by Staff


LAURENS, S.C. - When replacing only two tires on your vehicle, Michelin says the general rule to follow may surprise some motorists.

The tire manufacturer says the new rubber goes on the rear axle, never on the front.

That may not make sense to some people, given phrases like "put your best foot forward" and in this day of front-drive vehicles. But in the case of tires, vehicle safety dictates a more demure approach. Michelin says this general rule of thumb for replacing two tires at a time is the same for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs.

When only two tires are being replaced, Michelin recommends that the new tires go on the rear, whether your car is front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel or four-wheel drive.

"The new tires will grip the road more effectively and evacuate standing water more efficiently than the worn tires," said Ron Margadonna, technical marketing manager with Michelin.

This becomes especially important when travelling and braking on wet surfaces. If the front tires have more tread than the rear, the rear will lose their grip and begin hydroplaning first, creating a very difficult situation for even a seasoned driver to control.

"This is far less likely to occur when the new tires are mounted on the rear," said Margadonna. "If there is any loss of control from hydroplaning of the front tires, the driver is more likely to feel it in the steering wheel early enough to make the necessary corrections in speed and/or steering to remain in control of the car."

If tire rotation recommendations in your vehicle owner's manual are followed, chances are all four tires will wear evenly and therefore be ready for replacement at the same time. Many motorists, however, don't remember to follow the recommendation.

If not rotated regularly, the front tires on front wheel drive vehicles will tend to wear faster. When that happens, Michelin recommends rotating the rear tires forward and putting the new tires on the rear axle.

At the next rotation interval, rotate the front and rear tires side to side, this will help ensure even wear.

"When it comes time to replace the front tires, just go back to the pattern of removing the worn tires on the front axle, move the rear tires to the front and put the new tires on the rear, " said Margadonna. "And if cost is a factor, replacing tires in sets of two may be easier on the family budget."