I have 2 decent tires, 2 not so good.

Might sound stupid, but, with a 4x4 pickup with a plow, with a loaded bed for better traction, would you say the front gets better traction in snow, or the rear? I'd almost think with a plow on front, and the motor, the front is going to get the best traction and that makes me think the rear should have the better tires.

Input?

 

I'd put the better tires on the back. with all that weight up front your front tires have more contact area than the back does.

 

I think you're right. I load the bed with firewood for the winter plowing for traction...thanks

 

According to the tire shop I got tires from last summer, the tire industry has made it mandatory to put 2 new tires on the back due to lawsuits. They will no longer mount just two new tires on the front. They also recomend you to have more tread on the rear tires than the front, but the front wears twice as fast...

Which is a pain because in CA, you are allowed to run your rear tires down to 2/32 in the rear and only down to 4/32 in the front. Sounds like a way to make you buy four at once to me because you can never get down to the 2/32 of tread wear if the new tires are put on the rear. Tirerack has this to say....

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=52

And what California says about it. Go down to section 27465-A for tread wear...

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/vctires.htm

 

I've always put the best tires on the front. Since I'd rather a rear tire pop on me than a front.

But that article does make good sense.

 

Best tires go in the front.

You don't need to go, but you do need to steer.

 

I know in Canada it is also mandatory that the better tires go on the rear, makes alot more sense in the case of FWD vehicles more then ours though. Crap tires on the back allows for more of a chance to have the rear end pass you in corners etc. probably due to the lack of weight on the rear. They are actually trying to force people to buy in sets of 4 now as well. Wal-Mart is one of the worst.