I have had FWD cars in northern New England since 1978 and have *always* put the tires with the most tread on the front, winter and summer. I have never found having the tires with less tread on back to be a disadvantage or dangerous. And although I normally drive responsibly, I've been known to find empty, snowy roads where I get the car a little loose. <g> At the first couple of snowfalls each winter, I practice turning, skidding, braking, and evasion maneuvers in a big parking lot just to get the brain rewired. I find that none of the terrible things that many here claim will occur actually happen with the more worn tires on the back.

I will put in a disclaimer. I run four winter tires of the same age, make size and model. They rotate each season, so the difference in wear is not dramatic (maybe 2/10ths or so). If there was a big difference in tread depth it probably would make a difference in traction and handling. Of course, (sarcasm switch on) if the thinnest treads are on the front you might not get moving much to begin with, so maybe that's what makes it safer! (sarcasm switch off).

If one drives reasonably, defensively, and isn't hooning around much of this stuff is not an issue anyway. Still, IMHO, I'd rather deal with oversteer, because I find it easier to control and correct for. Understeer is no biggie either, but it's more of a nuisance. Unless of course you just watch the spot you're going to hit approach while you slide into it.

Eagerly awaiting the next flame.

• Another steenkin snow tire Q, KevinM, Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:20:42
  • I love TSN but you people are really unbelievable, Sebastian, Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:18:51
  • Rear whipping effect on FWD cars, boramiNYC, Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:02:44
  • Re: Another steenkin snow tire Q, jp498, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:42:16
    • Re: Another steenkin snow tire Q, KevinM, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:53:25
  • Re: Another steenkin snow tire Q, KevinM, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:11
  • Best tires should be on the back (+), vvk, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:01:50
  • 60%braking and 100% accel comes from front so...., Used to be Chaz, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:26:25
    • Re: 60%braking and 100% accel comes from front so...., Coggs, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:53:18
      • Re: those %-ages go out the window when it's slippery, JimBlake , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:01:53
  • I am speechless., dmz789abc, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:28:57
    • Re: I am speechless., Bill Davies, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:52:40
    • Re: I am speechless., Dan S., Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:49
    • Don't be. Think., Noel, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:58:01
      • Stability trumps work everytime..., Mike Lynch , Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:44:37
        • Gee, Mike, I was missing you on this one..., Noel, Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:04:39
          • Exactly... oversteer is easy and safer in the Winter, nwas, Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:03:52
          • Don;t know when you took a drivers course recently, but, TG, Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:56:28
            • I meant, as you know, normal driver's ed classes., Noel, Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:59:01
      • Why not replace all four and be done with it?, bender , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:43:00
        • Agreed., turrbo , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:15:29
      • Re: Don't be. Think., TML , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:59:41
        • Re: Same question over and over, Noel, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:13:02
      • Yes, keep thinking..., dmz789abc, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:46:58
        • Oversteer may be unstable but, Noel, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:14:49
          • Re: Oversteer may be unstable but, JimBlake , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:44:55
          • Oversteer is unstable to most, TG, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:19:33
        • Note the words "average driver" in your post n/m, nwas, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:14:29
          • What you say does not qualify you as above average., dmz789abc, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:56:40
            • Oh, pardon me, nwas, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:44:02
    • I agree, see my response n/b, CrNiFe , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:19:51
  • put your best foot forward, Dale, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:08:36
  • front vs.rear, nwas, Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:29:57
    • Re: front vs.rear, Coggs, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:09:33
      • Wrong!, CrNiFe , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:19:13
        • Not wrong, nwas, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:10:54
        • Knew I'd get flamed <g>, Coggs, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:55:50
          • I get flamed on this with great regularity!!, Noel, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:50:16 <-- Viewing This Message
            • You're so right., Dale, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:54:45
              • Re: Dale's point is VERY important, JimBlake , Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:33:46
                • Yes!, Noel, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:00:02
  • yes, 2 tires are ok, zef95, Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:41:34
    • You might be surprised w/ Honda's performance in snow, Bill Homer , Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:49:35
      • Darn those pronouns!, KevinM, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:04:30
        • Definitely buy all four >, Bill Davies, Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:43:36
          • Re: Definitely buy all four >, KevinM, Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:28:47
      • depends how deep?, James, Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:30:30

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