Should new tyres be fitted to the front or back?

Where to fit new tyres

If you are only replacing two tyres, the new ones should always go on the rear axle. This is the recommendation from most tyre manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers and safety organisations.

Why the rear?

The rear tyres provide the stability of the vehicle. If the rear tyres have less grip than the fronts, particularly in wet conditions, the back of the car can break away suddenly during cornering or emergency braking. This type of oversteer is harder to control than front-end understeer, especially for average drivers.

By placing the newer, deeper-treaded tyres on the rear, you maintain stability and keep the car's handling predictable in the most critical situations.

Replacing all four

If all four tyres are due for replacement, change them all at the same time for even grip and handling across both axles.