Swapping Front and Rear tyres - is it safe ?

[Perm]

Hi,

I have a MCS (BBR 220) have done 28,000 miles and the front tyres now have 2.00 mm left whilst the rears have 5mm left. The tyres are 17" Dunlop runflats.

Can anyone see any reasons for not swapping the front and rear tyres ?

Many thanks

Perm

[Rakey]

you can do it as long as your tyres are non-directional

youd should swap corner to corner, so front passenger with rear driver side etc..

[Z1GZAG N]

Max has a point.

Do you want to buy two tires or four all at once?

If you want to buy non-runflats or a different brand tire, you might well want to rotate the tires so they pretty much wear out at the same time.

But, if you plan to keep the type and brand of tire that is on the Mini now, leave those rear tires where they are and they'll last for ever so long as you keep them inflated properly.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

you can do it as long as your tyres are non-directional

youd should swap corner to corner, so front passenger with rear driver side etc..

You're not supposed to swap sides on radials and you really shouldn't swap front to rear after after 5-6K miles.

Of course I fully expect to be ignored and told I'm wrong just like usual.

Guess my little masochistic streak keeps me posting the same answer to the same question

over

and over

and over

[MINIAC]

Sounds like your front tires have almost run their course ... you don't want these worn tires on the back

If you aren't going to ditch the runflats and buy 4 conventional tires, move the rear tires to the front (same side) and put 2 new runflats on the rear.

Related reading:

• New tyres to the rear
• Where to install new pairs of tires

[cooper_s_flyer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Perm

Hi,

I have a MCS (BBR 220) have done 28,000 miles and the front tyres now have 2.00 mm left whilst the rears have 5mm left. The tyres are 17" Dunlop runflats.

Can anyone see any reasons for not swapping the front and rear tyres ?

Many thanks

Perm

I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you definitely need a whole new set of tires (tyres). I would not trust 2mm of tread in front or in back... and 5mm is not much better.

IMHO get a brand new set of runflats... you will have less hassles that way.

The Pirelli A/S V-rated runflats are sweet. Less noise, great grip, and superb ride.

[laptop]

Although this disagrees with all here...........always have more tread at the rear.

There are two main reasons why this should be done. Both require considerable explaination........but, I work within this field, and this is a professional view.........offered merely because you ask.

If you contact one of the major manufacturers direct, ask for their technical department...(for example Goodyear)....they will give you this advice.

I accept that this advice bears no consideration to the financial side of the discussion.

[roland2003]

If I had my way all tyres below 3mm would be illegal,as would run-flats as would
re-moulds. The difference in the wet between new and 3mm left is huge. Try a set of the
Avon ZV3 . The name might not be 'cool' for cars but I have to say they are mindblowing
for a medium price road tyre.
Best Regards Roland Gt Tuning

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

You're not supposed to swap sides on radials and you really shouldn't swap front to rear after after 5-6K miles.

Of course I fully expect to be ignored and told I'm wrong just like usual.

Guess my little masochistic streak keeps me posting the same answer to the same question

over

and over

and over

who said that?

I was told corner to corner on here, and did it on my car with no problems

[Perm]

Thanks for all the comments and advise.

On balance I am going to put the 5mm tread (rears) on the front and put two new runflats on the back.

Many thanks

Perm

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

who said that?

I was told corner to corner on here, and did it on my car with no problems

Gotta love the internet.
It appears my info was, shall we say, a bit dated
The offending stupidity has been removed for posterity's sake

I do agree with everyone that says keep the better tread in the rear of the car and 5mm isn't going to be good for very long on the front anyway. Regular rotation would have prevented this.
That and I really don't understand the "why buy 4 tires at once?" question that comes up so often. I understand the financial burden but seriously it's not like "Oh my God!! My tires are bald!! I had 15mm yesterday and today there's only 3mm."
You know tires wear out, plan on it. It's not like they're going to be giving them away free later.

[bards]

I was going to swap front to rear on my mcs, purely because when I swap I would like to change to some different tyres and didnt want to have any odd tyres. I take it putting lower tread depth tyres on the rear isnt advised due to possibility of the rear end having less traction, increasing the chance of oversteer? Whilst this could result in some "fun" handling characteristics im sure its not the safest combination for use on the roads

[graham D]

Quote: Originally Posted by Max

Interesting comments in here...

I had 2 new Bridgestones (normal) fitted to my front wheels today. I have about 4-5 mm left on the rear (Dunlop SP RFs).

I currently have 195/55/R16s all round, but eventually plan to migrate to 205/50/R16 Goodyear Eagle F1s all round (outstanding grip in the wet ).

I am not happy to fit 2 different sized tyres (just to the front) even though the size difference is within the tolerance allowed by (UK) insurance companies - I don't want to take the risk - anyway Mike my tyre man said he would not be happy to fit just 2 GY Eagle F1s.

Max

Hi Max,

I'm in a similar situation (tyres, not bhp unfortiunately ) in not wanting to chance mixing the front & rear sizes, how are you getting on with the new ones compared to the RFs and which model of Bridgestone did you get?

Cheers,
Graham