Tyres - when to change and when to swap?
Discussion
Hi folks. I've got a 2014 fiesta ST - its done 17,000 miles on its original tyres which are Bridgestone Potenza RE050 205/40r17.
The rear tyres have 5-6mm of tread and the fronts have around 3mm.
Safety is very important, but its a lease car so don't want to change the tyres earlier than I have to.
When do you normally change low profile tyres like these? Also is it still acceptable to swap tyres front to back to buy another few months at no cost?
This is my first non-classic car and I would normally just rotate them regularly, but bit nervous about this on a modern car.
Many thanks indeed.
The rear tyres have 5-6mm of tread and the fronts have around 3mm.
Safety is very important, but its a lease car so don't want to change the tyres earlier than I have to.
When do you normally change low profile tyres like these? Also is it still acceptable to swap tyres front to back to buy another few months at no cost?
This is my first non-classic car and I would normally just rotate them regularly, but bit nervous about this on a modern car.
Many thanks indeed.
If it were mine I would swap the tyres front/rear and carry on for another while. However, this is a very contentious issue and it has caused huge rows on other forums. (fora?). I have been criticised for my view by some but I have not changed my habit because this suits my style of driving. Perhaps the OP should tell us his style of driving, in particular, does he drive fast on smooth wet roads?
A few things spring to mind.
If it's a lease car, doesn't the lease include any replacement tyres? In which case, the lease company will replace them when they are good and ready, which will probably be when they are at the legal limit!
If you are required to replace your tyres yourself, then it's your call really. There are al kinds of new(ish) recommendations about rotating tyres these days, mostly along the lines of why bother?
If you're concerned about your front tyres having less than 3mm tread, then I would suggest you replace the pair. The advice given these days is to avoid having less tread on the rear tyres than you have on the front. So if you do replace the fronts, the tyre fitter will probably want to swap the rears to the front for you as well. (I usually buy tyres from Costco, they are very insistent on this!!)
The reason for this practice is that the tyres with less tread will aquaplane first and it is perceived as more dangerous if the back loses grip before the front.
As has been mentioned, there has been much heated debate on this subject!!
Were it my car, I'd probably keep the front tyres a bit longer and then replace them.
YMMV
If it's a lease car, doesn't the lease include any replacement tyres? In which case, the lease company will replace them when they are good and ready, which will probably be when they are at the legal limit!
If you are required to replace your tyres yourself, then it's your call really. There are al kinds of new(ish) recommendations about rotating tyres these days, mostly along the lines of why bother?
If you're concerned about your front tyres having less than 3mm tread, then I would suggest you replace the pair. The advice given these days is to avoid having less tread on the rear tyres than you have on the front. So if you do replace the fronts, the tyre fitter will probably want to swap the rears to the front for you as well. (I usually buy tyres from Costco, they are very insistent on this!!)
The reason for this practice is that the tyres with less tread will aquaplane first and it is perceived as more dangerous if the back loses grip before the front.
As has been mentioned, there has been much heated debate on this subject!!
Were it my car, I'd probably keep the front tyres a bit longer and then replace them.
YMMV
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