

[Slowcoach]

My 'old man Rover ' is RWD and its mainly wheelspin that's the problem which is why I thought on the rear , but I thought I'd ask the question nevertheless . They arrived yesterday and now make me realise how worn the others were , better buy another 2 rather soon methinks. For the record I run 11.7x23.5x16's If you want to see the old banger it's on www.pipcontrols.co.uk and then click motorsport on the menu.

[THR]

ohhhh. its one of them rovers! with a proper engine.

yea id shove um on the rears then.

[apguy]

Sorry but I'd disagree. Stick them on the front.

My Sunbeam (albeit with a lot less power) works better with the new
tyres on the front - RWD as well. There are a few reasons for this:

I found that new tyres on rear promotes understeer I have reduced grip at the front. The other way round I get a tail happy car but at least I can point it in the right direction. 80% of my braking is on the front. In the wet I want maximum traction under braking which is better with new tyres upfront. Aquaplaning the rears is okay but the front causes steering correction and increased braking distances....

The rears only provide drive but the fronts do the steering and most of the braking. Sacrifice a bit of wheelspin for security at the front.

You know it makes sense :-o

Cheers

[Slowcoach]

Ok thats my mind made up then , one on the front and one on the back........really though I think I might go with the 'better braking and steering theory' because quite frankly I could have big knobbly tractor tyres on the rear in the wet and still spin the wheels . At Silverstone earlier this year I was still spinning in 4th more than half way down the back straight ! 400+bhp and rain just don't get on together that well ........... lets hope its sunny !! See you there.

[THR]

i was thinking, have the softer newer ones on the rear.

but yea... i think your basically going to just have to try it!

depends how u drive as well i suppose. u like to slide it out the corners or brake all the way in to the apex?

your choice i suppose!

of course 4 new ones would be best!