Bubble in the Rear right sidetire, side wall. Do I have to change both the rear tires.

Let's avoid using common sense and use basic physics.

When going into a turn weight is shifted to the front of the car thus increasing contact with the road while simultaneously unloading the rear opposite corner. Same goes for braking. Weight is shifted from the rear to the front. The extra weight on the front end increases traction despite having less tread. With reduced weight on the rear you decrease traction and increase the flow of water between the tire and the road. With more tread on the rear you can effectively channel that water out of the tire and as a result you are less likely to swap ends. Traction control and VSC rely on contact with the ground. During a aquaplane situation contact with the ground is reduced.

In dry conditions, braking distance is consistent with new tires and worn tires for the most part. It is in wet conditions that the difference in tread becomes critical.

 

We can argue common sense too.

In wet conditions, common sense says that older tires up front loses grip first and causes you to hydroplane. You turn the wheel and nothing happens. car keeps going straight. Logically, newer tires up front means more grip up front. That means the rear loses grip first and the car fishtails. You turn and your car is moving sideways.

And finally, common sense says a car going straight is easier to stop and less likely to cause an accident going straight than a car going sideways. The alphabet soup of traction control system minimizes the occurence but it can still happen. Trusting everything to it is like trusting ABS will always stop your car. It can't stop your car if the tires are hyrdoplaning. There's no grip to stop the car.

So while, yes, front tires wear faster than rear tires, you or your car might not live to see them even out. New tires go in the rear for safety. You don't have more frequent tire changes with old tires in front. The front wears faster than the rear. That's it. Your old tire would have to be replaced sooner in the front but your new tires in the rear will last longer. Added together, it's the same thing.

Tire Tech Information - Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?

 

Isn't there an important difference between front and rear wheel drive cars? Well, I just read the industry stuff. I'm now convinced, but still find it hard to believe. All the more reason to buy 4 new tires.

 

Nope. When it comes to traction. Go outside or look at pictures of FWD and RWD or even AWD vehicles. Front brakes and rotors are always larger. Never the same or smaller. The front tires always take higher loads.

Common sense would say RWD tires in the rear would wear faster than on FWD tires in the rear but I'm pulling that out of my rearend.

 

Common Sense....or what appears to be common sense is often wrong.

All the latest information, from almost all tire dealers, sellers and manufacturers are now stating if there is a difference in your tires, the BEST tread goes on the rear.

It may seem counter intuitive or against common sense, but I've read the information and watched several videos where the application is tested and in practice it IS better to have the best tread in the rear.

I'm surprised there is still this much controversy, because best tread on the rear has been the practice now for years.

It was at least 5 years ago when I bought 2 new tires for my old Honda Accord. I still remember saying I wanted the two new tires put on the front, and the technician explaining to me why that wasn't the best practice.

I went home, spent about 30 minutes on the internet and decided the technician was right, and that for years in the past I had been wrong.

Best in The Back.

 

You're arguing with what's in the link you posted.

steve.

 

??? And you just quoted me.

 

Sorry,I see it now,had trouble with last paragraph.

 

The debate between F8L and Ursle makes me second guess my believe that new tires should go on the driving axle. I'd like to withhold my earlier suggestion of putting it at the front until we have a tire engineer's input here. After all, I don't want to give out incorrect info to our Prius lovers.

 

What happens in 5,000 miles when the tires get rotated?

 

Short of CapriRacer joining our forum to provide his input here are more videos.

 

After watching a lot of video testings, I am sold with the conclusion that new pair of tires should go on the rear regardless of FWD or RWD. The best practice is to rotate the tires regularly so that they can wear out evenly. In that case, all four tires can be replaced at the same time.
F8L, thank you for pointing out my mistake.

 

Agreed. Having all four tires with similar amounts of tread will allow the car to handle more predictably at each corner. PLUS it allows you to take advantage of the rebates that are regularly available on the purchase of 4 tires. I've never seen the rebate for just 2 tires.

You just don't rotate them until the rears wear down some OR you enter a no rain season (5+ months) like we have in California. At which time, you can move the higher treaded tires up front.

This is sort of the crux with replacing only 2 tires at a time. You may not get the chance to do regular rotations anymore and you will continue to replace two at a time.