dumb tire question

[Tractorat]

Ive got about 30k on my factory michelyn tires that I just had put back on my truck for the summer.

Im going to pull my trailer from Seattle back to Minnesota next month. Although I told them differently, the tire dealer put the better tires on the front and the more marginal tires on the rear.



Im going to have the dealer change the tires around so the better tires are on the rear. However, Im wondering if I should just replace the more worn tires. They still have about 1/4" of tread left. A little more and I would probably just keep them. A little less and I would probably replace them.



What do you think

 

[Casey Balvert]

If the tires are in otherwise good condition and properly inflated you should be fine pulling a trailer as long as you are within the weight limits of the truck.



Casey

 

[ropinfool2]

The reason they put the better tires on the front is to reduce the chance of a blowout on a steer tire. I for one would much rather have a blowout on a drive tire than a steer tire. If you can afford it, put the good tires on the back and replace the fronts. That way you are covered. Good luck. John

 

[Jetson]

Don't put the questionable tires on the rear. If you have a blowout, you want it to be on a FRONT tire not a REAR tire. Rear tires blowing out are what causes most of the single vehicle accidents that cause SUV's and trucks to roll over.



Test drivers put the test tires they are evaluating on the FRONT. They put tires they know and trust on the rear. Blowing a front tire will cause heavy steering and some pull, but it will not cause the dangerous fishtailing that occurs with a bad rear tire.

 

[bpenrod]

I agree with Jetson, after having a few of each blow out on past vehicles the front blow outs are much easier to control. I have never had a rear blow out with a trailer on it but the ones that did were a handful to control!!

 

[RustyJC]

Another factor is that you want the most tread in the rear from the standpoint of stability in the rain. With more tread in the rear, the front will hydroplane first - that will tend to promote understeer. Hydroplaning in the rear, especially under braking or around turns, can ruin your whole day!



Rusty

 

[jmadden]

At a quarter inch of tread (8/32) there is a lot of life left in these tires and I wouldn't have much concern about whether they were front or rear. The wear bars are ~2 or 3/32 and my last Michelins came new w/ 14/32, so while they passed half-life I'd be running a lot further.



jm