Make a donation

Author Topic: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?  (Read 1995 times)

Offline uz

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 1
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 47
Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« on: June 30, 2009, 11:16:50 pm »
Evening chaps,

My dad has just asked to borrow my car tomorrow morning to drive to Berlin. If I had some prior warning I would have had the front tyres changed as theyre just above the tread marker.

Just wondering if it's worth rotating them so that the ones with less tread are on the back??

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks

uz
Steel Grey GTI Ed.30 - 18" Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 - Eibach SportLine Springs - RNS510 - Bluetooth Adapter Package - Winter Pack - Open Grilles

SOLD: Candy White GTI - 18" Monza 2's - RNS510 - Premium Bluetooth - Winter Pack - Xenons

Offline Hurdy

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 52
  • -Receive: 137
  • Posts: 7683
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2009, 11:55:16 pm »
Most tread should go on the rear. It makes for predictable handling characteristics....no snap oversteer through having less grip on the rears. :smiley:
Golf R gone.

Offline WhiteGTI

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 29
  • -Receive: 22
  • Posts: 3222
  • F-A-S-T
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2009, 01:10:34 am »
What he said ^^^^
2008 Golf GTI - Revo Stage 2 NOW SOLD

2006 E46 BMW M3 - 343hp
2000 Lotus Elise Sport160 - 160hp

Offline BeezerDiesel

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 33
  • -Receive: 11
  • Posts: 490
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2009, 04:47:23 am »
^^^^^ What they said

I reckon you will have to have the tyres changed before your Dad goes off to the Fatherland as on the continent you may find the legal minimum tread will be 2mm (I may have inadvertantly made that up mind you)
Andy
7R

Offline The wheel man

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 4
  • -Receive: 5
  • Posts: 445
    • Email
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2009, 10:05:33 am »
Ive always thought that in normal driving conditions you are more likely to need the grip on the front (IE an emergency stop) that on the rear.  I have always put new tyres on the front as these tyres do more worrk more of the time.

Just my 2p's worth  :happy2:
APR cat back, ECS Insert

Offline tony_danza

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 3
  • -Receive: 112
  • Posts: 3013
  • The voice of objective reason, but mine's best.
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2009, 10:07:30 am »
I think the legal limit is actually 3mm in Germany - so you may be rolling illegal boots over there.
Sideways yo!

Offline winrya

  • Won't Shut up.
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 7
  • -Receive: 16
  • Posts: 997
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2009, 10:53:39 am »
the comments above are correct but for me I like all my tread on the front because it makes such a difference to how the car drives.  I dont push hard in the bends but i do like some acceleration so I'll stick with my grip up front :laugh:

Offline uz

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 1
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 47
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2009, 11:28:07 am »
Cheers for the replies guys  :smiley:

He caught the 8am Channel Tunnel train though so there wasn't time to get anything sorted. He's got a meeting in Lilles today, so he will have a chance to get the tyres changed there!

 :driver:

Steel Grey GTI Ed.30 - 18" Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 - Eibach SportLine Springs - RNS510 - Bluetooth Adapter Package - Winter Pack - Open Grilles

SOLD: Candy White GTI - 18" Monza 2's - RNS510 - Premium Bluetooth - Winter Pack - Xenons

Offline bacillus

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 4
  • -Receive: 451
  • Posts: 6329
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2009, 12:44:12 pm »
Cheers for the replies guys  :smiley:

He caught the 8am Channel Tunnel train though so there wasn't time to get anything sorted. He's got a meeting in Lilles today, so he will have a chance to get the tyres changed there!

 :driver:



I hope that he doesn't go to the EU equavelent of Kwik Fit over there with those Monza 2 rims...   :scared:
Without traction power is nothing!

Offline TomB

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 7
  • -Receive: 10
  • Posts: 491
Re: Is it better to have more tread on the front tyres?
« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2009, 05:39:10 pm »
I think this is a very personal thing, everyone prefers it a different way.

I have more grip on the rear, as understeer is quicker to correct. 
Tom
05 GTI - 18" Merc wheels, coilovers, colour coded Votex kit, all waiting to go on.