In article >,
(Buzzardous Cross) wrote:

> Hi Guys,
> Have seen quite a lot of good info 'bout tyres on this group. And a
> few times it's been mentioned that on FWD cars, it's best to have the
> better pair of tyres at the rear.
> Firstly, is that the general opinion of the Alfisti on this group?
> Second, anybody got an idea why this is so?
>
> Reason I ask:
> I've always thought the opposite was true i.e. the better pair should
> go in front cause:
> a. in daily driving, your need for traction/grip is greatest when you
> have to slam your brakes in an emergency - and that requires most grip
> in the front...otherwise you'll have less braking force before your
> ABS kicks in
> b. it's harder to correct a front wheel skid than a rear wheel skid =>
> put the "skid prone" tyres at the back.
>
> BC
> 156 Seles

Well ideally, you want good tyres all round. That said in the past I thought it
better to have the grip at the end doing the driving/steering. That is until the
horrible Ventus tyres I had on the back of the Corolla Gti-16 I owned at the
time swapped ends and stuffed me into a wall when I had to lift off in a hurry.

Lift off understeer is an evil thing and you want tyres that aren't going to
break traction easily under lateral forces. ABS and traction control can return
grip to a tyre that is skidding forwards, but there is next to nothing they can
do for one that is travelling sideways, and this is more likely to put you in
danger when it happens at the back in a front wheel drive car.

In power understeer situations or situations where the front tyres plough on
when you are trying to brake and steer at the same time steering and control can
be regained by lifting off or momentarily releasing the brakes (if the ABS isn't
up to the job)

This is more a problem for hatchbacks than saloons though, I've never come
anywhere near having lift off understeer in my 156 in spite of my enthusiastic
driving style, but then I do have Goodyear Eagle F1's at each corner and can
heartily recommend them.

--
I Amuse (I am Hughes.)
Judge Nutmeg in #Digi

1998 156 2.0 TS Sport