Ginja said:
Through a process of opportunity I have a situation where I have relatively new rear tyres and older harder (heat cycled) fronts. The rears have done 2 days of track and about 2,000 road miles over the last 2 years, the fronts have been driven hard and the shoulders are worn. As a result the car is starting to 'dart' or tramline and is harder to drive (I'm overstating this but you all know what I mean).

I've often heard owners say that all 4 tyres should be changed at once for the best drive and this is what I normally do but I'm loathe to throw away £1000 ($1,500) of good rear tire. Should I just change the fronts and will this give me the relaxed drive I should have or do I really need to swap out all 4??

Any thoughts?

If you take the same type as you have on at the rear, there shouldn’t be a problem at all, having 2 different paterns could cause the car to “search” more on the roads

2 at a time is fine, and common. Most people wear out the rears twice as fast as the fronts.

Tony

Think about this:

Your tires are sending signals to your body: eyes, hands, shoulders, feet, and butt. “Seat Of The Pants” feel.

When you recently put only 2 new rear tires on, you got your answer: The rears were over-driving the fronts ! Pushing, tramlining, under-steering.

In UK-speak: ”Your rear tyres were writing cheques that your front tyres could not cash”

So if you buy new, grippy fronts, your REARS will be the weakest-link, while your fronts are sending signals that you are hooked up.

Sure, you can do it….but your SOTP and grip is definitely NOT at peak performance at both ends.