Product Technology
Tire Install Go on the Front or Rear? Most People Get It Wrong!
New tires mounted on the front or rear wheels? Most people tire install them incorrectly, see if you can break your doubts, analyzed in detail below:
For front-wheel-drive vehicles:
- Opinion on tire install new tires on the front wheels: The front wheels handle the driving force, steering, and most of the braking, resulting in greater wear. Installing new tires on the front can improve traction and durability, thereby enhancing the vehicle’s handling stability and braking performance.
- On slippery roads, if you install new tires only on the front wheels but leave worn tires on the rear, the rear wheels can lose traction more easily, making the car fishtail.Rear-wheel skids are harder to recover from than front-wheel ones and may lead to dangerous accidents such as spinning out or even rollovers. Major tire brands like Michelin and Goodyear generally recommend installing new tires on the rear wheels first to ensure better stability on wet roads and during emergency lane changes.
For rear-wheel-drive vehicles:
For rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the rear wheels are responsible for delivering driving force, making them prone to slipping on wet or slippery roads. During cornering, the rear wheels must handle not only driving or braking force but also lateral force, which makes it easier for the friction limit to be exceeded. If the rear wheels lack sufficient grip, loss of control such as fishtailing may occur. Therefore, new tires must be installed on the rear wheels.
For four-wheel-drive vehicles:
- Opinion on installing new tires on the front wheels: The front wheels of a four-wheel-drive vehicle handle more of the steering and braking forces. Installing new tires on the front can improve handling stability and braking performance during everyday driving.
- When frequently driven on wet or slippery roads, new tires should be installed on the rear wheels to reduce slippage and maintain control.
- Replacing all four tires together: Four-wheel-drive systems require consistent traction from all tires. A significant difference between new and worn tires can affect system performance and even damage the differential. Therefore, the best approach is to replace all four tires at the same time.
From the perspective of driving conditions:
- Primarily city driving: When drivers mainly use their vehicle for urban commuting at relatively low speeds. The front wheels handle most of the braking and steering work. Installing new tires on the front helps ensure optimal braking performance and handling.
- Frequent highway or long-distance driving: At high speeds, rear-wheel stability becomes crucial. Installing new tires on the rear can reduce the risk of rear tire blowouts and provide better traction on wet roads, minimizing the potential danger of rear-wheel loss of control.
In summary, tire install depends on your vehicle type and driving conditions. Front-wheel-drive: install new tires on the front for city driving or rear for highway use. Rear-wheel-drive: always equip new tires on the rear. Four-wheel-drive: replace all four tires together; when replacing two, choose front for city driving or rear for slippery roads. Remember important post-installation steps—Doing a four-wheel alignment on your car.

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