Does it Matter Which Position My New Tires Are Mounted?

The answer could be yes, no, or yes and no! It all depends on your vehicle's tire type, setup, and whether you are replacing just two or all four tires. Are your tires directional, or non-directional? Are they mounted in a "square" setup, i.e., all four tires are the same size? Or "staggered," where front and rear tires are different sizes? Do you need a new set or just a pair? These questions will determine if the mounted position of your new tires is important.

Most vehicles come equipped with the same size tire at every wheel position. The tires should be the same type, and design, have the same tread depth, and be inflated to the pressures specified by the vehicle placard or owner's manual. This best retains the handling balance engineered into the vehicle by its manufacturer.

If you are replacing four non-directional tires, mounted in a square set-up, it does not matter what position they are mounted in. Tread life can be optimized with proper rotation: every six months or 6,000 - 8,000 miles, as the tires can conveniently be rotated front to back, and side to side.

Directional tires are a different story, and position does matter. Since directional tires must always spin in one direction, they can only be rotated front to back on the same side of the vehicle, unless they are dismounted and "flipped" on the wheel.

In a staggered setup, most often seen on performance vehicles, tires cannot be rotated front to back as they are different sizes. That said, position still comes into play. If the tires are non-directional, i.e., symmetric or asymmetric, the fronts can be rotated with each other, and the rears can be rotated with each other. If the staggered setup is running directional tires, rotation is not possible, and the position of each tire will be static.

If replacing just two tires on a square setup, the question of position becomes most important - as proper tire position directly affects safety in wet or slippery road conditions. When tires are replaced in pairs, the new tires should always be installed on the rear axle, with the partially worn tires moved to the front. Why? Because new tires with deeper treads on the rear axle will better maintain traction and resistance to hydroplaning - the circumstance that occurs when the tire's tread cannot process enough water to maintain effective contact with the road, causing the vehicle to lose traction.

The reason the back axle is preferred relates to what happens when a vehicle starts to hydroplane. If new tires are mounted to the front axle versus the rear, the rear tires will lose traction in wet or slippery conditions before the front. This is dangerous, as the vehicle will tend to oversteer and spin out, potentially causing loss of control. If the front tires begin to hydroplane, the vehicle naturally wants to continue moving forward, which is called understeer. Understeer is much easier to navigate, as releasing the gas pedal will slow the vehicle, helping the driver maintain better control.

Ideally, tires should be replaced in complete sets. However, when tires are replaced in pairs, the new pair should always be installed on the rear axle.